2026 Conference Carolinas Tournament Preview

The Conference Carolinas Tournament heads back to Gastonia, N.C. for the fourth-straight year, with four Top 25 squads among the ten teams in the field. The tournament will be primarily hosted at CaroMont Health Park, with three games set to take place at Sims Legion Park. The action kicks off Wednesday with two play-in games, featuring No. 8 seed Emmanuel vs. No. 9 seed King at 1 p.m., while No. 7 seed Erskine will take on No. 10 seed Southern Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Conference Carolinas uses KPI ratings to determine the seeding, so you will see those listed with each team.

Links to know:

Tournament Website

Bracket

Live Stream Page ($10 daily pass / $30 tournament pass)

Live Stats Page (CaroMont Health Park games)

Live Stats Page (Sims Legion Park games)

Tickets (Free admission at Sims Legion Park games)

No. 1 Seed: #2 North Greenville (42-8, 28-5, .218 KPI)

The Trailblazers claimed the league’s regular season title for the sixth time, while also bringing home the No. 1 seed for the fourth time in the last five years. The Trailblazers have also posted 40+ wins for the seventh-consecutive full season, while head coach Landon Powell picked up his fourth Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year Award. NGU will open up the tournament on Thursday at 11 a.m. against the Emmanuel-King winner at CaroMont Health Park. The Trailblazers won 2-of-3 against both Emmanuel and King during the regular season.

The Trailblazers come into the tournament ranked in the top ten, nationally, in six categories. NGU sits fourth in doubles (122) and K/BB ratio (2.66), fifth in hits (593) and home runs (85), seventh in runs (490), and tenth in slugging percentage (.553). NGU has seven regulars (100+ ABs) hitting .330 or better, with CJ Dean (.423, 20 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBI) and Josh Foulks (.403, 15 2B, 19 HR, 74 RBI) leading the way. Connor McKee has had an excellent freshman campaign, hitting .370 with 8 doubles, 6 homers, and 29 RBI. Kai Tullos is hitting .359 with 13 XBH and more walks than strikeouts, Lane McGaha has had a breakout season, hitting .337 with 10 doubles, 12 jacks, and 52 RBI, while Thomas Powell sits at .330 with 17 doubles, nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 16-17 on SB attempts. Finally, Skyler Hegler is hitting .324 with 15 XBH in his freshman season after coming over from Clemson at the break.

NGU is equally impressive on the mound, pitching at a league-leading 4.11 ERA. Matty Brown and Bennett Roemer have been a two-headed monster, combining to go 15-2 with a 2.87 ERA. The NGU bullpen has been a weapon, as well, as six guys have 13+ relief appearances and a sub-3.30 ERA. Thomas Skipper leads the club in appearances with 23, and has posted a 4-1 record, one save, and a 0.73 ERA across 24.2 innings. Caleb Cox and Kadan Roach have each made 20 appearances, with Cox sitting 2-0 with a save and a 2.54 ERA over 28.1 innings, while Roach is 2-0 with two saves in 27.1 innings. Wyatt Evans (1.54 ERA in 13 APP), Ben Leikam (1.80 ERA in 18 APP), and Connor Brinson (2.56 ERA in 21 APP) round out the bullpen.

No. 2 Seed: #8 Francis Marion (40-10, 27-6, .160 KPI)

Francis Marion followed up its 2025 regular season championship with a runner-up finish in 2026. After not posting a 40+ win season since 2012, head coach Jeff Jefferson’s squad has now done it back-to-back years after losing only one weekend series all year (to #1 seed North Greenville). FMU will open the tournament Thursday at 3 p.m. against the winner of #7 seed Erskine and #10 seed Southern Wesleyan at CaroMont Health Park. The Patriots swept King last weekend, but did not play Southern Wesleyan in the regular season.

The Pats and its vaunted offense enter the tournament ranked in the top five, nationally, in nine categories. FMU leads the country in runs (594) and runs per game (11.9), is second in OBP (.473) and batting average (.362), third in hits (633), doubles (124) and triples (22), fourth in slugging percentage (.580), and fifth in stolen bases (161). It certainly helps when you have the back-to-back Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, and arguably the best player in the country in your lineup, as Charlie Bussey III is hitting a cool .497 with 95 hits, 19 doubles, 18 jacks, 71 RBI, and has nearly three times as many walks as strikeouts (51/18), while also going 38-44 on SB attempts. 1^st-Team All-Conference selection Ethan McAnally (.409, 14 2B, 17 HR, 81 RBI) and 2^nd-Team All-Conference member Riley Orr (.402, 18 2B, 11 HR, 75 RBI) join Bussey III in the .400+ club, while Will Dorrell, also a 2^nd-Team All-Conference honoree, has had a fantastic senior season, hitting .384 with 21 XBH and 43 RBI.

While the Pats have been a hit over pitch team this season, the staff does have some quality arms to turn to. Veteran Robbie Jordan (1^st-Team All-Conference) leads the way with a 10-1 record and a 4.21 ERA with 66 Ks across 66.1 innings, while Aydin Palmer is 9-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 61.1 innings with 71 strikeouts. Owen Powell (45 IP, 14 APP, 5.00 ERA) and Jackson Madden (34.1 IP, 15 APP, 5.24 ERA) can provide length out of the bullpen for a Patriots team that should certainly see its name in the NCAA Tournament field after being on the wrong side of the bubble a year ago.

No. 3 seed: #12 Belmont Abbey (36-12, 26-7, .137 KPI)

After the Crusaders came up short in the championship game in 2024, Belmont Abbey took home the crown last season and returns to nearby Gastonia looking to be the first team to go back-to-back since North Greenville won four straight from 2018-2022. Belmont Abbey opens the tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. against #6 seed Mount Olive at CaroMont Health Park. The Crusaders took 2-of-3 from Mount Olive back in February.

Another potent offense in this tournament field, Belmont Abbey is hitting .355 as a team, led by 1^st-Team All-Conference selections Caleb Burr (.429, 12, 2B, 18 HR, 67 RBI) and Joe Whitaker (.422, 17 2B, 22 HR, 80 RBI). Jacob Steinberg (.375, 18 2B, 56 RBI) and Matthew Fattore (.373, 16 2B, 40 RBI, D2-leading 39 *ouch* HBP) are also big pieces of the Crusader offense.

Belmont Abbey is solid on the mound, led by two-headed starting pitcher tandem Drew Stegura (Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year) and Spencer Cipro (1^st-Team All-Conference), as well as bullpen stalwart, Ethan Yarbrough (1^st-Team All-Conference). The trio is a combined 24-0 on the season, with Stegura (2.69 ERA in 67 IP) and Cipro (2.85 ERA in 72.2 IP) both 9-0, while Yarbrough (3.13 ERA in 31.2 IP) is 6-0 with a save. MJ Doan trails only Yarbrough in appearances with 20, and has posted a 3.05 ERA across 20.2 innings, while Wyatt Clarke (3.75 ERA, 24 IP, 31 K) has been a useful pen option, as well. Sawyer Osborne can provide some length if needed, as he has logged 36 innings across 13 appearances (5 starts) and a 5.00 ERA.

No. 4 seed: #24 Young Harris (35-15, 24-9, .127 KPI)

Yet another explosive offense in this tournament, Young Harris enters as the #4 seed and will play Thursday at 1 p.m. against #5 seed UNC Pembroke at Sims Legion Park. The 2022 Peach Belt Tournament champs, the Mountain Lions head to Gastonia looking for its first Conference Carolinas championship. Young Harris swept UNC Pembroke earlier this season.

Young Harris enters the tournament ranked in the top-five in Division II in six categories, as coach Stephen Waggener’s club is leading the country in hits (651), ranked second in runs (559), third in home runs (93) and slugging percentage (.584), and fourth in batting average (.356) and runs per game (11.2). Eight starters are hitting .345+, led by 1^st-Team All-Conference member Jack Enrico’s .410 average and 19 doubles. Drew Bray (2^nd-Team All-Conference) is as solid as you’ll find atop an order, slashing .395/.522/.600, while also fielding .948 at the hot corner. Carlos Martans has had a breakout year, picking up 1^st-Team All-Conference honors and hitting .380 with 20 XBH and 43 RBI, while Kade Smallwood is tied for national lead in RBI with 89, also contributing 13 doubles and 19 homers and a .374 average, and joined Enrico and Martans on the All-Conference 1^st Team. Keypher Contreras (2^nd-Team All-Conference) is tied for the national lead in walks with 58, while also chipping in with 18 home runs and 55 RBI.

2^nd-Team All-Conference honoree Cole Molina (5.25 ERA), Barrett Eldridge (6.26 ERA), and Austin Ritchie (5.33 ERA) make up the weekend rotation, and while the numbers don’t stand out, the Mountain Lion offense has done enough for the trio to go a combined 15-5. Relief ace Trey Griffin (2^nd-Team All-Conference) is second in the country in appearances with 26, and has turned in a 3-1 record with four saves in 42.1 innings, while Sam Neal (4.78 ERA in 43.1 IP) and Brock Parker (5.44 ERA in 41.1 IP) have also been reliable out of the pen.

No. 5 seed: UNC Pembroke (32-16, 21-12, .082 KPI)

The 2024 Conference Carolinas Tournament champs, the Braves enter Gastonia as the #5 seed for the second-straight season and will take on the aforementioned #4 seed Young Harris on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Sims Legion Park. UNCP was swept by Young Harris earlier this season.

Solid offensively, but not quite as explosive as the top four seeds, UNCP is led by 1^st-Team All-Conference selection Landon Lucas, as the senior is hitting .434 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs, and 75 RBI. Leadoff man Daniel Stephens (2^nd-Team All-Conference) is the closest to Lucas in RBI with 41, and is hitting .370 with 16 doubles and 16 stolen bases. Utility man Jackson Crute has been on a tear of late, and enters Gastonia hitting .487 with eight XBH after being inserted in the starting lineup a couple weeks ago. Branton Jernigan also provides some pop for this Braves squad, hitting .345 with 10 doubles and 11 jacks.

On the mound, the Braves are led by Kasen McCawley (2^nd-Team All-Conference), as the righthander is 9-3 with a 4.13 ERA and 78 Ks in 72 innings. Jarred Lindholm leads the club in appearances with 19, and has posted a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings, while southpaw Taylor Batten carries a 2.75 ERA across 19.2 innings into the tournament. Harrison Holbrook has been solid over the last month, allowing just two earned runs in his last 12.1 innings, while CW Bayer has been solid as well, allowing just two earned across his last 14 innings.

No. 6 seed: Mount Olive (28-19, 20-12, .047 KPI)

The 2023 Conference Carolinas Tournament champs, Mount Olive enters as the #6 seed and will open up play against #3 seed Belmont Abbey at 7 p.m. Thursday at CaroMont Health Park. Mount Olive lost 2-of-3 to Belmont Abbey in the regular season.

2^nd-Team All-Conference selection Jakhari Howard stirs the drink for the Trojans, entering as the team leader in batting average (.389) and OBP (.517), while also going 14-16 on SB attempts. Rowan Watt (1^st-Team All-Conference) is tied for second in the country in doubles with 22 and has also chipped in a team-high 51 RBI while hitting .315. Malachi Gales and Lane McLean provide the thump for this offense, as the duo has hit 10 homers apiece and combined for 25 doubles.

Mount Olive would presumably turn to 2^nd-Team All-Conference honoree Aiden Newton against Belmont Abbey, as the senior is the lone Trojan with a sub-4.00 ERA, currently pitching at a 2.99 ERA with 75 Ks in 75.1 innings. Kole Hopkins leads the team in appearances with 22 and has posted a 5.12 ERA in 38.2 innings. Pete Honse is a capable swing man, logging a 5.21 ERA in 48.1 innings across 14 appearances (6 starts).

No. 7 seed Erskine: (26-24, 20-13, .036 KPI)

The Flying Fleet head to Gastonia as the #7 seed and will tangle with #10 seed Southern Wesleyan in one of the two play-in games Wednesday at 5 p.m. at CaroMont Health Park. Erskine took 2-of-3 from Southern Wesleyan in the regular season.

Erskine is a capable offense, evidenced by its series win at Young Harris to close out the regular season this past weekend. The Flying Fleet are led by Mason McManus (.397, 11 2B, 8 HR, 50 RBI) and 1^st-Team All-Conference selection Pierce Radke (.393, 20 2B, 37 RBI). Drew Potts has been solid, coming into Gastonia hitting .340 with 13 XBH, while Danny Villafane enters with a .326 average with 14 XBH and 50 RBI.

Chase Grube leads the staff with 12 starts, turning in a 4.91 ERA across 55 innings. Jared Guell has been the Flying Fleet’s best bullpen option, posting a 4.99 ERA with 39 punchouts in 30.2 innings. Erskine has ten other arms that have logged 10+ appearances, so the Fleet will have to mix and match effectively to make some noise.

No. 8 seed Emmanuel: (21-28, 16-17, .002 KPI)

Emmanuel enters as the #8 seed and will take on #9 seed King in the first play-in game Thursday, set for a 1 p.m. first pitch at CaroMont Health Park. The two squads did not meet in the regular season.

Aiden Feather leads this Emmanuel offense with a .356 average, 19 doubles, and 54 RBI, while Nick Madrigal (2^nd-Team All-Conference) is the only other Lion with at least 50 hits and 30 RBI, currently hitting .347 with 10 XBH and 30 RBI. The squad does have some speed on the basepaths with five players stealing 10+ bases, while one more has nine.

Hunter Pirkle leads the team in starts with 13 and has posted a 6.44 ERA across with 65.2 innings. Pirkle has been solid against the top teams in the league, turning in quality starts against Belmont Abbey, Francis Marion, and Young Harris. Ethan Pooler is next with 10 starts and a 7.71 ERA in 53.2 innings to go along with 54 strikeouts.

No. 9 seed King: (13-35, 10-23, -.072 KPI)

King heads to Gastonia as the #9 seed and will take on #8 seed Emmanuel at CaroMont Health Park on Thursday at 1 p.m. The two squads did not meet in the regular season.

King is led offensively by Tommy Regan, as the freshman is hitting a team-high .323 while also tallying 14 doubles and three homers. Logan Janney provides the thump for the Tornado offense, heading to Gastonia with a .318 average to go along with 17 doubles and eight home runs.

Rohde Kirkland is the top starter for the Tornado, posting a 6.00 ERA in a team-high 13 starts, while Ben Hale is next with 12 starts and a 7.08 ERA, with 54 Ks in 54.2 IP. Jonathan Webster is the go-to relief option, collecting a team-high four saves with 24 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

No. 10 seed Southern Wesleyan: (16-34, 10-23, -.104 KPI)

Southern Wesleyan comes to Gastonia as the #10 seed and will take on #7 seed Erskine in the second play-in game Wednesday at 5 p.m. at CaroMont Health Park. The Warriors dropped 2-of-3 to Mount Olive in the regular season.

The Warriors will send four regulars hitting at least .340 to Gastonia, as Ethan Shimmel (.351, 16 2B, 9 HR, 53 RBI) and Nolan Evatt (.350, 11 2B, 5 HR, 41 RBI) lead the way. Perry Dyer and Luke Taylor join them in the .340+ club, as Dyer is hitting .342 with 18 XBH, while Taylor enters hitting .340 with 13 XBH. As a club, the Warriors rank ninth in D2 in stolen bases with 149, led by Tristan Tillman’s 44, good for second in the country. Southern Wesleyan also ranks 11^th in HBPs and seventh in sac flies, and will continue to look to manufacture runs to make some noise in Gastonia.

On the mound, the Warriors have used 15 different starting pitchers this season, led by Gavin Chandler’s 12 and 11 from Lukas Arvantides. Caleb Gregory (3.20 ERA, 2 saves, 19.2 IP, 18 K) and Coleman Wylie (4.60 ERA, 31.1 IP, 32 K) have been solid out of the pen, as well.