LOCAL SPORTS ROUNDUP: Post 45 is done; ZooKeepers surge toward title

After another cardiac win in their series opener, Post 45 ran out of magic and eventually fell out of the American Legion playoffs. Meanwhile, the Asheboro ZooKeepers piled on some opponents last week with some heavy bats. Meanwhile, a local player was picked in last week’s Major League Baseball draft. Here’s a look.

American Legion Baseball 

■ Jake Riddle was 1-for-4 with two RBIs as Randolph County concluded its 2026 season with a 5-3 loss to Union County at Wingate University in Game 4 of their best-of-five Area III semifinal series. Hudson Deel was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Brady Armfield had two hits. Kyle Dillow pitched three innings of scoreless relief. Post 45 ended the season with a 19-6 record.

■ Keaton Hill pitched a two-hitter for Randolph County but Union County’s Austin Martinez was even better by throwing a no-hitter as Post 45 fell 1-0 in Game 3 of their best-of-five Area III semifinal series played at Wingate University.

■ Lucas Connor and Ashton Poe each had an RBI single in Randolph County’s 8-2 loss to Union County in Game 2 of their best-of-five Area III semifinal series played at McCrary Park on July 15.

■ Sam Gore smashed a three-run homer as Randolph County rallied for a 10-9 win in Game 1 of their best-of-five Area III semifinal series played at McCrary Park on July 14. Post 45 trailed 7-1 in the third inning before storming back. Gore finished with four RBIs. Tate Andrews had a two-run double while Jake Riddle and Poe had RBI singles. Connor had two RBIs on a double and ground out. John Kirkpatrick allowed two runs with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings to get the win.

ZooKeepers Baseball 

■ Tyler Peller had a three-run double in the ZooKeepers’ 7-6 loss to the Wilmington Sharks in a game shortened to six innings due to inclement weather. Brady McGuire and Drue Saenz each had a run-scoring single. 

■ Chazz Grossington, Wyatt Bush and Saenz homered in the ZooKeepers’ 19-2 rout of High Point-Thomasville. Grossington wound up going 3-for-5 with six RBIs. Peller was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Saenz was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Daniel Stephens and Cameron Austin both went 2-for-5 with an RBI. McGuire was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Reggie Sharpe was 2-for-4. Takuma Sato pitched five scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

■ Sharpe had an RBI double in the ZooKeepers’ 5-2 win over the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Thomas Cano-Piszel was 1-for-4 with an RBI and McGuire was 2-for-3. Carlos Gomez pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and both runs. Cayden Laird hurled three innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts and got the win.

■ Wilmis Castro was 4-for-4, including a two-run homer, as the ZooKeepers rolled to a 9-3 win over Holly Springs. McGuire went 2-for-3, including his third home run of the season, and two RBIs. Perry Hargett was 2-for-4 with an RBI. David Hicks also had two hits. Ricky Montalvo pitched a two-hitter over five innings.

Pro Baseball 

■ Former Asheboro and Liberty University star Tanner Marsh was drafted in the ninth round by the Athletics. Marsh batted .336 with 5 home runs, 44 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in his junior season at Liberty.

■ Former Randleman star Brooks Brannon is batting .284 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Brannon slugged his 15th homer on Friday. Brannon is tied for 10th in the Eastern League in home runs.