1 |
WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN ACAD |
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Mo Blakeney |
20-5 |
Click to review last week
- No. 1 from start to finish of regular season
- Only 1 loss from a team in NC - in a 5 inning DH they split
- Up and down at times, but have played really well when on a consistent schedule
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2 |
METROLINA CHRISTIAN ACAD |
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Darren Adams |
25-1 |
Click to review last week
- Lots of discussion if MCA would jump to No. 1
- Lone loss to Gaston Christian on a 3-1 week, with a win over Combine Academy that week
- Deep offensive lineup, with help on the bench. Young arms have taken huge step forward
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3 |
BURNS |
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Alex Leonhardt |
25-0 |
Click to review last week
- Hold No. 3 in the ranking as they have most of the year
- Defending 2A State Champion
- Returned most of last year's line and staff, adding another arm to bolster the mound
- Have scored a lot of runs, but their ability to limit opponent opportunities has been special
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4 |
TC ROBERSON |
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Eric Filipek |
20-4 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 6
- Defending 4A State Champion
- Played a great schedule in 2024, willing to travel out of state and across the state
- Depth defines what they do best... They just keep coming with bats and arms
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5 |
WAYNE COUNTRY DAY |
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Adam Pate |
23-4 |
Click to review last week
- Hold at No. 5
- Tons of depth for a club in a division that is not defined by depth
- Lost one of the top players in NC for the year, others stepped up and the Chargers continued to roll
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6 |
CUTHBERTSON |
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Samuel Skinner |
24-2 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 7
- The Cavs are proven winners... Not always in spectacular style, but their ability to just keep grinding is impressive
- The league the Cavs won has produced state champions -- the 3 games per week schedule builds depth and confidence in finding different ways to win
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7 |
REAGAN |
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Gary Naill |
20-4 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 4
- One of the deepest lineups in the state with a solid defensive unit as well
- Lots of depth on the mound - just need to solidify their early innings
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8 |
DH CONLEY |
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Jason Mills |
19-3 |
Click to review last week
- Hold No. 8
- Very consistent club all year
- Have shown an ability to win with their bats and with their arms during the year
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9 |
JH ROSE |
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Ronald Vincent |
21-2 |
Click to review last week
- Hold No. 9
- Depth on the bump leads the way for the Rampants
- Very tough club at home... and they should be at home for a majority of the post-season
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10 |
ASHLEY |
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Ben Stroehl |
20-3 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 24
- Big run in 2nd half of year, taking on a lot of teams that will be in the post-season and dispensing of them in dominant fashion at times
- Very balanced team that can win with their bats or their arms
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11 |
PINECREST |
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Jeff Hewitt |
21-4 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 12
- Very deep and talented offense has done a ton of damage in 2024
- Bryant KImbrell has led the Pats on the bump and in the lineup.
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12 |
WAKE FOREST |
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Carlos Viera |
20-3 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 16
- Similar to 2023 when they made a run to the State Championship Series, they have been very hot in the 2nd half
- Lineup has some youth to it - when they go, everyone goes
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13 |
WEST HENDERSON |
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Jackie Corn |
19-4 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 10
- Defending 3A State Champion
- Love their plan on the mound and there is depth to allow them to execute how they use their ace
- Offense that can apply pressure in different ways... They know how to score when they need to score.
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14 |
EAST ROWAN |
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Brett Hatley |
26-1 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 21
- The offense has allowed the pitching staff, & roles, to solidify
- When their stars are stars, they are tough to beat
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15 |
GRACE CHRISTIAN ACAD (SANFORD) |
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Rob Wooten |
16-7 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 13
- Have worked to play a challenging schedule and that should pay off in the post-season
- Stars need to be stars as they look to make their run
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16 |
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN |
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Reid Fronk |
21-7 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 14
- Team with an ultimate goal to win championships - regular season is designed to test them and get them ready
- Very tough bracket in the NCISAA 4A -- no one should look past the Knights
- Two top starters plus a big arm on the back end... Key may be how well they play defensively
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17 |
GREENE CENTRAL |
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Benn Brann |
21-0 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 20
- Very consistent on the bump with an ace that has starred as an ace all year
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18 |
LEESVILLE RD |
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jack Jones |
19-4 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 23
- Very consistent on the bump throughout the year
- Offense has found its identity down the stretch, scoring early, allowing the Pride to play downhill
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19 |
WEST FORSYTH |
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Kevin McIntosh |
20-6 |
Click to review last week
- 1st time in Power 25 in 2024
- Very difficult schedule paid off with a late run that included a Conf. Tourney Title
- Big arms on the front, plus a lineup that can strike quick has allowed them to play from ahead a lot
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20 |
HOGGARD |
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Bryan Tuck |
18-6 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 11
- One of the hottest teams in the mid-year hit a bump to close 2024... Did that allow them time to catch their breath and reset?
- Solid team with depth -- if they get the lead they tend to attack in all phases at a high level
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21 |
RANDLEMAN |
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Jake Smith |
19-5 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 15
- Tournament Time and Randleman has a history of making deep runs -- knowing how in the playoffs matters
- Offense will need to produce base-runners early in innings for the pressure plan to take affect
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22 |
FOARD |
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Channon Vogel |
17-5 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 18
- As much as any team in the post-season, their stars need to be stars for a deep run
- Sean Jenkins may be 1 of the 2 most feared arms heading into the tournament
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23 |
MOREHEAD |
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Kaleb Houchins |
22-2 |
Click to review last week
- Down from No. 19
- Dropped two games in the year's final two weeks -- is this a blessing in disguise as being undefeated leaves as a goal... Does it allow the Panthers to catch their breath for the 3 week run ahead
- Anderson Nance is an elite arm with a bright future... At the HS level he is an all-around baseball player that paces a lot of what Morehead does in all 3 phases.
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24 |
WEST STANLY |
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Chad Yow |
18-5 |
Click to review last week
- Up from No. 25
- Offense has depth with talent, but more importantly with their plan -- very tough at-bats from top to bottom
- Offensive appraoch has paid off with a lot of games being decided in the final 3 at-bats as West is getting into the opponent's bullpen
- Solid defensively around the field.
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25 |
FORBUSH |
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Jack Moss |
23-2 |
Click to review last week
- 1st time in the Power 25 in 2024
- Is this the most feared 1-2 combo on the mound with Maines and Conrad?
- Their two stars on the mound have elevated everyone in the 2nd half of the season - offense has an identity and knows if they score early the game may be over.
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