3A State Bracket & Team Capsules

June 14, 2021
Matt Payne
NC Director of Scouting

The 2021 High School season is into it's post-season with the start of the NCHSAA State Tournaments. Each of the 4 classifications will hold a single-elimination, 32 team "battle royal". Play is scheduled to begin on Tuesday June 15th and continue to the state championship on June 25th. While the NCHSAA season is still adhering to COVID protocols with scheduling, the excitement of of the tournament season is undeniable.

Below we take a look at the brackets and teams involved. The PBR Power 25 is a comprehensive team poll designed by PBR, working to rank the top 25 HS baseball teams in North Carolina regardless of classification or organization. The PBR Coaches Poll is a poll conducted by PBR, taking votes of the coaches of North Carolina, ranking the top 10 teams in each of the NCHSAA classifications. For the "Player to Watch" segment, players were added based on being in the PBR database of players and based on notes compiled by PBR Scouts in the last year.

3A BRACKET AND TEAM CAPSULES

East

No. 1 Northern Guilford		No. 16 Cape Fear
+ 14-0 (14-0)		+ 7-3 (11-3)
+ No. 8 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 1 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Josh Deslauriers, Jay Allred, Clay Minor, Slater Ward, Ben Kaiser, Nolan Lawrence, James Newsome, Evan Wyrick, Bryce King, Tyler Cass, Jackson Roberts		Jeremy Quesenberry, Ethan Ashlock, Zach Smith, Israel Ortiz, Jason Quesenberry, Aaron Smith
No. 8 Hunt		No. 9 Northern Durham
+ 8-6 (8-2)		+ 11-2 (6-1)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blaize Keen, Luke Dilda, Cody Mercer, Jason Mercer, Chase Waddell		Louis Berini, Matthew Lombard, Seth Lumpkin, Charles, Mcdowell, Colin Scoggins, Jackson Bishop
No. 5 South Brunswick		No. 12 Southeast Guilford
+ 8-5 (8-5)		+ 11-3 (10-2)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Walker Jenkins, Aubrey Smith, Cameron Burgess, Jaylend Clemmons		Jake Jenkins-Coward, Talor Grubbs, Cohen Harris, Trevor Souther
No. 4 West Johnston		No. 13 JH Rose
+ 11-3 (7-3)		+ 10-4 (9-3)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Max Kasprowicz, Rylan Citty, Luke Robers, Xzavier Monk, Matthew Hall, Connor Hill		Jayden Grimes, Ryker Galaska, Lee Watson, Grayson Myrick
No. 3 DH Conley		No. 14 Jacksonville
+ 12-1 (10-1)		+ 8-3 (7-3)
+ No. 10 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 4 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Matthew Matthjis, Dixon Williams, Braeden Murray, Evan McLean		Trent Murchison, Cooper Ferguson, Matthew Lovitt, Brody Meyer, Tanner Burmahl
No. 6 Asheboro		No. 11 Orange
+ 12-2 (10-2)		+ 10-4 (6-1)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tanner Marsh, Davis Gore, Gage Miller, Avery Jones		Tyler Lloyd, Jaren Sikes, Jackson Berini, Davis Hoton, Ryan Hench, Joey Pounds, Will Walker, Jordan Underwood
No. 7 Terry Sanford		No. 10 Union Pines
+ 13-0 (10-0)		+ 12-1 (8-1)
+ No. 8 in the PBR Coaches Poll		+ No. 9 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brady Gore, Brent Smith, Nathan Brown, Barnes Smith, Cameron Seagroves		Bryson Horney, Mayson Dear, Chance Purvis, Finley Spicer, Ethan McKay
No. 2 West Carteret		No. 15 Clayton
+ 11-0 (9-0)		+ 10-4 (9-3)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blaize Keen, Luke Dilda, Cody Mercer, Jason Mercer, Chase Waddell		Trevor Tuthill, Clay Clinard, Daniel Morgan, Hugh Collins, Ty Hubbard

West

No. 1 Crest		No. 16 North Henderson
+ 12-0 (12-0)		+ 10-4 (10-4)
+ No. 2 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ben Hodge, Javarius Green, Tucker McSwain, Colby Humphries, Jacskon Ledbetter		Matthew Rhymer, Garrett Stackhouse, Dylan Blackwell
No. 8 Kings Mountain		No. 9 Cox Mill
+ 11-3 (10-2)		+ 11-3 (9-3)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zane Brockman, Cole Irby, AJ Wylie		Martin Gair, Tyler Zedalis, Nick Alderfer
No. 5 Northwest Cabarrus		No. 12 Marvin Ridge
+ 10-4 (9-3)		+ 10-4 (10-4)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trenton Grigley, Caden Grider, Mason Murdock, Michael Gracer, Terry Kaler		Miller St John, Matthew Gross, Jeb Despard, Kyle Dobos
No. 4 TC Roberson		No. 12 Mount Tabor
+ 13-1 (13-1)		+ 9-5 (8-3)
+ No. 23 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 5 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ben Hemphill, Nick Parham, Brody Whitson, Noah Sorrells		Adam Stoppenhagen, Jimmy Britt, Jake Koonin
No. 3 East Rowan		No. 14 Western Guilford
+ 12-3 (8-2)		+ 8-7 (7-4)
+ No. 13 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 6 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chance Mako, Jake Hunter, Cameron Padgett, Charles Hightower		Andy Williams, Austin Williams, Nathan Terry
No. 6 Southwest Guilford		No. 11 Sun Valley
+ 14-0 (10-0)		+ 11-3 (11-3)
+ No. 24 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 3 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joe Specht, Jaxon Rauber, Tanner Royals, Camden Saylor, Tanner Moore, Luke Johnson		Brandon Butterworth, Garrett Saner, Carson Saner, Jacob Budzik, Greg Bello
No. 7 Cuthbertson		No. 10 Asheville
+ 12-2 (12-2)		+ 11-3 (11-3)
+ No. 18 in the PBR Power 25
+ No. 10 in the PBR Coaches Poll
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brandon Hudson, John Newton, Landon Carr, Connor Higgins, Tristan Potts, Tyler Potts		Larson Scholtz, Connor Hillier, Kyle Moshier, Sam Justen
No. 2 St. Stephens		No 15 Jesse Carson
+ 9-3 (8-3)		+ 9-4 (8-2)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Julian Peisel, Gavin Marley, Silas Isenhour, Peyton Young		Cameron Burleyson, Dylan Driver, Hayden Simmerson