2026 ABA National Championship Preview: Eastern Carolina Academy
May 11, 2026
The Academy Baseball Association National Championship kicks off on May 12 at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Ga. Over the next week leading up to the double-elimination tournament, we'll be publishing our team previews to highlight the event's outlook. These previews are built from the questionnaires submitted by head coaches, giving us detailed insights into their 2026 rosters.
Our 2026 ABA National Championship coverage continues today.
Academy: ECA Bobcats
Division: Premier
Head Coach: Adam Pate
2026 Record: 11-18
Team Strengths: Youthful competitiveness
ROSTER PREVIEW
| NAME | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
| Connor Radford | Senior ('26) | RHP | Old Dominion |
| Carter Adams | Senior ('26) | 1B/INF | University of Mt. Olive |
| Evan Johnson | Senior ('26) | OF | Southeastern CC |
| Will Jones | Senior ('26) | RHP | Uncommitted |
| Miguel Delgado | Junior ('27) | C/1B | VCU |
| Jace Jones | Junior ('27) | OF | Old Dominion |
| Tanner Trevathan | Junior ('27) | RHP/OF | Uncommitted |
| Cooper Redfern | Junior ('27) | RHP | Uncommitted |
| Cody Rogers | Junior ('27) | LHP | Uncommitted |
| Lawson Tyndall | Sophomore ('28) | C/OF | Uncommitted |
| Caden Scott | Sophomore ('28) | RHP | Uncommitted |
| Hayden Waller | Senior ('26) | CF | Uncommitted |
| Baines Raynor | Junior ('27) | OF/INF | Uncommitted |
| Miles Hamm | Sophomore ('28) | 3B | Uncommitted |
| Charlie Scott | Sophomore ('28) | MIF | Uncommitted |
| Chandler Hill | Junior ('27) | MIF | Uncommitted |
TOP UNCOMMITTED PROSPECTS
The Bobcats boast a strong stable of uncommitted upperclassmen arms that should draw eyes in Georgia:
- Will Jones (RHP, 2026)
- Tanner Trevathan (RHP/OF, 2027)
- Cooper Redfern (RHP, 2027)
- Cody Rogers (LHP, 2027)
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS & DATA
- Despite an 11-18 record, ECA has deliberately scheduled tough, putting their roster to the test against top-tier national competition all spring.
- They are fielding a very young roster with multiple 2028 prospects holding down key starting positions and premium innings on the mound.
X-FACTOR
The development of impact underclassmen. With a roster heavily reliant on youth, players like 2028 catcher/outfielder Lawson Tyndall and 2028 right-handed pitcher Caden Scott are getting invaluable varsity-level reps against some of the best academies in the country. Their ability to step up and perform on a big stage like LakePoint will dictate ECA's success in the tournament.
TEAM OUTLOOK
Entering the Premier Division bracket with an 11-18 record, head coach Adam Pate knows his team has taken its lumps, but they are battle-tested because of it. "Our youthful roster has competed well this season against the best competition in the country," Pate noted.
The Bobcats will rely on senior arm Connor Radford (Old Dominion) and sophomore Caden Scott to pace the starting rotation. Offensively, they feature a lineup anchored by CF Hayden Waller, 1B/INF Carter Adams (University of Mt. Olive), and junior C/1B Miguel Delgado (VCU) in the middle of the order. If their young talent can rise to the occasion and their uncommitted arms can string together zeroes, ECA has the potential to make noise as an under-the-radar out.
BOTTOM LINE
The Bobcats are young, but they aren't backing down. Having played a gauntlet of a schedule, they won't be intimidated by the arms they see in Emerson. If their upperclassmen pitching can execute and the underclassmen continue to develop, they will be a scrappy, tough draw for anyone in the Premier Division.
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