Preview: 4A State Championship Series

The NCHSAA State Tournament has reached its finale, a best of 3 to decide a State Champion.  As we prepare for the State Championships, we will take a look at each matchup and a detailed look at each team still playing.

Game Schedule – Five County Stadium, Zebulon, NC

Game 1: Friday, June 1^st at 8:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, June 2^nd at 2:00pm
Game 3 if necessary: Saturday, June 2^nd at 8:00pm

Record:  26 – 5
South Meck Conference: 10 – 2  

PBR/NCBCA Coaches Poll Rankings:
03.13.18          RV
03.27.18          9^th
04.10.18          10^th
04.24.18          8^th
05.08.18          5^th

Path to the Regional Final

Round 1: Bye
Round 2: Lake Norman (3 – 0)
Round 3: Providence (4 – 0)
Round 4: West Fordyce (10 – 3)
West Regional Final: 2-0 Series win over East Forsyth (8-1 & 7-6)

Key Players

Cam Brantley, OF, 2018 - UNC commit
Vasili Kaloudis, SS, 2019
Parker Ledford, 3B, 2018
Trey Tujetsch, RHP, 2019 - South Carolina commit
Luke Carpenter, LHP, 2019

Inside the Knights

A very resilient team that has been tested throughout the year and found ways to answer each test in the state playoffs.  They have faced elite arms, well-rounded teams, and offensive clubs, passing each test with flying colors.  On the bump, Tujetsch has rounded himself into a bonified ace that AK can lean on and expect a good outing. 

Offensively, a club that may have been more small ball at the beginning of the year has produced several big innings and driven the baseball in key moments. Brantley and Tujetsch receive some of the immediate headlines, but there are several games throughout the year where the bottom of the order, or the bench produced in key moments.  The lineup has depth and will drive pitch counts up as there are not innings where opposing pitchers can relax.

Defensively, Kaloudis has really solidified the middle of the field with his play at SS.  Ledford, a utility player has played well at 3B.  The improved defensive play throughout the year has allowed arms like Carpenter, Garrett Sullivan, and Sunkalp Doshi to continue to develop, trusting the strike zone.  Carpenter has taken a big step forward and may be the next arm evaluators are talking about.

Coach Bagwell has a confident bunch heading to Zebulon.  They know they can win a variety of ways in a variety of different types of games.

A Look at Fuquay-Varina

Record:  20 -- 11
SWAC 4A Conference:  6 – 4 (2nd)

PBR/NCBCA Coaches Poll Rankings:
03.13.18          NR
03.27.18          NR
04.10.18          NR
04.24.18          NR
05.08.18          NR

Path to the State Championship Games

Round 1: Southview (14 – 4)
Round 2: Green Hope (3 – 0)
Round 3: Middle Creek (3 – 2)
Round 4: Sanderson (4 – 0)
East Regional Final: 2-1 Series Win over Apex (11-2, 0-2, 3-1)

Key Players

Kyle Mott RHP, 2018 – Pitt CC commit
Austin Johnson, RHP, 2018 – Wingate commit
Garrett McCraw RHP/OF, 2019
Lane Rhodes C, 2019
Joe Arnett RHP, 2019
David Keith, RHP, 2020
Cameron Johnson, SS, 2020
Jack Howell, 3B, 2020

Inside the Bengals

A Cinderella run… from the outside looking in, it may look that way.  Fuquay is a very respected program that is use to performing at a high level, that may have been slightly over-looked for much of the year.  In their conference, Garner and Holly Springs received a lot of the love in the PBR/NCBCA throughout the year.  Apex was a hot name coming into the year.  Throughout 2018, the Bengals have been fairly steady and rode their consistency into the State Championship series. 

The pitching staff has depth. Kyle Mott has been their ace and Fuquay-Varina will rely on him to establish momentum for Austin Johnson and David Keith.  Garrett McGraw has worked out of the bullpen & has established trust with his effort throughout the year.  Joe Arnett has thrown well in spurts, working over 30 innings and punching 25 in 2018.  The Bengal coaching staff will have some options on how to mix and match throughout the series to put their staff in the most advantageous position.  While each of their top three arms can dominate a lineup, they don’t have to in order to win. 

The Bengal defense was good during the regional games, committing 3 errors over the 3 games. Cameron Johnson is an athletic presence in the middle of the field and McGraw patrols CF prior to taking the mound late.  Not flashy, just dependable, the Bengals can tie their success to the ability to make routine plays.   

During the 4A regional games, Fuquay-Varina’s offense was spread over multiple players with all 9 starters collecting hits over the 3 game series. As a club they are hitting .290 with 17 home runs on the year.  Mott led the regulars hitting .374 and Matthew Long provided thump with 9 doubles and 8 home runs.  Opportunistic and aggressive, Fuquay will need to capitalize on opportunities this weekend to take home the state championship.

Coach Boraski had a group at the beginning of the year with potential.  As the year has progressed, they have accepted challenges and made improvements.  As they worked their way through the state playoffs, they not only met obstacles but conquered them to advance.  They will need to continue that this week.