NCHSAA 3A Regionals Preview
May 24, 2022
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We are four rounds into the NCHSAA State Playoffs. Beginning today, the Regional Finals round will begin. The Regional Finals will be a best of three series with the first two games played on each school’s campus and the third game played either at the higher seed’s home field or at a neutral site.
Below we break down the NCHSAA 3A Regional Finals that will give us the State Championship Matchup.
3A West Regional Finals
East Lincoln vs. South Rowan
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 7:00pm - East Lincoln at South Rowan
Game 2: Thursday 5/26/22 at 7:00pm - South Rowan at East Lincoln
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at 7:00pm - East Lincoln at South Rowan (if necessary)
South Rowan Raiders’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - No. 14
+ PBR/NCBCA Poll Ranking - Tied No. 6
+ Overall Record - 26-4
+ Conference Record - 13-1
+ Home Record - 17-2
+ Away Record - 7-1
+ Streak - 12 wins in a row
+ South Piedmont 3A Conference Co-Champion
+ South Piedmont 3A Conference Tournament Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 24-1 vs. West Charlotte HS
- Rd 2 - 6-1 vs. South Point HS
- Rd 3 - 8-3 vs. East Rowan HS
- Rd 4 - 7-3 vs. North Lincoln HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
The Raiders were a very intriguing team going into the year, playing in a competitive conference. Where they began to separate themselves from their competition was toward the end of the year. Haiden Leffew gives them a bonafide ace, but the development Carson Crainshaw and Chandler Oddie has really added to the Raiders ability to finish games and series. Offensively, the top of the lineup drives the production. Kane Kepley may be one of the top leadoff hitters in the state and his running mate, Nathan Chrismon in the two-hole, can put a lot of pressure on defenses right out of the gate.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
South Rowan has put together an impressive season so far. We knew they were good heading into the year but have proven to be much more than just good. Their Ace, Haiden Leffew has been dominant and other guys on their staff have stepped up to give them a more complete staff. The top of their lineup is exciting featuring guys with speed who can also drive balls in the gap and score in a hurry. The Raiders have shown tons of fight in big games this year and I don't expect this week to be any different.
East Lincoln Mustangs’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 3A Poll Ranking - Tied No. 6
+ Overall Record - 20-6
+ Conference Record - 10-4
+ Home Record - 8-2
+ Away Record - 9-4
+ Neutral - 3-0
+ Streak - 4 wins in a row
+ Tied 2nd in Western Foothills 3A Conference
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 8-0 vs. Forestview HS
- Rd 2 - 7-3 at Eastern Guilford HS
- Rd 3 - 4-2 vs. Carson HS
- Rd 4 - 4-1 vs. St. Stephen’s HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
We thought this would be one of the more dynamic offenses in the state and they have definitely lived up to that billing. The advancement of the pitching staff, especially in the 2nd half of the year has provided the ability for the Mustangs to take the needed steps forward to be a club that could win it all. Battle tested in a tough conference, I am excited to follow this series with two clubs that do a ton of things right on the field.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Mustangs battled it out all year in a conference that featured 3 of the final 4 teams in the West Bracket. Throughout the year they have continued to get better and are currently playing their best baseball of 2022. They may not have that one go to guy on the mound but they have two competitors who fill up the zone in Isaac Armstrong and Carson Dahle. Garrett Michel is the guy everyone knows but their lineup has so many guys that can beat you on a given night so you can never count them out. Even though South Rowan has been dominant this year the Mustangs could easily make this an exciting series.3A East Regional Finals
South Central vs. South Brunswick
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 6pm - South Central at South Brunswick
Game 2: Thursday 5/26/22 at 6pm - South Brunswick at South Central
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at 2pm - South Central at South Brunswick (if necessary)
South Brunswick Cougars’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - No. 12
+ PBR/NCBCA 3A Poll Ranking - No. 1
+ Overall Record - 22-3
+ Conference Record - 11-3
+ Home Record - 12-1
+ Away Record - 7-2
+ Neutral Record - 3-0
+ Streak - 5 wins in a row
+ Mideastern 3A/4A Co-Conference Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 11-0 vs. Durham School of Arts
- Rd 2 - 4-0 vs. Fike HS
- Rd 3 - 4-1 vs. Croatan HS
- Rd 4 - 13-1 vs. West Carteret HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
There is star power in the lineup and on the bump. The biggest jump throughout the year has been the consistency of the pitching and defense, developing depth and consistency. While the lineup is on that can hang some big numbers in a big hurry, it has been their ability to pitch and play defense that has won two of their 4 playoff games.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Cougars have cruised through the playoffs after a battle tested regular season in a tough conference. Walker Jenkins continues to impress and Aubrey Smith and Cameron Burgess give the lineup 2 more bats that can change the game with one swing. This club is fun to watch and they seem to really enjoy playing together. It will take two quality games from South Central to end the Cougars playoff run.
South Central Falcons’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 3A Poll Ranking - Tied No. 8
+ Overall Record - 20-5
+ Conference Record - 10-2
+ Home Record - 11-2
+ Away Record - 7-3
+ Neutral Record - 2-0
+ Streak - 9 wins in a row
+ 3 way Co-Champion of the Big East 3A/4A Conference
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 2-0 vs. Southern Wayne HS
- Rd 2 - 5-4 vs. East Wake HS
- Rd 3 - 11-1 vs. North Brunswick HS
- Rd 4 - 5-3 at JH Rose HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
Bottom line… we have been light on the South Central Falcons all year. This is a very competitive club that has several ways to win on any given night. Two different coaches in their area told us they were the toughest team they faced at about the half point of the year. Getting some love in the Greenville area means you have to knock off DH Conley and JH Rose. They tied those two for the conference championship and then bested Rose in a classic playoff game to reach the Regional Finals. This group is tested and believes they belong on the big stage. Sr. Alex Bouche is a player that can carry a club to a championship, but there is enough on the roster that he is not tasked with that effort.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Falcons haven't gotten much love all year and all they have done is win big game after big game. They have proven they deserve to be here by going in to JH Rose and winning a thriller. Alex Bouche is a really good player who can win a game for you at the plate, and on the mound. Trace Baker gives them another quality arm and they have veterans in the lineup who have made big contributions. This club has tons of fight and will look to continue to prove people wrong in this series.