With the baseball state championships played back on May 15, the NCISAA completed it’s most complex sports season in history. Unlike many other high school associations and despite Covid 19 the association was able to play a complete athletic with state chamionships in all sports. There were many alterations, cancelled contest, less than full schedules and some schools choosing not to participate in the fall and winter sports but NCISAA director Homar Ramirez and staff did a great job of getting through the 2020-2021 season.
This year’s baseball season was probably as normal as any of the sports venues this season. Though there were very few Easter or spring tournaments played and several schools played an abbreviated schedule things improved to business as usual quickly as the year progressed. By state tournament time, attendance for all fans was allowed everywhere. This was a sharp contrast to the fall and winter campaigns.
Looking back, there were no spring sports chamionships played last year to the pandemic so it has been two years since baseball state champions were crowned.
Looking to the individual classifications Kerr Vance won their fourth straight 1A title defeating Grace Christian in three games. However it was Grace Christian that dominated the regular campaign going undefeated and finishing the year with a 21-2 record. Grace outscored their opponents by a 393-84 count and won 15 games by the mercy rule. They plated better than 30 runs on two occasions and had more than 20 runs in seven other contests.
Ironically Crusaders defeated Kerr Vance 12-7 in their season opener but their downfall may have been their less than challenging schedule. Meanwhile Kerr Vance who ended up with a 13-8 record played a much tougher schedule and it was evident in the state finals. The Spartans fell to Grace in the championship opener 9-8 in 8 innings after blowing a six run lead. It was KVA’s first playoff loss since 2017.
However KVA roared back in the next two games blanking Grace 6-0 behind senior righthander Michael Holtzman and routing the Crusaders 16-7 in the third and deciding contest.
Like Grace Christian, Wayne Country Day dominated the 2A season. Unlike Grace Christian the Chargers completed the job they started going 19-1 and winning the 2A state title. WCD’s only loss on the season was to 4A state champion Charlotte Christian. Coach Adam Tate’s squad could have easily won the 2020 title had it been played.
Wayne Country Day featured a plethora (a Glen Taylor word) of talent and it was evident throughout the season. They rolled by Burlington School 12-0 & 16-1 in the 2A finals and outscored their opponents 69-1 in the playoffs. Four of their five playoff tilts were decided by the mercy rule and only Caldwell’s 8-0 loss to the Chargers was the one game that went a full seven innings. Among the biggest regular season wins was a 10-0 shutout of 4A runnerup Wesleyan on the Trojans home field and 9-1 & 12-2 pastings of NCCSA 2A state champion Wilson Christian.
Hickory Grove topped High Point Christian 5-1 and 4-2 to claim the 3A title. The championship for the lions was their second having won their first at the 2A level in 2005. Hickory Grove along with HP Christian were the premier teams in the 3A ranks this season with HG finishing 28-2 and HPCA 20-4.
Three of HP Christian’s four losses were to Hickory Grove.
Hickory Grove finished the season with a 25 game winning streak with their only setbacks to 4A state Champ Charlotte Christian and an early season upset to Calvary Day. The Lions future is bright as they will graduate only three seniors.
Charlotte Christian won their 17th state championship in a three game series with Wesleyan taking the first and third games by scores of 3-2 and 7-0 while the Trojans took the middle contest 5-1. Wesleyan and Charlotte Christian have met in the finals of the 4A/3A tournament in five of the past six years.
For Charlotte Christian it was their 17th baseball state championship.
Every year in basketball & baseball I name my eastern Players & Coaches of the Year. Bear in mind that these “awards” are selected by a committee of three—me, myself and I and the NCISAA nor any other person or organization has any input. I have my own criteria that I use for my selections.
Here is How I saw it for the past season
4A
Coach of the Year…Mo Blakeney..Wesleyan
Co Players of the Year..JD Suarez..Charlotte Christian & Jacob Cozart..Wesleyan
3A
Coach of the Year..Heath Blackmon..Hickory Grove
Co players of the Year…Justin Little..Hickory Grove & Eli Crump..HP Christian
2A
Coach of the Year..Adam Pate..Wayne Country Day
Co Players of the Year..Garrett Moffat..Wayne Country Day & Rowan Watt..Wayne Country Day
1A
Coach of the Year..Mike Riggsbee..Kerr Vance
Co Players of the Year..RJ Johnson..Kerr Vance & Justin Holland..Greenfield
FINAL TOP 5
1A
1.KERR VANCE…12-8
2.GRACE CHRISTIAN…21-2
3.GREENFIELD…15-6
4.HALIFAX…10-7
5.LAWRENCE…11-8
2A
1.WAYNE COUNTRY DAY…20-1
2.BURLINGTON SCHOOL…11-10-1
3.ROCKY MOUNT…12-1
4.CALDWELL…12-8
5.HARRELLS…13-6
3A
1.HICKORY GROVE…28-2
2.HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN..20-6
3.CONCORD ACADEMY…6-12
4.SOUTHLAKE…12-11
5.GRACE CHRISTIAN…12-6
4A
1.CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN...22-7
2.WESLEYAN…17-6
3.RABUN GAP…17-6
4.CARY ACADEMY…18-1
5.NORTH RALEIGH…17-6
PRESEASON TOP FIVE
1A
1.GRACE CHRISTIAN
2.GREENFIELD
3.KERR VANCE
4.HALIFAX
5.RIDGECROFT
2A
1.WAYNE COUNTRY DAY
2.BURLINGTON SCHOOL
3.WESTCHESTER COUNTRY DAY
4.CALDWELL
5.ROCKY MOUNT ACADEMY
3A
1.HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN
2.HICKORY GROVE
3.SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN
4.CALVARY DAY
5.ARENDELL PARROTT
4A
1.CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN
2.CARMEL CHRISTIAN
3.CHRIST SCHOOL
4.CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY
5.WESLEYAN
