Zookeepers end season on winning note

Mike Duprez
Randolph Hub 

The Asheboro Zookeepers finished the season on a winning note to finish with a winning record. Here’s a look at the finish.. 

Asheboro ZooKeepers

-The Zookeepers swept a doubleheader from Martinsville Mustangs at McCrary Park during the last home event of the season. The scores were 6-5 and 11-5.

Sal Laimo, Owen Blackledge, Alex Kean and Davis Germann all had a hit and an RBI as the Zookeepers slipped past Martinsville. Dylan Driver was 2-for-5 and scored a pair of runs. Mason Manriquez pitched five scoreless innings.

Yariel Diaz was 2-for-3 with his third home run of the season and four RBIs in the nightcap. Germann was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Driver went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored three times. Blackledge was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nathaniel Volk got the win with two innings of relief. Peter Mullin started and allowed one hit and a run one hit in five innings.

-The Zookeepers ended the 2024 season with a 10-2 win over the Holly Springs Salamanders as Ryan Kennell and Laimo each had two hits and two RBIs. Jackson Hugus had a hit and two RBIs. Blackledge went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Evan Harding was 2-for-5 and Kean was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Bryant Beranek went six innings, allowing five hits and two runs with four strikeouts to get the victory. Ethan Davis pitched three scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts.

-The Zookeepers won nine out of their last 10 games to finish with a winning record. Zach Evans, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round, led the Zookeepers with a .338 batting average. Driver batted .362 in 15 games. Blackledge batted .314 and led the Zookeepers with 6 home runs to go along with 25 RBIs. Former Randleman star Hunter Atkins hit .294 with a team-high 29 RBIs. Relief pitcher Danny Thompson had a 1.30 earned run average and 35 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings. Mullen was 4-3 with a 3.08 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 35 innings.

BROOKS BRANNON UPDATE

The former Randleman star smashed his fourth home run of the season in the Salem Red Sox game with Kannapolis. As of Aug. 2, Brannon was batting .250 with 4 home runs and 15 RBIs. 

PEYTON WILLIAMS UDPATE 

The former Post 45 standout got the last out in the Long Island Ducks’ 1-0 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers. As of Aug. 2, Williams was 0-0 with a 4.95 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 innings.