Randolph Hub’s 2026 All-Randolph County Baseball Team

Every parent with more than one child is going to say they don’t have a favorite son or daughter. Fortunately, they aren’t forced to choose one or the other.

There were more than 40 nominations from the eight high school baseball coaches in Randolph County for the Randolph Hub All-County Baseball Team with only 24 making the team. It is far more difficult to make all-county than it is to make all-conference or all-region.

While some organizations only include the players from the schools that have paid their dues for the year and are a part of that organization while those who aren’t will not be considered, there are no dues to pay here. Every player from all eight high schools in Randolph County are eligible. That is one of the reasons it is so difficult to select just 24, and that’s an increase of two members of the all-county team from last year.

Coaches are asked to nominate players, send in those nominations with stats and a few sentences on why that player should be included. We have eight coaches who would do very well in a courtroom.

Of course, through SportsTone and the Randolph Hub, I have seen many, many games and have watched these talented student-athletes all season.

So here we go. After numerous difficult decisions, here is The 2026 Randolph Hub All-County Baseball Team.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jake Riddle, Randleman

Just about every team had a viable candidate for this honor. After careful consideration, Randleman High School’s Jake Riddle has been named the player of 

the year. Other players who were seriously considered included Providence Grove’s Andrew Thomas, Southwestern Randolph’s Brady Armfield, Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jake Hunter and Trinity High School’s Lincoln Coble and Brody Little. All put up fantastic numbers throughout the season. Riddle put up mind-blowing ones.

The senior right-hander was a definite threeway star, leading the Tigers at the plate, on the mound and from his shortstop position. He hit .609 (42-for-69), which tied for 17th with former Randleman great Brooks Brannon on the NCHSAA state record list for batting average in a season. Brannon was 70-for-115, but their percentages are exactly the same.

This year, Riddle also had an on-base-percentage of .710, a slugging percentage of .725, four doubles, two triples, 41 runs scored and 20 RBIs. He earned 25 walks and was a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases.

But there is more, plenty more. He went 7-3 on the mound with a 0.94 ERA, pitching every key game for the Tigers. He threw 59 innings in 11 appearances, surrendered just 48 hits, eight earned runs, walked just seven and fanned 74. 

Dominant comes to mind as Riddle was a key reason the Tigers ran their incredible streak of winning or sharing a regular season conference championship to 17 years and advancing to at least the third round of the playoffs for a 15th straight season.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ed Lagrama, Southwestern Randolph

The Southwestern Randolph baseball program had been anything but stable over the past couple of years. In steps Ed Lagrama for the final seven games of the 2025 season, going 3-4 as the Cougars finished a 9-16 campaign.

Armed with new blood — assistant coaches Andrew Connor, Ryan Hill, Austin Curry and Braxton Davis — Lagrama and the Cougars entered this season with a talented group led by the upperclassmen. The same way they have entered many years in the past decade.

But this season looked different. A 4-3 start was followed by a five-game winning streak, equaling the number of wins from the previous season. They finished the regular season 16-7 and earned a bye in the NCHSAA’s new seedings format for the 4-A state tournament.

There, the Cougars earned a 1-0 win over Nash Central, scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning, and then topped Southwest Edgecombe in the third round 8-2. Next came a showdown with Randolph County perennial power Randleman, which the Cougars defeated 5-4 after a regular-season win over the Tigers.

SWR then advanced to the state 4-A Eastern Regional finals, where its season ended with two losses to Bunn (4-2 and 8-4), the eventual 4-A state champions.

Lagrama guided this team to so many improvements over the course of this season and for that has been named The Randolph Hub Coach of the Year. SWR scored 235 runs, more than double from the previous season, and allowed 125, 48 fewer than the year before. The Cougars, judging from comments made by players and coaches throughout the season, were all on the same page and fighting for the same goal. 

It was a great year for SWR this past season and Lagrama and his coaching staff deserve a great deal of credit.

ALL-COUNTY MEMBERS

PRICE KIDD (ASHEBORO) — The senior hurler was named the co-pitcher of the year in the Triad Area Athletic Conference after throwing 51 1/3 innings and finishing eighth in the state among 6-A pitchers with 73 strikeouts. He had a 3.00 ERA.

REID SUDDUTH (ASHEBORO) — A perfect example of what hard work will do for a player, as he excelled offensively his senior season. He hit .429 with seven doubles, 1 triple and 18 RBIs. An infielder, he also showed his versatility by catching the last part of the season due to an injury.

SAM GORE (ASHEBORO) — An incredible outfielder with speed and throwing strength, he hit .354 with an OBP of .558. He had nine doubles, two triples and stole 19 bases. He threw 15 1/3 innings on the mound, striking out 23 and finishing with a 2.28 ERA.

BRYSON MARLEY (EASTERN RANDOLPH) — Marley, a senior, was a key both on the mound, in the outfield and at the plate for the Wildcats, who won the Four Rivers Conference Tournament title. He threw 55 1/3 innings, allowing just 41 hits. He won five games, recorded 58 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. He hit over .300 with 22 walks on the season.

CADE MCCALLUM (EASTERN RANDOLPH) — The junior grabbed a leadership role and thrived, hitting .384 with a .526 on-base percentage. He scored 28 runs and knocked in 16. On the mound, he threw 45 2/3 innings with a 4-2 record and a 1.53 ERA. He fanned 53. He was also an incredibly sure-handed shortstop.

MADDOX DUNN (EASTERN RANDOLPH) — He showed solid glimpses last year as a freshman and this year he took a big step forward. He had a .462 slugging percentage, recorded 25 RBIs and struck out just seven times all year. He also was 4-1 on the mound, filling the roles of starter and reliever.

ANDREW THOMAS (PROVIDENCE GROVE) — A finalist for player of the year, he had an incredible senior season at the plate, in the field and on the mound. He hit .507 with a .589 OBP and a .781 slugging percentage. He had 37 hits, including nine doubles, nine triples and 15 RBIs. He stole 33 bases. On the mound, he was 4-2 with a 1.60 ERA. He hurled 43 2/3 innings with 66 strikeouts.

COLIN DUVAL (PROVIDENCE GROVE) — The senior played all over the field for the Patriots, hitting .361 with an OBP of .405. He registered 26 hits, including 10 doubles, two triples, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He also won two games and had nine appearances on the mound.

CHASE COLLINS (PROVIDENCE GROVE) — Only a sophomore, he was the starting catcher for the Patriots, throwing out 20 runners attempting to steal and picking five more off the bases. Offensively, he hit. 314, had seven extra-base hits and knocked in 15. On the mound, he was 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in seven appearances.

JACKSON HILL (RANDLEMAN) — The junior outfielder hit .465 (33-for-68) with a .609 OBP. He had eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 33 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He fanned just six times all season.

TATE ANDREWS (RANDLEMAN) — He came through with clutch hit after clutch hit for the Tigers, finishing with a .342 batting average with six doubles and two home runs, He knocked in 33 runs and scored 21 times. He was 4-0 on the mound with a 1.90 ERA, fanning 20 in 18 1/3 innings.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK (RANDLEMAN) — The senior outfielder, who also pitched, hit .397 (31-for-78) with eight doubles, 23 runs scored and 23 RBIs. He was 5-1 on the mound with 48 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. A dependable player who showed his toughness in the outfield.

BRADY ARMFIELD (SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH) — He had a year to remember and was a catalyst for the Cougars’ turnaround. He hit .451 (41-for-91) with 12 doubles, three triples and six home runs. His 100th high school hit came early in the season, a homer. He scored 33 runs and knocked in a whopping 46 and had an .846 slugging percentage. He also had six stolen bases and was as solid as an outfielder as there is in the county.

LOGAN WEIDMAN (SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH) — He hit .371 with six doubles and one triple. He scored 16 times and knocked in 18. Solid numbers, and he also excelled on the mound. He was 7-3 with 59 innings pitched. He struck out 74. He actually could be placed anywhere on the field and perform admirably. 

CARSON COLTRANE (SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH) — He finished the year hitting .378 (34-for-90) with 27 runs scored, 26 RBIs, six doubles and a triple. He registered a .481 OBP. His move to shortstop from the catching position strengthened the defense considerably 

LUCAS CONNOR (SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH) — He took over the catching position and thrived both in the field and at the plate. Offensively, he hit .419 with 44 hits on the season. He recorded nine doubles, two triples and one home run. 

BRODY LITTLE (TRINITY) — The Central Carolina Conference player of the year hit .420 with 37 hits, nine doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs. He had an OBP of .544 and fanned just five times all season. He has one of the most remarkable achievements in high school baseball having caught every pitch of every inning for his entire four-year career at THS.

LINCOLN COBLE (TRINITY) — The CCC pitcher of the year recorded 10 pitching wins, including a perfect 5-0 in league games for the CCC champs. He hurled 69 2/3 innings, recording 86 strikeouts and holding opposing hitters to a .213 batting average. He is headed to Division I NC A&T in the fall.

PEYTON WILLIAMS (TRINITY) — He completed the year hitting .425 with an OBP of .500. He recorded 37 hits, including five doubles, one triple and four home runs, He scored 27 times and knocked in 17. He also had 10 stolen bases and was 4-1 on the mound in the conference with 66 strikeouts.

JAKE HUNTER (UWHARRIE CHARTER ACADEMY) — A Western Carolina commit, he had one of the most successful high school careers of anyone in Randolph County history, capturing three state titles and two state tournament MVP Awards. This year, he hit .404 with 38 hits. He recorded 26 RBIs and 21 runs scored. On the mound, he was deadly. He finished 9-2 with a 1.26 ERA, hurling 60 2/3 innings and striking out 87. While at shortstop, he had a .947 fielding percentage.

JAXON MABE (UWHARRIE CHARTER ACADEMY) — He hit .341 with a .471 OBP percentage and a .549 slugging percentage. He had 15 doubles among his 28 hits and scored 29 runs. A solid defensive player in the middle of the infield, he always brought excitement onto the field.

KEATON HILL (UWHARRIE CHARTER ACADEMY) — He was impressive at the plate and on the mound, hitting .349 with 18 runs scored. On the mound, he was 7-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 54 innings pitched. He recorded 70 strikeouts along the way, providing the Eagles a solid and talented No. 2 pitcher behind Hunter. He also played in the infield. 

HUNTER GODDARD (WHEATMORE) — It was a rebuilding year for the Warriors, a very young team, and Goddard, a junior, was one of the key leaders. One of the top hitters for the Warriors, he had four extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

Honorable Mention

Isaiah Batchelor (ER), Chance Holdaway (ER), Carlos Cordero (ER), Shane Immel 

(AHS), Trevor Kirkman (PG), Gavin Vanover (RHS), Ashton Poe (RHS), Lane Poole 

(SWR), Grant Kirk (SWR), Carson Williams (SWR), Elijah Sykes (SWR), Nick Soles 

(THS), Walker Parrish (THS), Grat Dalton (UCA), Ty McAuley (UCA), Wilson Boswell (UCA), Levi Mitchell (UCA), Lukas Usterbowski (WHS), Greyson Atkinson (WHS).