Northwestern Preview

PROGRAM INFORMATION

HIGH SCHOOL NAME Northwestern

MASCOT Trojans

CLASSIFICATION 5A              

REGION Region 3                    

HEAD COACH Ryan Hunt       

TWITTER @NHSTrojanBB

INSTAGRAM nhs_baseball17               

HOME FIELD: 2503 West Main Street Rock Hill, SC 29732

PROGRAM HISTORY

PROGRAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

5A State Champions: 2017
Upper State Champions: 2014 & 2017
District Champions: 2009 , 2010 , 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Region Champions:92,93,94,95,96,97,02,03,04,05,07,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,16,17,18

RETIRED PRO BASEBALL ALUMNI

Ryan Hinson - San Diego Padres Organization 2009

PREVIEWING 2025     

PRESEASON EVENT:

Scrimmages:

Feb 12th 6:00pm at NHS vs Broome
Feb 19th 6:00PM at NHS vs Andrew Jackson
Feb 22nd 6:00PM at NHS vs Chester

Pre Season Tournament:

PBR Showdown @ Shipyard Park
vs Phillip Simmons 11:00am Feb. 28
vs St. James 12:30PM March 1
vs Wando 3:00PM March 2
vs TBD March 3

STARTERS RETURNING: 6            

RETURNING PITCHERS: 3              

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
Expected Team Strength - Northwestern strengths is the pitching rotation and defense. 2 of the 3 starters are back from last years rotation (2026 Dalton Ligon and 2025 Cole Smith) to go along with closer (2025 Parker Carroll). Brannon Cunningham is a promising 2027 LHP that will fill out the 3rd starting role. 2027 Tyson Jolly has also had a great off season that will provide depth in the rotation.

Northwestern returns 3 out of 4 starters in the infield from last years team. 2026 Bryson Deese 1B, 2026 John Black MIF and 2027 Brighton Ligon MIF. 2027 Gavin Perez and 2025 Cole Smith will anchor down the hot corner. 2025 Parker Carroll and 2025 Logan Gainey return in starting roles as OF to go along with 2026 Dalton Ligon , 2027 Brannon Cunningham.

2025 Charlie Burton moves to the catching role for 2025 season after starting in OF the last 3 years.  

QUOTE FROM THE COACH:

Northwestern Coaches are excited to watch this team and see how much growth we have had since last year. Northwestern while only having 4 seniors in 2025 have a lot of guys that have in game varsity experience that played major roles in the playoff run we made a year ago.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cole Smith RHP/IF 2025 Southern Wesleyan Signee 4 year starter on the bump.

Parker Carroll OF/RHP 2025

Dalton Ligon RHP/OF 2026 All Region RHP in 2024

Bryson Deese IF 2026 LHH with great size and pop in the bat. A+ Defender

John Black MIF 2026 2 year starter in the middle infielder.  

Brannon Cunningham LHP / UTIL 2027  6'2/3 athletic LHP with command of 3 pitches. Very good defender with some pop from the left side.

Brighton Ligon  MIF 2027 LHH  Led team in OBP last year as freshman

Gavin Perez CIF/OF 2027

Tyson Jolley RHP 2027 6'2 Very good off season, very heavy FB with a plus slider