Garrison's stellar career comes to an end

Mike Duprez

Randolph Hub

State titles, the end of a record-set-ting soccer career, awards and college signings ... here’s a recap of a busy sports week in Randolph County:

BASEBALL

*Carter Brown’s walk-off single scored Troy Carver with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as defending champion Uwharrie Charter beat Northside-Pinetown 2-1 in Game 1 of the 1-A state championship series. Jake Hunter pitched a six-hitter with 11 strikeouts. The Eagles won despite Northside-Pinetown pitcher James Sawyer recording 15 strikeouts. Uwharrie Charter tied the game in the bottom of seventh on Landon Zephir’s two-out RBI single. Brown was 3-for-4.

*Trey Kennedy’s three-run homer, his eighth of the season, lifted Uwharrie Charter to a 6-1 win over Northside-Pinetown and wrapped up the Eagles’ second straight 1-A state championship. Grat Dalton was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Brett Smith pitched a three-hitter and didn’t allow a hit over the last four innings.

*Asheboro’s Connor Adams was named Pitcher of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. The Blue Comets’ Shane Immel was also named to the all-MPC team.

SOFTBALL            

*Maddie Strider was 3-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs as Southwestern Randolph crushed Midway 13-0 in five innings in Game 1 of the 2-A state championship series. Madelyn Smith went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Macie Crutchfield was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Kami Dunn was 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Cougars totaled 17 hits. Crutchfield threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts.

*Dunn single to drive in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning and the winning run crossed the plate on an error during the same play as Southwestern Randolph took a dramatic 3-2 win over Midway to sweep the 2-A state championship series. Micah Wilson was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Crutchfield threw a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

SOCCER

*Ellie Garrison scored two goals but Wheatmore fell 3-2 to Pine Lake Prep in the 2-A Western Regional championship game. Garrison finished her senior season with 75 goals. The Appalachian State signee exits as the career scoring leader in the NCHSAA with 305 goals. 

Natalie Bowman had an assist for Wheatmore, which ended the season with a 17-5 record. Pine Lake Prep improved to 21-1-1.

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

*Parker Kines allowed seven hits and the only run of the game in Randolph County’s 1-0 loss to Rowan County.

*Cade McCallum had a three-run double and Bauer Bowlings blasted a solo home run in Liberty’s five-inning, 13-3 rout of Hope Mills. Jayten Beasley, Logan Fox and Noah Lester all had two hits. Brody Engle gave up five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in four innings. Lester pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

*Lester had two hits and two RBIs as Liberty held off Davidson County 5-4. Andrew Thomas also got two hits. McCallum pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Bowling finished up on the mound.

*Drew Harmon had two hits in Randolph County’s 3-2 loss to Chatham County in eight innings. Austin Lemons pitched six innings for Post 45. Samuel Asbill allowed one run in relief and got the loss.

*Jackson Berger pitched a five-hitter with three strikeouts over six innings as Liberty blanked Hope Mills 5-0. Chance Holdaway pitched the final inning. Thomas had two hits and two RBIs to lead the offense.

ZOOKEEPERS BASEBALL  

*Owen Blackledge went 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs while Hunter Adkins was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Zookeepers’ 10-6 loss to Forest City.

*Zach Evans was 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the Zookeepers’ 6-5 win over the Florence Flamingos. R.J. Jimerson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Blackledge went 3-for-5. Mason Manriquez pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win. Spencer Floyd hurled a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save.

*Sal Laimo was 3-for-5 with an RBI in the Zookeepers’ 4-3 loss to Martinsville. Starting pitcher Dylan Dickert allowed one run and one hit with four strikeouts in six innings.

MID-PIEDMONT CONFERENCE

*Asheboro’s Sion Murrain was named co-Female Athlete of the Year along with Oak Grove’s Avery Ray. Murrain was all-MPC in basketball, volleyball and track as a member of the Blue Comets’ 4x100 relay.

SOCCER

*Asheboro’s Carlisle Dozier, Itzel Macias, Jaira Arellano, Emma Julian, Penny Smith and Abby Becker were named to the all-MPC team. The Blue Comets’ Emily Ramon was named Coach of the Year. 

TENNIS 

*Asheboro’s Will Slate was named to the all-MPC team.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

*Lance Everhart of Asheboro was named field events MVP in the MPC. The Blue Comets’ Valentino Mark, Kai Matthews, Elijah Woodle, the 4x200 relay, the 4x100 relay and the 4x400 relay also made all-MPC.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

*Asheboro’s Jayla Showers was named sprints MVP in the MPC. The Blue Comets’ Nyla Price, Lia George, Rebecca Wilson, the 4x100 relay, the 4x200 relay and the 4x400 relay also made all-MPC.

COLLEGE

*Trinity’s multi-sport standout Dominic Payne committed to Longwood for basketball. Payne, who also starred in football, tennis and track, was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. He was a two-time Piedmont Athletic Conference basketball Player of the Year. Longwood is a Division I school that competes in the Big South Conference.

*Trinity’s Kacey Blakeney signed with Averett for football. 

*Trinity’s Natalie Franko signed with Davidson-Davie Community College for volleyball.

*Brayden Hall and Spencer May, who helped lead Trinity to the 2-A dual team wrestling state championship, signed with UNC-Pembroke.