Randolph Hub's 2024 All-Randolph County Baseball Team

ASHEBORO — Talented teams and talented players.

Randolph County was loaded with both this year on the baseball diamond as Uwharrie Charter Academy captured the state 1-A title and Randleman High School advanced to the third round of the state 2-A tournament. Overall, six of the eight teams in the county advanced to the state tournament with four earning playoff victories.

There were also a number of players who garnered all-state status announced at the completion of the season.

With so much talent, selecting 20 players and one coach for the Randolph Hub All-County team was certainly difficult. 

In order for a student-athlete to be eligible, he first had to be nominated by his head coach. The team was named after the completion of the entire season, not the regular season like each conference does. Finally, sportsmanship and being a team player are just as important as any statistic recorded on the diamond.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

No team asked for more from one player than Randleman High School asked of senior Seth Way. And Way delivered. For his efforts, Way has been named the Player of the Year. 

The Piedmont Athletic Conference Player of the Year, a conference that included seven of the eight teams in Randolph County, Way had an impressive year on the mound and at the plate. On the mound, he was 11-1 with a 1.92 ERA. He threw in every big game the Tigers had, finishing with 72 innings pitched. He struck out 129 and walked just nine the entire season. At the plate, he hit .367 with eight doubles, one triple and six home runs. He knocked in 33 for the Tigers. 

COACH OF THE YEAR

The Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles had one of the strongest finishes in Randolph County history and the result was the same as it was in 2023 — a state 1-A championship. Rob Shore, the leader of the Eagles, has been named the Coach of the Year in a very talented coach-laden county.

UCA finished 28-6 on the season, winning 22 of its final 23 games. After winning the state title in 2023, Shore guided the Eagles to another state championship despite opponents knowing exactly who they were playing each and every game. It’s very difficult to win a state championship and even harder to defend that title. Shore and the Eagles were able to accomplish that.

THE TEAM

CONNOR ADAMS (AHS) — When your team finishes fourth in a six-team league and you earn the Pitcher of the Year Award for the conference, you had a great year. Adams did just that. He finished 4-3 with one save and a 1.88 ERA. He hurled 55 ⅔ innings, recording 87 strikeouts. When he was on the mound, the Blue Comets had a chance. Before sustaining a wrist injury, he also hit .303 in 13 games with 13 runs scored. 

BEN LUCK (AHS) — It would be hard to find someone who improved as much as Luck did from last year to this year. He was the main threat in the lineup, providing big hits time after time. He hit .329 with a .448 OBP. He had one triple, one home run and knocked in 17 runs while scoring 13.

SAMUEL ASBILL (ER) — The senior was key for the Wildcats as he finished with a .317 average and a .427 OBP. He had 12 RBI. On the mound, he hurled 51 innings, recording 56 strikeouts and earned a pair of wins.

BRYSON MARLEY (ER) — He took a big step this year and solidified his future at ER. He hit .309 with a .453 OBP with 21 hits. A strong defensive player, he also had a keen eye at the plate with 17 walks.

ETHAN WILLARD (THS) — He finished the year hitting a team-high .464 with a .625 OBP. He scored 43 runs and stole 44 bases — the fifth most in one season in NCHSAA history — and he added 23 RBIs.
BRODY LITTLE (THS) — A stellar catcher, he caught every inning for the Bulldogs this season, throwing out 16 attempting to steal. He added plenty offensively as well, hitting .320 with eight doubles and two home runs. He knocked in 25 this year.

BRADY ARMFIELD (SWR) — He led the Cougars and was one of the top hitters in the county with a .456 average. He ripped five home runs, had 30 RBIs and scored 17 times. He recorded 11 doubles and seven stolen bases and also saw time on the mound.

JAKE LUNSFORD (SWR) — A very versatile player, he played infield, outfield and saw time on the mound. He hit .385 with three doubles, two triples and one home run. He scored 19 times and knocked in 15 runs. He threw 39 ⅔ innings, recording two wins with 27 strikeouts. 

CLAY HILL (WHS) — He hit .387 with a .495 OBP, that from the leadoff position, numbers any coach would be impressed with. He added 31 steals, tying a school record for one season. He played outfield and infield.

CALEB COGGINS (WHS) — The Warriors’ shortstop, he was a player who gave it his all from the very first pitch until the final out of the game. He hit .348 with four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs and was a key reason WHS improved its win total by five from the previous season.

BRAXTON WALKER (RHS) — He was solid on the mound, in the field and at the plate for the Tigers. He hit .345, recording 33 hits with two home runs. He knocked in 39 runs this year and had 11 doubles. He was 2-0 on the mound with 38 innings pitched and 62 strikeouts.  

JAKE RIDDLE (RHS) — The Tigers were blessed on the mound and Riddle was a big part of that success. He was named the PAC Pitcher of the Year after finishing 8-1 with a 1.56 ERA. He threw 64 innings and fanned 71 with just six walks.

LOGAN FOX (PG) — One of the top all-around players in the county, he hit .343 with 24 hits, including two doubles and one triple. The catcher was an outstanding leader on and off the field and he threw out eight baserunners.   

JAYTEN BEASLEY (PG) — Beasley had a great year at the plate and on the mound, leading the Patriots with a .365 batting average. He had four doubles and eight RBIs, while recording five stolen bases. On the mound, he earned three wins and a save.

JAKE HUNTER (UCA) — He was 10-1 as a starter, earning the Most Valuable Player award at the state championship. Just a sophomore, he already has two complete-game wins in two state championships. He had a 1.09 ERA and finished with 73 strikeouts this season.

BRETT SMITH (UCA) — If Hunter was number one on the mound for the Eagles, Smith was definitely 1-A. He finished 8-2, including a complete-game win in the state championship-clinching win over Northside-Pinetown. He accumulated a 1.62 ERA with 22 walks and 71 strikeouts.

CALEB STICKLE (UCA) — He hit .337 with a .477 OBP. He recorded a team-high 12 doubles and had 29 runs and 30 RBIs. Batting in the three or four hole, he had numerous big hits this season and was a solid defensive player on the infield as well.

CARTER BROWN (UCA) — Despite playing with an injury for much of the season, he gave the Eagles quite a spark with a team-high .371 batting average. His 36 hits on the season was a key reason for his .508 OBP. He scored 26 runs and knocked in 16 while providing stellar defensive play in the outfield.

TREY KENNEDY (UCA) — He led the county with eight home runs, including a three-run shot in Game 2 of the state championship series which gave the Eagles the lead for good. He hit .305 with a .435 OBP. He finished with a team-high 30 RBIs and he scored 30 runs. 

HONORABLE MENTION

Shane Immell (AHS), Cohen Caviness (AHS), Sam Gore (AHS), Cade McCallum (ER), Andon Simmons (THS), Walker Parrish (THS), Parker Kines (WHS), Ayden Byrd (WHS), Jonah Campbell (SWR), Zack Scruggs (SWR), Andrew Thomas (PG), Walker Wilkins (UCA), Tate Andrews (RHS), Caden Lasley (RHS), John Kirkpatrick (RHS), Grat Dalton (UCA).