Conference Carolinas Tournament Preview
- Robert Frey
- Apr 29
- 14 min read
Alright, let's set the stage for the first conference tournament of the season, the Conference Carolinas Tournament! This is where the season-long grind pays off, where every pitch, every at-bat feels bigger. The passion these Division II players bring? Unmatched. They've battled all year, and now ten teams are descending upon Gastonia, North Carolina, ready to leave it all on the field starting Wednesday, April 30th. We've got games at CaroMont Health Park and also over at Sims Legion Park, all building towards crowning a champion.
And what a regular season finish we had! History made as Francis Marion and Young Harris both claimed a piece of the regular-season title – a first for both programs! They were neck-and-neck, but the Patriots edged out the Mountain Lions in the tiebreaker to lock down that coveted #1 seed.
So, here's the deal: FMU, Young Harris, #3 Belmont Abbey, #4 North Greenville, #5 UNC Pembroke, and #6 Barton earned their way straight into the double-elimination bracket that gets rolling on Thursday. But first? We've got some absolute pressure-cooker single-elimination games on Wednesday! #7 Mount Olive tangles with #10 King, and #8 Emmanuel clashes with #9 Shorter. You lose, you pack your bags. You win, you live to fight another day against the top seeds.
Get ready, folks. Let's break down these teams fighting for an automatic bid in the Southeast Region.
Head to the Tournament Page for up-to-date information on game times, live stats, video, tickets and more.
#1 Seed Francis Marion
What an unbelievable regular season it was for First Year Head Coach Jeff Jefferson and the Francis Marion Patriots. Francis Marion earned their spot at the top, sharing the regular-season title with Young Harris after both finished within 0.002 KPI points of each other (also tied at 22-8). The Patriots ultimately grabbed the #1 seed thanks to winning the head-to-head series, finishing the regular season with a stellar 39-11 overall record. This is the first regular-season conference title for the program. As the top seed, they get a direct path into the double-elimination bracket and will kick things off Thursday at 11:00 a.m. against the winner of the Shorter/Emmanuel play-in game.
When you look at the Patriots' offense, one name jumps right off the page:
Charlie Bussey III: Talk about a standout season! He's hitting a blistering .429, gets on base like crazy leading to a massive 1.207 OPS, and leads the team driving in 55 runs. Absolutely raking.
But the offensive threats don't stop there. They've got power and speed:
Austin Bunn: Provides a power boost with 11 home runs.
Speedsters: This team loves to run! Caleb Oakley (25 SB), Rayth Petersen (22 SB), and Jimmy Koza (24 SB) have all swiped over 20 bases, putting constant pressure on opponents.
As a team, Francis Marion knows how to score. They rank in the Top 5 in the conference in both batting average (5th, .302) and OPS (5th, .875). What really stands out is their plate discipline and aggressiveness on the bases – they lead the conference in walks (1st - 274) and stolen bases (1st - 160).
On the pitching side, the Patriots have arms that can shut opponents down, especially among those who have logged significant innings (25+ IP):
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Danny Leo: Impressive with a 3.38 ERA over 42.2 IP.
Rijnaldo Euson: Has been dominant, posting a 2.76 ERA across a team-leading 91.1 IP.
Pitchers with strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio over 2.5:
Danny Leo: Excellent command with a 5.67 K/BB ratio.
Rijnaldo Euson: Showing great control with a 3.3 K/BB ratio.
Robbie Jordan: Also limiting walks effectively with a 3.47 K/BB ratio over 61 IP.
The pitching staff as a whole has been formidable. They rank Top 3 in ERA (3rd, 4.05), Top 5 in strikeouts (2nd), Top 3 in batting average against (3rd, .251), and lead the conference with the best K/BB ratio (1st).
Francis Marion rolls into Gastonia as the team to beat. They boast a high-powered, patient, and aggressive offense combined with a deep pitching staff that limits runs and pounds the strike zone. With the #1 seed and a proven ability to win big games, the Patriots have their sights set on capturing the tournament crown.
#2 Seed Young Harris
Let's take a look at the Young Harris Mountain Lions. Division II baseball, it's a grind, and these teams fight tooth and nail every single game. Young Harris certainly embodied that this season, finishing the season with the No.12 ranking in our polls.
The Mountain Lions put together a fantastic regular season, finishing with an impressive 37-13 overall record and going 22-8 in conference play. That conference mark earned them a share of the regular-season title, a first for the program, though they ended up with the #2 seed after losing a tiebreaker to Francis Marion. Still, a tremendous accomplishment that locks them into the double-elimination portion of the bracket starting Thursday. They'll await the winner of the single-elimination game between Mount Olive and King, with their first game scheduled for 3:00 p.m. eastern Thursday.
Looking at the Mountain Lions' roster, some guys have just been on another level offensively. You have to start with the power threats who have OPS numbers soaring over 1.000:
Jeremy Begora: Begora has been crushing it, boasting a massive 1.147 OPS with 18 homers.
Kade Smallwood: Smallwood isn't far behind with a 1.126 OPS and 16 round-trippers.
Luke Hatcher: The outfielder completes the trio with a 1.141 OPS, 14 home runs, and leads the team with a whopping 64 RBI. That RBI total is huge.
As a team, Young Harris ranks 3rd in the conference in batting average (.311) and 3rd in OPS (.932), so they are consistently putting up runs.
On the mound, you need pitchers who can step up in big moments, and Young Harris has a few who've shown they can handle the pressure, especially among those logging at least 25 innings:
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Brady Caloway: Rock solid with a 2.65 ERA over 37.1 IP.
Graham Edwards: Impressive 3.06 ERA across 64.2 IP.
Ryan Cross: Holding it down with a 3.46 ERA in 26 IP.
Austin Ritchie: Right at the mark with a 3.50 ERA over 69.1 IP.
Pitchers with strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio over 2.5:
Zach Hart: Dominant control with a 5.82 K/BB ratio over 77.2 IP.
Brady Caloway: Also shows good command with a 2.71 K/BB ratio.
As a unit, the Mountain Lions boast the 2nd best ERA in the conference at 3.98 and rank 5th in total strikeouts. Defensively, this team is exceptionally sound. They lead the entire conference with a .973 fielding percentage, meaning they don't give away many free outs.
Young Harris enters the tournament as a well-rounded, dangerous team with proven success in the regular season. With a potent offense, solid starting pitching, and the best defense in the league, they have the pieces to make a deep run in Gastonia.
#3 Seed Belmont Abbey
Okay, let's check out the Belmont Abbey Crusaders as they head into the Conference Carolinas Tournament. They put together a strong season and earned their spot among the top teams heading to Gastonia, as they spent the better part of the year just outside our Top 25 polls.
The Crusaders finished the regular season with a solid 34-14 record overall and went 21-9 in conference play. That performance secured them the #3 seed in the tournament. As one of the top six seeds, they've automatically qualified for the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Their first game is set for Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. eastern, where they'll face off against #6 seed Barton.
Looking at the Crusaders' lineup, they've got some guys who have been swinging hot bats and causing chaos on the basepaths:
Carter DuHaime: Hitting over .400 is always impressive, and DuHaime is doing just that with a .402 batting average. He also brings the thunder with a 1.092 OPS.
Caleb Burr: This guy is a true offensive catalyst. He boasts a massive 1.152 OPS, has launched 12 home runs, swiped 20 bases, and leads the team with 54 RBIs. Talk about doing it all!
Connor Tucker: Another speed threat, Tucker has racked up 24 stolen bases this season.
Belmont Abbey's offense has been productive throughout the year. As a team, they rank in the Top 5 in the conference in both batting average (4th - .303) and OPS (4th - 0.885).
On the mound, the Crusaders feature several pitchers who have been effective in keeping runs off the board (minimum 25 IP):
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Ethan Wilson: Leads the qualified starters with a stellar 2.96 ERA over 51.2 IP.
Spencer Cipro: Has been very solid, posting a 3.10 ERA across a team-high 78.1 innings.
Thomas Paxton: Effective out of the bullpen or in spot starts with a 2.88 ERA in 34.1 IP.
Pitchers with strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio over 2.5:
Ethan Wilson: Demonstrates great command with a 3.57 K/BB ratio.
Spencer Cipro: Also controls the zone well with a 3.21 K/BB ratio.
The Crusaders do pile up the strikeouts, ranking in the Top 5 in the conference (4th - 379).
Belmont Abbey enters the tournament with a potent offense capable of putting up crooked numbers and key pitchers who can keep them in games. They'll look to make some noise starting Thursday night in Gastonia.
#4 Seed North Greenville
Okay, let's turn our attention to the North Greenville Crusaders, a team that's always dangerous come tournament time and certainly proved their mettle during the regular season, currently checking in at No.7 in our latest Top 25 poll.
North Greenville finished the year strong with an impressive 42-11 overall record and a 21-9 mark in Conference Carolinas play. That performance earned them the #4 seed in the upcoming tournament. As a top-six seed, they bypass the single-elimination round and jump straight into double-elimination play. Their first test comes on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. eastern when they take on the #5 seed, UNC Pembroke, at Sims Legion Park.
When you look at the Crusaders' lineup, you see some serious firepower and guys who flat-out rake:
Brett Blomquist: Hitting .416 is elite, and Blomquist brings that plus an incredible 1.155 OPS to the table. Just a massive offensive force.
Tristan Salinas: Another huge bat, Salinas is hitting .372 with a whopping 1.200 OPS and has left the yard 11 times.
Gideon Antle: Leads the team in driving in runs, collecting 56 RBI on the season.
North Greenville ranks in the Top 5 in the conference in batting average (2nd - .323) and OPS (2nd - 0.933). They also show good plate discipline, ranking in the Top 3 for walks (2nd - 265).
On the pitching side, North Greenville boasts arguably the best staff in the conference, with several arms delivering standout performances (minimum 25 IP):
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Matthew Taubensee: Lights out with a minuscule 1.17 ERA over 30.2 IP.
Matty Brown: Impressive freshman campaign with a 2.23 ERA across 64.2 IP.
Brody Fowler: Rock solid with a 3.06 ERA in 70.2 IP.
Connor Brinson: Strong contributor with a 3.19 ERA over 31 IP.
Brady Price: Effective with a 3.31 ERA in 32.2 IP.
Pitchers with K% at or above 30:
Connor Brinson: Missing bats at a high clip with a 30.9% strikeout rate.
Pitchers with strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio over 2.5:
Brody Fowler (6.08), Matty Brown (5.45), Bennett Roemer (4.12), Connor Brinson (4.2), Matthew Taubensee (3.0), Brady Price (3.17), Jake Monroe (2.67), Thomas Skipper (2.57). Just an incredible display of command across the staff.
It's no surprise that the team pitching stats reflect this dominance. The Crusaders lead the conference with the best ERA (1st - 3.88), lead the conference in strikeouts (1st - 482), rank in the Top 3 for batting average against (2nd - .242), and lead the conference in K/BB ratio (1st - 3.19). They back that up with solid defense, ranking in the Top 3 in fielding percentage (T-2nd - .972).
North Greenville comes into Gastonia looking like a complete team. They possess a high-octane offense and arguably the most dominant pitching staff in the league. As the #4 seed, they might feel slightly overlooked, but they have all the tools necessary to make a deep run and challenge for the conference title.
#5 Seed UNC Pembroke
The Braves navigated the regular season to finish with a 28-20 overall record and a 16-14 mark in conference action. This performance slotted them into the #5 seed for the tournament. As one of the top six seeds, they've earned a spot directly into the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Their tournament journey begins with a tough matchup against the #4 seed, North Greenville, on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. eastern at Sims Legion Park.
UNC Pembroke has some key contributors who have put up notable numbers this season:
Hayden Davis: Leading the charge with a .392 batting average, just shy of that elusive 1.000 OPS mark at .997.
Blake Hinson: A menace on the basepaths, swiping 23 bags.
Landon Lucas: Provides the power with 10 home runs and leads the team with 55 RBIs.
On the pitching side, the Braves have a couple of arms that have stood out based on the criteria (minimum 25 IP):
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Landon Lucas: Also effective on the mound with a 2.73 ERA over 26.1 IP.
Seth Willis: Strong reliever posting a 3.35 ERA across 43 innings.
Pitchers with K% at or above 30%:
Seth Willis: Missing a ton of bats with an impressive 34.3% strikeout rate.
Pitchers with a strikeout-to-walk (K/BB) ratio over 2.5:
Seth Willis: Dominant control demonstrated by an outstanding 8.43 K/BB ratio.
The pitching staff has some bright spots. They rank in the Top 5 for strikeouts (3rd - 390) and importantly, they lead the entire conference in lowest batting average against (1st - .241), meaning they make it tough for opponents to get hits.
The Braves enter the tournament as the #5 seed, ready to battle. They'll rely on their key offensive producers and their ability to limit opponent hits to make a run in Gastonia. Their opening matchup against North Greenville will be a significant test right out of the gate.
#6 Seed Barton
Let's wrap up the top six seeds with the Barton Bulldogs. They played solid baseball all year and punched their ticket to the double-elimination portion of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
Barton finished the regular season with a respectable 29-20 overall record and a 19-11 conference mark. That performance earned them the #6 seed. They are set for a showdown in the final game on Thursday, facing off against the #3 seed Belmont Abbey at 7:00 p.m. eastern.
The Bulldogs have several hitters who've been making consistent contact and getting on base.
Hitters with BA over .350:
Evan Harding (.365)
Luis Sauri (.363)
Yariel Diaz (.360)
Hitters with OPS over 1.000:
Evan Harding (1.011)
Yariel Diaz (1.000)
Team RBI Leader:
Yariel Diaz leads the Bulldogs with 58 runs batted in.
While they don't have any players cracking the 20 stolen base or 10 home run marks among qualified hitters, the offense collectively makes a significant impact. As a team, Barton leads the entire conference in batting average (1st - .328).
On the pitching side (minimum 25 IP), here are the Bulldogs who standout:
Pitchers with ERA under 3.50:
Ryan Gordon (3.07 ERA over 29.1 IP)
Pitchers with K/BB ratio over 2.5:
A.J. Campbell (3.05 K/BB over 72.2 IP)
Barton rides into the tournament as the #6 seed, led by a potent offense that hits for the highest average in the conference.
#7 Seed Mount Olive
Mount Olive finished the regular season campaign with a 29-19 overall record and went 17-13 in conference play. This earned them the #7 seed in the tournament. Unlike the top six seeds, the Trojans start in the single-elimination round. They'll face off against the #10 seed King University on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. eastern. The winner moves on to face #2 seed Young Harris on Thursday, while the loser's season comes to an end. It's win-or-go-home right out of the gate for UMO.
While the Trojans don't have a multitude of players hitting all the high offensive thresholds this season, Jon Howard stands out. He reached the 10 home run mark and led the team with 44 RBIs, providing a key power source in the middle of the lineup.
On the mound, John Nelson McLamb has been particularly effective among the qualified pitchers (min. 25 IP). He posted a stellar 2.63 ERA over 27.1 innings pitched, doing a great job limiting earned runs when he was on the hill.
Where Mount Olive truly shines is on defense. They rank in the Top 3 in fielding percentage (T-2nd - .972) and are also Top 3 in caught stealing percentage (3rd - .299). That sure-handed defense and ability to control the run game are major assets.
#8 Seed Emmanuel
Emmanuel finished the regular season at 26-24 overall and went 14-16 in conference play, earning them the #8 seed. As one of the bottom four seeds, they have to battle through the single-elimination opening round on Wednesday. Their tournament life starts with a 1:00 p.m. easter game against the #9 seed, Shorter. Win, and they advance to face the top seed Francis Marion on Thursday; lose, and their season is over.
Looking at the Lions' standout performers:
Landon Mokris: Stands out significantly on offense. He hit .361, boasted an impressive 1.069 OPS, and reached double-digit home runs with 10. He also drove in 53 runs. A true triple-threat at the plate.
Brock Wollin led the team with 57 RBI.
On the pitching side (minimum 25 IP), Hunter Pirkle lead the team with 68 innings and a 4.68 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .270 off of him. Hunter Parks demonstrated good control with a K/BB ratio of 3.22.
Emmanuel faces a must-win game right away against Shorter. They'll lean heavily on Landon Mokris to power the offense and hope for solid pitching performances to keep their tournament hopes alive in Gastonia.
#9 Seed Shorter
Shorter finished the regular season with a 26-20 overall record and went 14-16 in the conference, landing them the #9 seed. Their path starts in the single-elimination round on Wednesday, where they'll face the #8 seed Emmanuel Lions at 1:00 p.m. eastern. It's a high-stakes opener – win, and they earn a date with #1 Francis Marion on Thursday; lose, and their tournament run is over before it truly begins.
The Hawks boast several dynamic offensive players who have met at least one of the standout criteria this season:
Tyler Zawacki: Hit over .350 with a .361 average and topped the 1.000 OPS mark (1.055).
Julian Sauger: Posted an OPS over 1.000 (1.016) and reached double-digit homers (11).
Will Fincher: Another player with an OPS over 1.000 (1.02), 11 home runs, and added elite speed with 26 stolen bases.
Ajay Jones: Showcased impressive speed, swiping 33 bags.
Alex Brodie: Led the team by driving in 46 runs.
This collection of hitters contributes to Shorter's aggressive baserunning identity. As a team, they rank in the Top 3 in the conference for stolen bases (2nd - 121).
On the pitching side, none of the Hawks' qualified pitchers, Coy Martin posted the team's best ERA (4.35) and highest strikeout rate (27.2%) over his 31 innings pitched.
Shorter heads into the single-elimination game against Emmanuel needing their multi-talented offense to lead the way. With speed, power, and players capable of getting on base, they'll look to put pressure on the Lions early and hope for a solid pitching performance to advance in the tournament.
#10 Seed King
King finished the regular season with a 14-36 overall record and went 8-22 in conference play. As the #10 seed, they face a tough road, starting with a single-elimination game against the #7 seed Mount Olive Trojans on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. eastern. It's a must-win situation right off the bat; the winner advances to play #2 seed Young Harris on Thursday, while the loser heads home.
Despite the team's overall record, the Tornado have several individual offensive players who put up impressive numbers and met standout criteria:
Levi Medford: Hit .351, crushed 13 home runs, and posted a stellar 1.149 OPS.
Michael Starrs: Provided significant power with 14 home runs, recorded an OPS over 1.000 (1.042), and led the team with 44 RBIs.
Nathan Borchardt: batted .357
On the pitching side, looking at the group who logged significant innings, Ben Hale posted the lowest ERA among qualifiers at 4.66 over 63.2 innings pitched.
The Tornado enter the tournament needing an upset win against Mount Olive to keep their season alive. They'll rely heavily on their standout power hitters like Medford and Starrs to produce runs.
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