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2025 NC High School Previews: Volume VIII

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: Overhills Jaguars


Head Coach: Joe Farina
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: All American
2024 Record (Finish): 9-11

Key Players Lost: Brysen Ribbeck, Bryan Gloria

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/spring-lake/overhills-jaguars/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Middle of the field should be solid defensively
No. of Returning Starters: 10
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7

X-FACTOR

+ The Jaguars are returning a solid core of players from 2024. There is talent on the roster. A quick start to the year could be a catalyst for a playoff appearance.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Aaron Frink, 3B/P, 2028

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Houston Poole (MIF; Brunswick CC commit),
+ Isaac Devine (OF/LHP; Frederick CC commit)
+ Brendan Blumenauer (RHP)
+ Danny Sykes (OF/1B)

Impact Juniors:
+ Kolt Berry (INF/RHP)
+ Tyrell Copper (C)
+ Darren Ludwick (MIF)
+ Tyris Rogers (OF)

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ James Burleigh (SO), 1B/3B
+ Aaron Frink (FR), RHP/C/3B/OF

BOTTOM LINE

+ The will be an athletic bunch. The key will be quality innings and limiting free passes to extend innings throughout the year. While there is some depth available on the mound, the Jaguars will want to be in control of pitching matchups, and not reactive, trying to find a guy that has feel that night.

Find more information on the 2025 Overhills program below:

High School: Randleman Tigers

Head Coach: Jake Smith
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: PAC 7
2024 Record (Finish): 21-6 (Lost in 3rd rd.)

Key Players Lost: Seth Way, Caden Lasley

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/randleman/randleman-tigers/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Pitching
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR

+ The pitching staff should keep the Tigers in most games. Offensively, how tough of an out can each hitter be, creating stress on opposing arms to work, eventually allowing the Tigers to see the bullpen arms.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Lincoln Lawson, OF, 2028

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Braxton Walker
+ Peyton Patterson

Impact Juniors:
+ Jake Riddle
+ John Kirkpatrick
+ Tate Andrews

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Lincoln Lawson
+ Jackson Hill
+ Gavin Vanover

BOTTOM LINE

+ This club has found a multitude of ways to win consistently over the last several years. This year’s club should be in games with their pitching staff. The offense may not have quick strike ability, having to grind through innings to produce runs. Can the offense get off to quick starts to give the pitching staff some early breathing room throughout 2025.. If so, Randleman will be in position to be a factor late, again, this year.

Find more information on the 2025 Randleman program below:

High School: Rockingham County Cougars


Head Coach: Zac Apple
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: Mid-State3A
2024 Record (Finish): 20-7 (2nd round)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/wentworth/rockingham-county-cougars/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Pitching Depth, Leadership, and returning experience
No. of Returning Starters: 10
No. of Returning Pitchers: 8

X-FACTOR

+ A second round team in 2024 returns most of their key contributors from that team. The next step may have already happened with the past year of player development. Do we see strengths get better and weaknesses diminished, putting more pressure on opponents in 2025.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Bryson Apple, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Nate Revis MIF/P,
+ Cole Behe MIF/P

Impact Juniors:
+ Nick Rumbley P/1B/DH - UNC commit,
+ Hudson Deel IF/P,
+ Ethan Bognar OF/1B,
+ Luke Strittmatter OF

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Bryson Apple

BOTTOM LINE

+ The Cougars will project to be very good again. They have a legitimate No. 1 with the continued development of Nick Rumbley. They also have depth on the bump and athleticism behind their arms. Offensively, they may lack quick strike, big bat ability, putting some pressure on the lineup to string quality at-bats to increase scoring chances.

Find more information on the 2025 Rockingham County program below:

High School: Southwest Guilford Cowboys


Head Coach: Reid Holmes
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Metro 4A
2024 Record (Finish): 15-11 (lost in the 1st round at Cox Mill )

Key Players Lost: JJ Parsons - UNCG, Evan Hyde - Pitt CC

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/high-point/southwest-guilford-cowboys/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Pitching and defense
No. of Returning Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR

+ The entire pitching staff returns in 2025 and the it has added depth. Expect the Cowboys to be in games all year. The separating factor will be offensive production and can they jump out to early leads to give the staff room to work with in games.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Brendan Snider, LHP/OF, 2027 - 1st year at SW Guilford

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Devin Hernandez - SS/all - conference selection
+ Graham Sutherland - RHP/Guilford College commit
+ Ryan Berry - RHP/OF Brunswick CC commit

Impact Juniors:
+ Kaden Morgan - RHP/all-state and all-conference selections
+ Brendan Snider - LHP/OF all-state selection (new addition from Cornerstone Charter)

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Ryan Maness - RHP/2B/3B

BOTTOM LINE

+ The Cowboys should be positioned to make another run to the post-season. Their schedule will have them battle tested, but the road in the playoffs will be difficult for anyone making the bracket. While the Cowboys’ pitching will matchup with most teams, they will need to show an ability to score in different ways to give themselves the best opportunity to play deep into May.

Find more information on the 2025 Southwest Guilford program below:

High School: Trinity Bulldogs

Head Coach: Ryan Spencer
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: PAC-7
2024 Record (Finish): 9-16

Key Players Lost: Andon Simmons, Jacob Proctor

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/trinity/trinity-bulldogs/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths:
No. of Returning Starters:
No. of Returning Pitchers:

X-FACTOR

+ The Bulldogs will be a bit older in 2025. The biggest driving force to their improvement will be the last 12 months. Player development will tell the tale of 2025.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Ethan Willard (SS,P)
+ Gage Griffiths (CF,P)
+ Camden Nelson (OF,IF,P)

Impact Juniors:
+ Brody Little (C)
+ Lincoln Coble (1B,P,RF)
+ Peyton Williams (LF,RF,P)
+ Cameron Hill (3B,1B,P)

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Grayson Fauber (Sophomore) 2B,P

BOTTOM LINE

+ Solid core of returning players. They should have a feel for where improvement was needed and some of the things that worked in 2024. Look for the Bulldogs to capitalize on being a bit older in 2025.

Find more information on the 2025 Trinity program below:

High School: West Forsyth Titans

Head Coach: Kevin McIntosh
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Central Piedmont 4A
2024 Record (Finish): 23-7 (Lost in 4th round to TC Roberson 8-5. Defeated Hough, SE Guilford, and Reagan in the playoffs.)

Key Players Lost: Lost 6 seniors.

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/clemmons/west-forsyth-titans/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths:
No. of Returning Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

X-FACTOR

+ The 2024 schedule gave the Titans a unique test that they used to build toward a fantastic post-season run. They will be replacing a number of quality innings, but the defense up the middle should encourage all the arms to pound the strike zone.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Giovanni Buccino, 1B, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Luis Acevedo, SS - (NC A&T)(All Conference)
+ Parker Trexler, 3B/RHP - (UNC Pembroke)(All Conference)
+ Jonathan Howard, OF (Montreat)
+ Lucas Alderman, OF/RHP
+ Garrett Secrist, OF/LHP

Impact Juniors:
+ Will Holden, C (Wake Forest)(All Conference)
+ Landon Church, Utility (NC State)(All Conference)
+ Greyson Jones, RHP (All State 2024)(All Conference)
+ Mason Ridings, 2B
+ Brayden Seeley, 1B
+ Zane Culler, RHP

BOTTOM LINE

+ A very talented team will look to increase their depth on the mound while playing in a very challenging conference. This team will be battle tested and should be a tough out in any post-season environment.

Find more information on the 2025 West Forsyth program below:

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