NC Diamond Notes: Playoffs Week 2

May 21, 2026
Sean Smith
Mid-Atlantic Operations Manager

Comprehensive Coverage of the 2026 North Carolina High School Baseball Season

Throughout the 2026 North Carolina high school baseball season, Prep Baseball NC and its dedicated staff will provide extensive coverage of all aspects of the sport across the state. Our coverage will feature Inside the Box, a daily scoreboard, live scouting at high school games, a maintained Heat Sheet, and ongoing tracking of standout player performances.

Each week, our scouting staff will analyze box scores, consult with high school coaches, college recruiters, and professional scouts to select the Player and Pitcher of the Week. Coaches will have the opportunity to nominate players from their teams for consideration. The recipients of these awards will be announced every Tuesday throughout the spring season. Each player submitted and considered for the Player of the Week Award will be recognized in the weekly Diamond Notes release. This list of players will allow fans, coaches, and scouts a place each week to follow some of the best performances weekly in North Carolina.

2026 Prep Baseball NC High School Coverage

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Power 25
NC High School Scout Blog
North Carolina Player / Pitcher of the Week

Diamond Notes: Postseason Week 2

NCHSAA Playoffs

Third Round games played Tuesday, May 12
Regional Semifinals played Friday, May 15

Hitters

Alex Hampton, 1B, Marvin Ridge, 2028

Tuesday: 1-for-3 with a home run, run scored, and three RBI in a third-round win.
Friday: 1-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI in Marvin Ridge’s regional semifinal victory.

Dylan Poling, OF, Marvin Ridge, 2027

Guilford Tech CC commit
Tuesday: Hit a three-run home run in the third-round win.
Friday: Went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI as Marvin Ridge moved into the regional finals.

Brady Hastings, INF, J.H. Rose, 2027

Tuesday: 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs scored, and an RBI in a playoff win over South Central.

Laith Abulatifa, C, J.H. Rose, 2028

Homered and drove in two runs in the third-round win for J.H. Rose.

Luke Tyndall, OF, J.H. Rose, 2027

Collected two doubles and scored a run in the third-round playoff win.

Colby Epperly, 1B/OF, Ardrey Kell, 2026

Finished 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI in the third round.

Jaxon Haynes, OF, Providence, 2027

South Carolina commit
Went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI as Providence advanced.

Trent Baker, SS, North Raleigh Christian, 2026

Wofford commit
Homered in the NCISAA semifinal matchup, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Caleb Lynn, RHP/OF, Cleveland, 2027

UNC Wilmington commit
Hit a two-run home run in Cleveland’s third-round game.

Hodge Williams, C, Holly Springs, 2026

Reached base three times, homering while driving in two runs and drawing two walks in a regional-round victory.

Hunter Kisse, OF, Wake Forest, 2027

Went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI in postseason action.

Cole Nemire, INF, North Lincoln, 2028

Connected on a grand slam, finishing with four RBI in the third round.

Bauer Bowling, OF, Seaforth, 2027

Collected two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs.
Added a save to close out Seaforth’s postseason win.

Cooper Partin, RHP/1B, Southern Alamance, 2027

High Point commit
Homered and drove in a run at the plate.
Followed with four scoreless relief innings and six strikeouts to help secure the regional semifinal win.

Reed Osborne, OF, Lincoln Charter, 2028

Went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI in a regional semifinal victory.

Brock Bumgardner, RHP/INF, Cherryville, 2027

Finished 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and five RBI.
Also earned the win on the mound as Cherryville continued its postseason run.

Grant Helms, INF, Hickory Ridge, 2027

Drove in four runs in Hickory Ridge’s regional semifinal win.

Harry Johnson, INF, Midway, 2027

Homered in the regional semifinal matchup for Midway.

Ryder Sheffield, INF, North Stanly, 2029

Went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the regional semifinal round.

Jarrett Hinson, OF, North Stanly, 2027

Added a home run in North Stanly’s playoff victory.

Nolan Ellington, INF, North Stanly, 2027

Homered and drove in two runs as North Stanly advanced.

Pitchers

Henry Bauer, RHP, Myers Park, 2027

Washington commit
Tossed a complete-game win, allowing two unearned runs across seven innings with four strikeouts.
Helped Myers Park advance through the third round.

Parker Simo, LHP, J.H. Rose, 2027

Worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out four in the third-round win.

Bryce Huneycutt, RHP, Seaforth, 2027

Earned the win with 6.2 innings pitched, allowing three runs while striking out eight.
Continued Seaforth’s postseason run into the regional round.

Rhett Britt, RHP, Topsail, 2026

UNC commit
Worked 6.1 innings in a no-decision, allowing one run with six strikeouts in a tightly contested playoff game.

Gavin Whitley, RHP, D.H. Conley, 2029

Picked up the win with three hitless relief innings in extra innings.

Quinn O'Rourke, RHP, Charlotte Catholic, 2026

Arizona commit
Struck out 10 over six innings in a no-decision during third-round play.

Jaaron Frye, RHP, A.C. Reynolds, 2028

Fired 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit while striking out five.

Brayden Driver, RHP, Corinth Holders, 2026

UNC Pembroke commit
Worked six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks to earn the win.

Brady Boston, RHP, South Caldwell

Closed out the playoff win with two hitless innings and four strikeouts.

Ty Hayes, RHP, High Point Christian, 2027

Tossed 6.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in the NCISAA semifinal round.

Caleb Ellis, RHP, Grace Christian, 2026

Struck out 12 across 6.1 innings, helping Grace Christian advance to the NCISAA 3A championship series.

Carter Bowman, RHP, Alexander Central, 2026

Worked 6.1 innings, allowing two runs while helping Alexander Central move forward.

Anthony Zezza, LHP, Holly Springs, 2026

Queens University commit
Delivered 3.1 scoreless innings in relief during regional semifinal play.

Tucker Anderson, RHP, D.H. Conley, 2026

UNC Wilmington commit
Struck out nine over 5.1 innings in a regional semifinal no-decision.

Levi Kerr, INF/RHP, Marvin Ridge, 2029

Allowed no runs over 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts in the regional semifinals.

Adam Rodgers, RHP, Lincoln Charter, 2026

Mars Hill commit
Limited opponents to one hit over 6.2 innings while striking out nine.

Colt Briggs, RHP, St. Stephens, 2027

Appalachian State commit
Worked eight shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in a regional semifinal no-decision.

Jude Carter, RHP, Alexander Central, 2027

Kennesaw State commit
Matched zeros through seven innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 12 in a no-decision.

Gunnar Johnson, INF/RHP, Alexander Central, 2028

Earned the win in relief with six innings of one unearned run baseball.

Connor Bentley, RHP, Hickory Ridge, 2027

Threw a complete game, allowing one run over seven innings in the regional semifinal win.

Charlie Shaver, RHP, North Stanly, 2026

Old Dominion commit
Struck out 11 over 5.2 innings to help North Stanly advance.

NCISAA SemiFinal Round

Games played Tuesday May 12

State Championship Series Set

4A — Charlotte Christian vs. Metrolina Christian
3A — Grace Christian vs. High Point Christian
2A — Faith Christian vs. Burlington Chrstian
1A — Crossroads Christian vs. Lawrence Academy

Hitters

Jacob Seamon, OF/INF, Metrolina Christian, 2027

LSU commit
Hit for the cycle in postseason play, finishing 5-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four runs scored, and nine RBI.
Delivered production throughout the lineup card as Metrolina Christian advanced through the NCISAA playoffs.

Chase Kiker, RHP/INF, Metrolina Christian, 2026

Clemson commit
Went 3-for-4 with a double, one run scored, and two RBI in postseason action for Metrolina Christian.
Continued to contribute in the middle of the lineup during the NCISAA playoff run.

Cole Bowman, INF, Wesleyan Christian, 2027

Virginia Tech commit
Connected on a two-run home run, finishing 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Helped Wesleyan Christian generate offense during semifinal play.

Caleb Swaim, INF, High Point Christian, 2029

Turned in a perfect 3-for-3 performance with two RBI.
Provided consistent production at the plate in postseason competition.

Trent Baker, INF, North Raleigh Christian, 2027

Wofford commit
Went 1-for-2 with a home run, one run scored, and one RBI.
Supplied an early offensive spark for North Raleigh Christian in playoff action.

NCISAA State Championship Series

Games played Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16

State Champions

4A — Charlotte Christian
3A — Grace Christian
2A — Faith Christian
1A — Crossroads Christian

Hitters

Drew Darling, OF, Charlotte Christian, 2026

Belmont Abbey commit
Went 4-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and seven RBI in Charlotte Christian’s Game 1 win.
Charlotte Christian captured the NCISAA 4A State Championship.