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2025 NC High School Previews: Volume VI

February 21, 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: New Hanover Wildcats

Head Coach: Aaron Rimer
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Mid-Eastern
2024 Record (Finish): 12-13 (1st round)

Key Players Lost: Toby Southerland and Caleb Robles

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/wilmington/new-hanover-wildcats/baseball/schedule/
Team Strengths: Experience in the Lineup
No. of Returning Starters: 10
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ There are good arms on the roster. Can the offense create enough scoring chances to develop the depth that will be needed in conference play, and a potential post-season run.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Logan Pearce, LHP/OF, 2028 - 2024 Prep Baseball Jr. Future Games

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Davis Hinshaw - William Peace commit
+ Vincent Civelli

Impact Juniors:
+ Camden Croom
+ Tate Nelson
+ Dominic Civelli
+ Nicholas Marren
+ Adler Stumpf

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Logan Pearce
+ Chase Leonard

BOTTOM LINE

+ A very good conference schedule will have the Wildcats battle tested. Getting to the playoffs could be a bigger challenge than making a run. They will be battle tested and when put in a one game bracket system, the offense and some talented arms should scare any opponent.

Find more information on the 2025 New Hanover program below:

High School: Pine Forest Trojans

Head Coach: Tom Willoughby
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: All-American
2024 Record (Finish): 12-15, 9-7 (Ist Round Loss to Ashley)

Key Players Lost: Damien Allen, Aiden Holmes, Davis Collier, Jonathan Strickland,

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/fayetteville/pine-forest-trojans/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Returning leadership. Versatility within the lineup.
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR

+ A solid group returns after making the playoffs in 2024. Can this group get help from a few newcomers to repeat some of the success from last season.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Ryan Geske, C/RHP, 2028

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Chase Mims - C, 2025
+ Jayhlen Brown- 3B, 2025
+ Landen Thompson- 2B, 2025
Impact Juniors:
+ Ja'Lynn Thomas, OF/SS/RHP, 2026 - The Citadel commit
+ Ryan Temple, SS/2B/RHP
Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Ryan Geske- Utility
+ Kayden Thomas-OF

BOTTOM LINE

+ The Trojans have several quality arms creating depth on the mound. Defensively they are a versatile group that should allow Coach Willoughby to create positive situations for the lineup as they work through their bullpen. The big marker will be how quickly the offense creates different ways to score in 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 Pine Forest program below:

High School: Pinecrest Patriots

Head Coach: Jeff Hewitt
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Sandhills Athletic Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 24-5 (4th Round)

Key Players Lost: Bryant Kimbrell, Connor Tepatti

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/southern-pines/pinecrest-patriots/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Pitching & Offensive Execution
No. of Returning Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

X-FACTOR

+ Several key players from a magical 2024 season return. Culture should be in good shape. There is a high level understanding of how to win and advance. The front end and back end of the pitching staff will need to solidify to be in positions to see late May like last year.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Mitch Baek - Grinnell commit
+ Eythan Reynolds
+ JC Woolard

Impact Juniors:
+ Bodhi Robertson - UNC Greensboro commit
+ Liam Dutton
+ William Chopping

BOTTOM LINE

+ There will be a youthful energy surrounding the lineup and bench early in 2025. A quick start could bolster a lot of confidence that ‘25 will be a lot like ‘24.

Find more information on the 2025 Pinecrest program below:

High School: South Lenoir Blue Devils


Head Coach: Paul Novicki
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: East Central
2024 Record (Finish): 15-7 (Lost in 2nd round to Greene Central)

Key Players Lost: Adam Mcdonald, Braxton Byrd

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/deep-run/south-lenoir-blue-devils/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Deep Lineup
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ The 2024 Blue Devils put together a good year and ran into the eventual state champion in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The next step, and becoming a team that can win vs. the highest of competition, begins with the early season, showing an ability to win in a lot of different ways.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Matthew Rhodes- Pitcher, 2024 Conference Pitcher of the Year
+ Jake Howard- Corner Infielder
+ Christian Coples- OF

Impact Juniors:
+ Braden Barnett- MINF/P
+ Gage Howard- MINF

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Reed Davis
+ Austin Clements

BOTTOM LINE

+ Another good year is the expectation. The Blue Devils will not sneak up on any this season, but the burden of getting the best from everyone else could toughen this group as they prep for a run in May.

Find more information on the 2025 South Lenoir program below:

High School: Union Pines Vikings


Head Coach: Eric Marion
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: Sandhills Athletic Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 10-14

Key Players Lost: Austin Mooring, Chandler Ring

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/cameron/union-pines-vikings/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Tight Unit that will work for one another
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

X-FACTOR

+ Looking for a bounce back in 2025, the Vikings will look to a lineup that has experience and some pop. The development of the pitching staff will lengthen the win percentage throughout the year.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Christian Romine, 3B/RHP, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Jacob Williams
+ Preston Whitaker

Impact Juniors:
+ Joey Ring
+ Sam Parker
+ Willy Rivera
+ Jaxon West

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Dyland Benedict
+ Brodie Lyczkowski
+ David Park
+ Christian Romine

BOTTOM LINE

+ How quickly can the younger players acclimate to the level of play and expectations. There are holes that need to be filled and there is talent available to take a step forward.

Find more information on the 2025 Union Pines program below:

High School: West Craven High School Eagles

Head Coach: Michael McKeel
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: Eastern Plains
2024 Record (Finish): 10-11 (2nd Round lost to Seaforth 4-1)

Key Players Lost: 3

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/vanceboro/west-craven-eagles/baseball/roster/Team
Strengths: Team unity
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

Find more information on the 2025 West Craven High School program below:

High School: Wilson Hunt Warriors


Head Coach: Jon Smith
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: Quad County Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 15-9 (1st Round - Won over CB Aycock 8-7, 2nd Round - Won over West Johnston 2-0, 3rd Round - Lost to Croatan 8-0)

Key Players Lost: Nick Worrell - Brunswick CC - OF/RHP

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/wilson/hunt-warriors/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Experience, Pithing depth
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7

X-FACTOR

+ Coming off a 3rd round appearance, there is plenty of talent returning to Wilson Hunt’s lineup. The overall depth could improve throughout the year as some injured players will get back to full speed. The depth could play a key as they hit the post-season.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ C Ryan Bass Sr
+ Seth Evans 3B/DH/RHP
+ Joe Glover 1B/RHP
+ Barnes Willoughby INF
+ Tyson Foster OF/RHP

Impact Juniors:
+ Will Doll - Jr. OF
+ Trevor Moore - Jr. RHP
+ Jake Harris - Jr. INF

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Stone Massey So.
+ Davis Turner So. OF

BOTTOM LINE

+ The bats will need to carry the lineup. How many different ways can the lineup present issues to opposing pitchers, especially clubs with some length in their bullpen? This will be a factor into potential seeding and depth of a run in May.

Find more information on the 2025 Wilson Hunt program below:

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