New ZooKeepers manager uniquely qualified to take over the team

ASHEBORO — Jamey May said little has changed since taking over as manager for the Asheboro ZooKeepers this Coastal Plain League season. 

And he said he doesn’t expect a lot of changes as the ZooKeepers try and build on one of their most successful starts in team history.

After just seven games and with a 6-1 record, May took over for Mark Weidemaier, who left the organization for unspecified reasons. Weidemaier has since accepted a coaching position with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League.

May, who was the Asheboro High School varsity baseball coach this past season and was the head coach for the High Point Hush Puppies of the Atlantic League last summer, said a great support staff has made the transition from pitching coach to manager easy.

“When you have the assistant coaches I have and when you have the front office like Kory (Dunbar) and Clint (Marsh) and Doug (Pugh) and Ronnie (Pugh), it’s a smooth transition,” May said. “Kory was the manager for years and the General Manager and he’s a great mentor. If I need advice I can go to Kory. Kory is awesome and Clint does a great job.”

Skye Bolt, who played professionally after a stellar career at the University of North Carolina, and Mason Bell, who has provided what May said is a burst of energy with his enthusiasm, are the two assistants working under May.

“I have a really good group around me and they stepped into new roles after I did and it’s been really smooth because of the people I surrounded myself with,” May said.

Of course, moving from pitching coach to manager means more responsibility.

“As a pitching coach, I had to worry about pitchers, getting the pitchers ready, making sure they stay sharp, know the pitches they are throwing and the outcomes with certain batters,” May said. “Now I’m doing that for everything. Making pregame schedules, making lineups. Deciding on who goes in to pitch and when. There’s a lot more to do, but this is what I’m used to and enjoy.”

While at AHS, choices were minimal. There just weren’t a lot of players on the team. That has changed quite drastically as the ZooKeepers have a roster full of talent at each position.

“It’s nice to have a lot more pitchers and a lot more players,” May said.

May also said he loves coaching third base, something he can do now as the team’s manager.

“There was a good foundation set,” May said. “Standards that were put in place that I agreed with. Now we may do a few things differently like hitting more in the cage and we are taking more defensive reps.”

The players, May said, have continued to work hard. The ZooKeepers were 10-5 late last week.

“I haven’t seen any change in them,” May said of the players. “They are here to work and get better and take that back to their colleges. They are here because they want to play pro baseball and that’s why they are here. This league mirrors a minor league season, a shorter season, and their goals are to play at the next level.”

May said he would love to see his high school players come and see what it takes to play collegiate baseball.

“I challenge high school players to come out and watch them, see what it takes,” May said. “We have Division II guys and Division III guys who are competing with Division I guys. I have 10 examples of lower Division guys who are absolute studs in the CPL.”

Asheboro will return to home action Saturday at McCrary Park against the Boone BigFoots and Sunday against Morehead City.