Asheboro Turns Momentum with Five-Run Middle Stretch

McCrary Park – June 27th, 2026

ASHEBORO N.C.— The Asheboro Zookeepers erased an early deficit with timely hitting and another strong offensive performance Saturday night, defeating the Boone Bigfoots 9-6 and securing their first win at McCrary Park since June 11.

Trailing 3-0 after the top of the second inning, Asheboro responded with three runs in the bottom of the third before Blake Brookins’ go-ahead solo home run in the fifth gave the Zookeepers their first lead of the night. Asheboro never surrendered the advantage, adding insurance runs over the final three innings to secure the victory.

Booe struck first in the second inning, using RBI hits from Brett Vondohlen and Mitchell Birdsall to build a three-run lead.

The Zookeepers answered immediately in the bottom of the third.

After Reggie Sharpe singled and Cameron Austin reached base on a walk, Brookins drove in Asheboro’s first run with an RBI double to right field. Chazz Grossington followed with an RBI groundout before Drue Saenz tied the game with an RBI single, evening the score at 3-3.

Brookins delivered the biggest swing of the night two innings later.

Leading off the bottom of the fifth, the outfielder launched a solo home run over the wall to give Asheboro its first lead of the game at 4-3 and ignite the McCrary Park crowd.

“I was just trying to be aggressive,” Brookins said. “First pitch he gave me a heater up and I did what I could with it. Ever since I got here I’ve been trying to win every at-bat.”

The three-run lead didn’t last long, as Boone answered in the top of the sixth with solo home runs from Kenneth McKinley and Brett Vondohlen to cut Asheboros lead to 1.

Once again, Asheboro had an answer.

Thomas Cano-Piszel was able to give the Zookeepers a 7-5 lead with a solo home run in the seventh. Daniel Stephens recorded an RBI single in the eighth and Cameron Austin added an RBI double to push the lead and give Asheboro more breathing room going into the ninth.

Brookins finished 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base, leading a Zookeepers offense that collected 13 hits. McGuire added two doubles while Saenz went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Grossington also drove in two runs, and Cano-Piszel and Stephens each contributed RBI singles.

“We have to compete and keep going,” Brookins said. “It’s all you can do is keep going.”

Joseph Yamamoto settled in after the rough second inning to earn the win, allowing three runs (two earned) over five innings while striking out four. Carlos Gomez worked two innings in relief with five strikeouts before Olmedo Quezada struk out four in the eighth despite allowing a run. Braxton Walker closed the door in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Despite Boone threatening early, the Zookeepers responded each time the Bigfoots gained momentum. Asheboro erased an early three-run deficit, held tight to their lead, and finished with 13 hits and eight RBIs in one of its strongest offensive performances of the season.

The win marked another resilient effort for Asheboro, which used clutch hitting throughout the middle innings and timely contributions across the lineup to secure the victory. The Zookeepers will have to build onto their strong offense on Sunday, June 28 as they take on the Morehead City Marlins who lead the entire Coastal Plain League with a 19-5 record.