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2025 North Carolina HS Previews: Volume II

February 20, 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: Ashley Screaming Eagles

Head Coach: Ben Stroehl
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Mideastern 3A/4A
2024 Record (Finish): 26-6 (Lost in the state championship to T.C. Roberson 2 games to 0. )

Key Players Lost: Dylan Welch (Southeastern CC)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster:
Team Strengths: Senior class. The team is hungry to show that last year wasn't a fluke. A state title is their biggest motivation.
No. of Returning Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR

+ Are the Seniors motivated to do it again… We see a lot of schools make runs with a JR heavy lineup. Those teams are typically very good again the next year, but as the school year comes to a close, do the Seniors start to look ahead or are they locked in on one goal. Competition for a state title will be stiff but Ashely should be in the mix.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Jahmeer Damon, SS, 2028 (2024 Prep Baseball Jr. Future Games - Team NC)

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Quinn Bentley (NC State), All-State, NCBCA 4A Player of the Year, MEC Player of the Year
+ Cole Barnes (UNCG), All-State, MEC Pitcher of the Year.
+ Tanner Berry (UNCG) -
+ Jackson Lee (UNCW)
+ Will Hartezell (Mount Olive).

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Jahmeer Damon

BOTTOM LINE

+ The are strengths all over the field. The beach area will keep Ashley on their toes and should have them battle tested entering the state playoffs. The goal is to finish the season in the state championship series again, this time getting the needed two wins.

Find more information on the 2025 Ashley program below:

High School: Burns Bulldogs

Head Coach: Alex Leonhardt
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: Southern Piedmont
2024 Record (Finish): 31-3 (2A State Runner Ups)

Key Players Lost: Josh Taylor, Ethan Guy, Gabe Holiday

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/lawndale/burns-bulldogs/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Senior leadership
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ Senior motivation to get to a 3rd straight championship series. Also, the ability to create depth on the mound as the Bulldogs set themselves up for those end of year 3 game series.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Yates Toney, C, 2028

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Colby Putnam SS/P 3x All State, GWU Commit
+ Marshall McGowan 1B/OF/P 2x All State, WCU Commit
+ Jackson Toney 1B/OF/P All State, Wingate Commit
+ Hagan Hoyle C/3B/P 2x All Conference, CCC
+ Nick Williams IF/OF All Conference,
+ Camden Mackall CF

Impact Juniors:
+ Drew Dixon 2026 OF/P
+ Max Davis 2027 IF/OF
+ Mason Bralley 2027 OF/P
Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Yates Toney 2028

BOTTOM LINE

+ The pieces are back to be in a 3rd straight championship series. The competition to complete the mission will be tough but this group is battle tested.

Find more information on the 2025 Burns program below:

High School: Charlotte Catholic Cougars

Head Coach: Eddie Hull
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: Southwestern 4A
2024 Record (Finish): 23-10 (Made it to 4A West Regional Finals and lost to TC Roberson)

Key Players Lost: Jack Hedrick, Mason Child

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/charlotte/charlotte-catholic-cougars/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Depth on Mound, Strong up the Middle on defense
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ Can a deep and talented roster come together, accept roles, and play at a very high level at the right times.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Matt McKnight, INF, 2025 - UNC commit. 1st year at Charlotte Catholic

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Jon Fijalkowski
+ Matt McKnight - UNC commit
+ Dylan Kelleher

Impact Juniors:
+ Ben Bordeaux
+ Cooper Gornet - UNCW commit
+ Quinn O'Rourke
+ Paul Greeley
+ Alex Hoffman - Va Tech commit

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ John Hucko (Soph)
+ Luke Danser (Soph)

BOTTOM LINE

+ Hoffman and O’Rourke are two of the best arms in the NC’s 2026 class. Gornet solidifies the middle of the field. McKnight has seen his stock climb from a draft prospective after his performances at the Prep Baseball Super 60 and the NC ProCase. This is a very talented group and will be a contender for a state title. How do they handle being the target throughout 2025?

Find more information on the 2025 Charlotte Catholic program below:

High School: East Rowan Mustangs


Head Coach: Brett Hatley
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: SPC
2024 Record (Finish): 34-2 (State Champ)

Key Players Lost: Cobb Hightower, Logan Dyer, McCall Henderson, Braden Shive, Joe Burleyson, Nate Hayworth

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/salisbury/east-rowan-mustangs/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Offensive Potential. Team that knows how to win in the post-season
No. of Returning Starters: 4
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3

X-FACTOR

+ Dudes were dudes throughout 2024, allowing for the development of the next set of dudes. Can those players step up and perform when the expectation is on them to carry different loads in the 2025 season.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Nathan Chisolm, OF
+ Keaton Walker, 2B/OF
+ Hunter Goodman, OF/P

Impact Juniors:
+ Harrison Ailshie, OF/LHP, UNC commit

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Sam Blackwelder, INF, 2027

BOTTOM LINE

+ Do the Mustangs rebuild or reload… The culture always sets a high expectation but there will be a learning curve in 2025 as the production falls to a lot of new faces.

Find more information on the 2025 East Rowan program below:

High School: East Rutherford Cavaliers


Head Coach: Drew Reynolds
State Classification: NCHSAA 2A
Conference: Mountain Foothills 7
2024 Record (Finish): 27-3 (Lost in game 3 of the Western Region Finals )

Key Players Lost: Jordan Dixon, Chase Powell, Kalem Curtis

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/forest-city/east-rutherford-cavaliers/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Returning experience. Depth.
No. of Returning Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ A program that has a defined culture. Regardless of the names on the back of the jersey the expectation remains very high on the field. There is is a sense of unfinished business from 2024.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Colby Condrey: INF/RHP
+ Jacob Lee: LHP/1B/OF
+ Elliott Tisdale: OF
+ JD Toney: 1B

Impact Juniors:
+ Malachi Dato: RHP/OF
+ Caleb Bennett: RHP
+ Preston Henson: INF
+ Matt Pinkerton: C/INF/RHP

BOTTOM LINE

+ Returning a solid core from the 2024 roster that was just a couple of pitches away from a State Championship appearance, the expectation is high for 2025. The Cavs must manage expectations and play to their strengths early, while building with a plan to play their best brand of baseball late in the year. A deep run in May could be on the horizon again.

Find more information on the 2025 East Rutherford program below:

High School: Gaston Christian School Eagles


Head Coach: Devon Lowery
State Classification: NCISAA 3A
Conference: MAC Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 16-5 (State Semifinals)

Key Players Lost: Aaron Main, David Nicks, Stephen Stroupe

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/gastonia/gaston-christian-eagles/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Speed, Offense
No. of Returning Starters: 10
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

X-FACTOR

+ There will be plenty of attention paid to the Eagles. With Meridian Leffew classing up to the 2025 class, plenty of MLB Scouts will be out to check in. How does this club handle the attention throughout the year?

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Carter Rowe, INF, 2027

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Mer Leffew - UCF commit / 2025 Prep Baseball Super60
+ Logan Davis - Francis Marion commit
+ Jack Kimbrell
+ Jaden Moore

Impact Juniors:
+ Bug Green
+ Xander Sutton
+ Cooper Summerlin
+ Camden Cobb
+ Noah Cooper

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Carter Rowe, 2027
+ Caden Browning, 2027
+ Jace Smart

BOTTOM LINE

+ High end players should put the Eagles in the mix to make a special run in May. They will be challenged throughout the year with their schedule, which should help as the stakes rise at the end of the year. Is there enough pitching depth to get through a 3 game week or 3 game series in the playoffs… time will tell.

Find more information on the 2025 Gaston Christian School program below:

High School: TC Roberson Rams


Head Coach: Eric Filipek
State Classification: NCHSAA 4A
Conference: WMAC
2024 Record (Finish): 28-4 (State Champs)

Key Players Lost: Reno Jeter

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/asheville/tc-roberson-rams/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: 10 Seniors – Experienced and Talented. They know how to finish in May.
No. of Returning Starters: 9
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6

X-FACTOR

+ This roster has a ton of post-season experience. They have consistently been tested in the regular season with a demanding schedule. This will ring true in 2025 and should have the Rams poised for another big run in May.

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Micah Simpson - LHP/OF WCU
+ Caden Davidson - 1B / Gaston
+ Zeb Swangim - 3B/P / UNCA
+ Jake Parham - SS/P /UNCA
+ JT Smith - C/P /Wofford
+ CJ Wallace - RHP / Winthrop
+ Asher Ring - C
+ Lorenzo Lyles - OF / Bluefield State

Impact Juniors:
+ Zeke Adwaters / INF

Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Holt Gaston, 2027
+ Chappy Smith, 2027
+ Parker Filipek, 2027
+ Brooks Hemphill, 2027

BOTTOM LINE

+ The Rams have shown an ability to cultivate a high level culture with highly skilled players into championship seasons. This group understands the path and what it takes to finish. The only question, and one we ask of a lot of Senior laden teams, is how motivated will this group be to finish the year as they finish their high school careers and begin to look forward to what is next.

Find more information on the 2025 TC Roberson program below:

High School: Terry Sanford Bulldogs


Head Coach: Sam Guy
State Classification: NCHSAA 3A
Conference: All American Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 26-7 (Lost in the Eastern Regional Finals)

Key Players Lost: Brent Smith-Elon Baseball, Ryan Seagroves- Brunswick CC Baseball, Skylar Young- UNC Softball, Wills Noon, Brayden Morrison

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

2025 Team Roster: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/fayetteville/terry-sanford-bulldogs/baseball/roster/
Team Strengths: Individual athleticism in the lineup and the top end of the rotation
No. of Returning Starters: 14
No. of Returning Pitchers: 9

X-FACTOR

+ The Bulldogs played a tough early schedule in 2024 and pulled together as they entered conference play, becoming a very tough out in the playoffs. With a lot of experience returning, look for a quicker start, potentially allowing for the development of depth with some of the younger players on the roster.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

+ Hunter Hedgecoe, C, 2028 - 2024 Prep Baseball Jr. Future Games (Team NC)

PREP BASEBALL’S TEAM OUTLOOK

Impact Seniors:
+ Ethan Nobles- Pitcher/3rd Base UNCG
+ Josh Hart- Pitcher ECU,
+ Benny Whiteaker- OF/C NC A&T
+ Jonathan Pate- Pitcher Brunswick CC
+ Louis Smelcer- Coe College
+ Kyle Kessinger
Impact Juniors:
+ Josh Mozingo- ECU
+ Jack Reaves- LHP
+ Mason Walker- OF/P
+ Jacob Moore- 2nd base/Pitcher
Underclassmen to Watch:
+ Hunter Hedgecoe (Freshman)
+ Connor Woods (Sophomore)

BOTTOM LINE

+ Senior heavy teams understand the expectation and the path to overall success. This group will be eyeing a deep run in May and should have enough younger players challenging for playing time to continue to push the competition level. It could be a fun ride as long as the Seniors stay locked in on the task as the end of the year nears, and can present distractions.

Find more information on the 2025 Terry Sanford program below:

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