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2025 NC High School Previews: Volume IX

February 23, 2025
Brandon Hall
NC / Mid-ATL Director of Scouting

The 2025 North Carolina high school baseball season is quickly approaching and we’re taking the time to preview the spring ahead by analyzing the top players and programs from each corner of the state.

This offseason, we distributed a preseason questionnaire to North Carolina’s varsity head coaches to help give us a snapshot of the top state contenders, and we’re providing our own analysis on each of the teams’ top prospects and season outlook in these team previews. Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across North Carolina. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, the Scout Blog and much more.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Ashe County Huskies

Head Coach: Ben Cheek
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: Northwestern 3A/4A
2024 Record (Finish): 13-10, 5-5 conf (1st round lost 1-0 to Central Davidson)

Key Players Lost: Sam Tibbs (Bryan College), Hayden Jenkins (Surry CC), Gage Cheek

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/west-jefferson/ashe-county-huskies/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Pitching, defense, team speed
No. of Returning Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR

+ Can the offense get off to quick starts, putting pressure on opponents to find a way to score against a pitching staff that has depth and talent, paired with a solid defensive team.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Drew Cheek OF (Bluefield State signee)
+ Brodie Burgess C (Bluefield State signee)
+ Kye Pennington LHP (uncommitted prospect)
+ Jordan Eller IF/C
+ Ben Cornwell DH/Util

Impact Juniors:
+ Jordan Tibbs RHP/IF
+ Gavin Eller IF/RHP
+ AJ Dicks IF/OF/RHP

BOTTOM LINE

+ The Huskies will be in contention to return to the State Playoffs in 2025. Can the lineup create enough depth to put pressure on teams each inning… If so, a potential run in May could be in their future.

Find more information on the 2025 Ashe County program below:

High School: Asheville Cougars


Head Coach: Bill Hillier Jr
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Mountain Athletic
2024 Record (Finish): 14-11 (Playoffs: 2nd Rd >> Beat Ardrey Kell Lost Reagan)

Key Players Lost: Carter Burnette, Isaiah Mingus, Emery Fischer-Schmidt, Toby Wilson

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/asheville/asheville-cougars/baseball/schedule/
Team Strengths: Speed, Offnese
No. of Returning Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 1

X-FACTOR

+ Pitching and pitching depth. The Cougars will play a good schedule and will be tested throughout the year. The ability to develop key arms to lean on will drive their success.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Tommy Secretarski, 3B/RHP, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Jay Secretarski- SS/Rhp Penn commit
+ Hayes Hillier- OF/ C uncommitted

Impact Juniors:
+ Wilkin Lurie- OF- High Point Commit
+ Trent Maybin- OF- Texas Commit
+ Tae Trantham- Mif- uncommitted

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Tommy Secretarski-So.
+ Liam Rice Inf- Fr.
+ Henry James C- Fr

BOTTOM LINE

+ There is a lot of talent at the top half of the lineup. The development of depth in the lineup will take some pressure off Hillier, Secretarski, and Maybin. Look for Lurie and Trantham to have breakout seasons. As the lineup shows depth and the presence of solid No. 3-5 on the mound emerge, the Cougars become a more dangerous team.
4 Pitching and depth

Find more information on the 2025 Asheville program below:

High School: Chase TROJANS


Head Coach: Jordan Rumfelt
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: MF-7
2024 Record (Finish): 10-11 (1st Round (N. Stanly 1-2))

Key Players Lost: Andrew Cortor--C/P (Concord University), Ty Kilgo--OF (3 year all conference)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/forest-city/chase-trojans/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Mentality and Defense
No. of Returning Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

X-FACTOR

+ Building off a playoff appearance in 2024, the Trojans will need to reload the depth in the lineup and on the bump.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Nathan Thomas, SS/C/RHP, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Hunter Brown--C/P/SS (Surry CC)

Impact Juniors:
+ Landen Millwood--SS/P (All Conference Player)
+ Matthew Raborne--OF/P (All Region)
+ Noah Craig--2b/Of/P
+ Chase McGinnis--1B/OF/P
+ Zach Branch--3B

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Nathan Thomas--Sophmore
+ Henry Hodge--Freshman

BOTTOM LINE

+ Pitching is a key at all levels. The ability to build depth in the early season could pay off with another playoff appearance in May.

Find more information on the 2025 Chase program below:

High School: East Henderson Eagles


Head Coach: Steve Sumner
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: Mountain Seven
2024 Record (Finish): 5-18

Key Players Lost: Brady Nix, Ayden Sumner, Mason Smith

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/east-flat-rock/east-henderson-eagles/baseball/roster/
No. of Returning Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

X-FACTOR

+ Tough year in 2024. The lineup has experience. Look for the bats to give the pitching staff some time to figure out their roles.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Henry Love, C, 2028

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Blake Ritchey 1b Caldwell CC commit
+ Owen Brewster utility Bob Jones University commit

Impact Juniors:
+ Tristen Sumner RHP, utility

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Garrett Gosnell
+ Jake Harvey
+ Cole Holbrook
+ Tyler Lowery
+ Henry Love

BOTTOM LINE

+ Dudes will need to be dudes. There may be limited depth but there is talent at the top end of the roster that could lead to a better 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 East Henderson program below:

High School: East Surry Cardinals

Head Coach: Chad Freeman
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: Foothills 2A
2024 Record (Finish): 12-11 (Lost 1st Rd to McMichael)

Key Players Lost: Jaxon Bottoms, Will Jones

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/pilot-mountain/east-surry-cardinals/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Experience. 2024 was a good launching point for 2025.
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ Player development. 2024 gave a lot of the roster a chance to experience how to get to the state playoffs and what is needed to win.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Luke Bruner (SP/1B)
+ Phillip Byrd (OF/P)
+ Stevie Keener (OF/P)

Impact Juniors:
+ Porter Gibson (C/3B)
+ Carter Motsinger (IF/P)

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ JB Davis (Soph)

BOTTOM LINE

+ Several key spots to fill from the 2024 roster, including two infield positions and the starting catcher. The Cardinal can take another step forward if the depth from 2024 produces while filling these key slots.

Find more information on the 2025 East Surry program below:

High School: Forbush Falcons


Head Coach: Jack Moss
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: Foothills 2A
2024 Record (Finish): 25-3 (Lost in the 3rd Round to South Stanley)

Key Players Lost: Gavin Maines, Thomas Conrad, Riley Campbell

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/east-bend/forbush-falcons/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Defensive Flexibility
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 2

X-FACTOR

+ The Falcons lost a lethal 1-2 combination on the bump and seem to be thin with experienced pitchers. However, as players graduate, they are opening the door to the next wave of talent who is waiting to step up.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Colton Moxley
+ Dylan McClamrock
+ Aaron Hutchens
+ Weston Vestal

Impact Juniors:
+ Bo Moxley
+ Giovanni Casertano

BOTTOM LINE

+ Led on the bump in 2024, the offense may need to carry the club, especially early in the year in 2025. The offense may be able to provide some cover as pitching depth is developed. The potential for shut down arms are still on the roster. The question sits with handling late game situations or a 3rd game in a week, especially if they make a deep run in May.

Find more information on the 2025 Forbush program below:

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