NCHSAA 2A East Regional Final Preview

The NCHSAA State Tournament has reached its best of 3 scenario as each of the four classifications begin their Regional Finals this week.  As we prepare for the Regional Finals, we will take a look at each team and how they may expect to advance to a State Championship series.

Game Schedule

Game 1: North Lenoir at Whiteville – Wednesday May 23 at 7:00pm
Game 2: Whiteville at North Lenoir – Friday May 25 at 7:00pm
Game 3  North Lenoir at Whiteville – Saturday May 26 at 6:00pm

A Look at Whiteville 

Record:  25 – 1

Three Rivers 1A/2A Conference: 18-0 (1st)

Path to the Regional Final

Round 1: Richlands (11 – 1)
Round 2: Dixon (6 – 1)
Round 3: North Carolina School of Math & Science (16 – 0)
Round 4: South Granville (2 – 1)

Key Players  

Brooks Baldwin, SS/RHP, 2018 – UNCW commit
Will Hinson, INF, 2018
Dylan Hamilton, INF, 2019
Dylan Lawson, RHP, 2019
Jake Harwood, SS/RHP, 2020 – NC State commit

What Has To Happen to Advance

After winning the state championship in 2017, their 3^rd in 4 years, the wolfpack team has put together another outstanding year extending their conference win streak to 63 in a row.  They have faced all challengers, in different classifications, and kept it rolling after graduating the PBR National Player of the Year in 2017 (MacKenzie Gore).  Their experience and culture of winning cannot be dismissed.  The Wolfpack expects to play this week and into next, and they know how to win at this point in the year.  Brooks Baldwin has carried a team with depth for periods of the year and could do it again.  He matched South Granville ace Holden Laws pitch-for-pitch in their extra innings win in the 4^th Round.  Even when the heroics of one player isn’t enough, the Wolfpack found a way to win, down one in the bottom of the 8^th.  Their process and their trust in their process is enough to move on.  Whiteville needs to continue doing what it is they always do.    

A Look at North Lenoir

Record:  20 – 5

Eastern Carolina 2A:  10 - 2 (1st)

Path to the Regional Final

Round 1: Hertford County (6-0)
Round 2: North Johnston (5 – 4)
Round 3: West Craven (3 – 1)
Round 4: Randleman (1 – 0)

Key Players

Quinton Pittman, RHP, 2018 – Belmont Abbey commit
Aaron Jarman, RHP, 2018
Colby McLawhorn, C, 2018 – Mount Olive commit
Peyton Howard 2019, RHP, INF
Cameron Butler, SS, 2018 – Lenoir CC commit
Brandon Potter, INF, 2018 – NC Wesleyan commit

What Has To Happen to Advance

North Lenoir comes into the key three game series having already played this week, winning on Monday in dramatic fashion with a walk-off squeeze.  Due to pitch count rules, Quinton Pittman, ace of the Hawks staff will not be on the mound until Saturday.  Pittman through close to 90 pitches on Monday and by rules needs 4 days of rest before being active again.  Pittman is 7-1 with a 0.88 ERA in 55.2 innings of work.  Aaron Jarman and Peyton Howard are more than capable of matching up with Whiteville and this series gets very interesting if it gets to Saturday and Pittman is ready to roll.  Offensively, the Hawks will look to create pressure and speed Whiteville up.  Several guys in the lineup will create pressure and the Hawks look to run, stealing 58 bases so far in 2018.