NCHSAA 2A 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 2A Regional Finals that will give us the State Championship Matchup.
2A West Regional Finals
Community School of Davidson vs. Randleman HS
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 7:00pm - C.S. of Davidson at Randleman
Game 2: Thursday 5/26/22 at 7:00pm - Randleman vs. C.S. of Davidson at Moor Park
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at TBA - C.S. of Davidson at Randleman (if necessary)
Randleman Tigers’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - No. 2
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - No. 1
+ Overall Record - 29-1
+ Conference Record - 12-0
+ Home Record - 17-0
+ Away Record - 8-0
+ Neutral Record - 4-1
+ Streak - 13 wins in a row
+ Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A Conference Champion
+ Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A Conference Tournament Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 15-0 vs. Lincolnton HS
- Rd 2 - 11-0 vs. East Gaston HS
- Rd 3 - 17-0 vs. Mount Pleasant HS
- Rd 4 - 10-0 vs. East Surry HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
Playing with expectations can be difficult, especially for younger players. The Tigers have not only accepted having a target on their back, but they have thrived. When you watch them play, they do not seem to care who is in the other dugout, they are there to do what they do. The roster has high end arms that have produced and it has athleticism and power in a lineup that has posted monster numbers. This group knows how to work through the state playoffs and win the ultimate series. What could trip them up… Lets see what happens if anyone can press them into the 6th and 7th innings of games over the course of a series.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
Randleman is an exciting club to watch who has dominated opponents all year. They haven't allowed a run in the playoffs and have ended each game with the 5 inning mercy rule. While they haven't played many close games or been pressured late and even they are I don't think it will phase them. Their roster is extremely talented and its a group of guys who look like they truly enjoying playing baseball. The Tigers look poised to be playing for another State Championship.Community School of Davidson Spartans’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - Not Ranked
+ Overall Record - 17-6
+ Conference Record - 6-4
+ Home Record - 7-1
+ Away Record - 9-5
+ Neutral - 1-0
+ Streak - 6 wins in a row
+ 3rd in the Catawba Shores Athletic 1A/2A Conference
+ Catawba Shores Athletic 1A/2A Conference Tournament Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 9-6 vs. Chase HS
- Rd 2 - 3-1 at North Stanly HS
- Rd 3 - 15-8 at Lincoln Charter
- Rd 4 - 6-5 at Trinity HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
Christian Keel gives the Spartans an arm that could get some length in this series. He is a strike thrower that produces soft contact. Offensively, the Spartans are not scary top to bottom, but they have averaged over 8 runs per game in the playoffs, including scoring 15 vs. Lincoln Charter, a team in their conference that should have a pretty good beat on how to attack them. It is best to be playing your best at the end of the year and the Spartans are doing that… the question is can they level up again to push Randleman into deciding innings and deciding games.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Spartans are playing their best baseball of 2022 at the right time. Their offense has shown the ability to produce when facing quality arms and their pitching staff has limited the production of other teams. They have performed under pressure winning a 1-run game in the 4th round. They will need to continue to build on their successes in the first 4 rounds to make this a competitive series.2A East Regional Finals
North Lenoir HS vs. Whiteville HS
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 7pm - North Lenoir at Whiteville
Game 2: Thursday 5/26/22 at 7pm - Whiteville at North Lenoir
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at 4pm - North Lenoir at Whiteville (if necessary)
Whiteville Wolfpacks’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - Not Ranked
+ Overall Record - 21-3
+ Conference Record - 10-0
+ Home Record - 12-3
+ Away Record - 7-0
+ Neutral Record - 2-0
+ Streak - 19 wins in a row
+ Waccamaw 1A/2A Conference Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 7-3 vs. Eastern Wayne
- Rd 2 - 5-1 vs. South Lenoir
- Rd 3 - 10-5 vs. St. Pauls
- Rd 4 - 3-2 vs. Roanoke Rapids
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
I am a firm believer that it is easier to get to the destination when you know the path. The history around the Whiteville program lends itself to deep runs in the state playoffs and players come into the program with the expectation that this is what we do… Even when you know the path, you have to have talent to take the drive. Ty Lawson is an Ace, and I thought was a steal in the 2022 class, going late to UNC Wilmington. Match him up with some of the young talent coming through and the Wolfpack is positioned to continue down the road they know, but they will be tested in a big way this week.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
Whiteville continues to stand out as one of the top baseball programs in NC with another deep run in the playoffs. Ty Lawson has turned in several outstanding performances on the mound this season and their talented young lineup continues to develop each week. The Wolfpack look ready for the big stage and an exciting matchup with North Lenoir.North Lenoir Hawks’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - Not Ranked
+ Overall Record - 19-8
+ Conference Record - 10-2
+ Home Record - 10-3
+ Away Record - 8-4
+ Neutral Record - 1-1
+ Streak - 8 wins in a row
+ 2nd in the East Central 2A Conference
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 5-1 vs. Princeton HS
- Rd 2 - 10-6 vs. East Bladen HS
- Rd 3 - 8-0 at North Johnston HS
- Rd 4 - 3-1 vs. Heide Trask HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
A little bit of a streaky club throughout the 2022 season, the Hawks have developed the ability to just play the game… never panic… play it out and let it fall as it may. That ability to just play has moved them into the Regional Final and they will need to rely on it throughout this week. Luke Cannon is an arm that can matchup with lineups across the state and give the Hawks a chance. Jackson Jenkins is a developing arm that has punched right at one hitter per inning. For the Hawks to advance the pitching and defense will need to give the offense some zeroes, allowing them to setup the way they want to pressure a defense over time.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Hawks are riding an 8 game winnings streak into the East Finals. A talented young roster that looks to be hitting their stride at the right time. Luke Cannon has proven to be their ace and if he and other arms on their staff can keep games close late, their lineup has what it takes to get big hits and win a series.