Joe L Hughes II|The Gaston Gazette
Judgement Day has come for a host of area high school baseball and softball teams, the NCHSAA unveiling its playoff brackets in each sport ahead of Tuesday’s first round contests.
Before moving on, NCHSAA state playoff criteria for each sports is as follows:
- Sixty-four teams qualify in each of the state’s four classifications, 32 spots in the East and West.
- Conferences with one to five teams are allotted a playoff spot. Leagues with six or more receive two berths — one to the league champion, another awarded to either its second place team or winner of its postseason tournament.
- In the occasion of a split conference — as is the case in Southern Piedmont 1A/2A and Catawba Shores 1A/2A — the team with the best finish in a given classification is awarded a playoff berth.
- All other playoff spots are awarded based on the NCHSAA’s regional RPI rankings.
- Conference champions are seeded first based on their respective RPI ranking. Split conference teams are lumped with them, with two caveats: they must finish in their league’s top three, or wind up with an overall winning percentage of .500 or better. Otherwise, they are considered as an at-large team, falling in line behind conference champions.
Seventeen area baseball teams qualified for the postseason, eight of them starting at home.
In 3A West, Big South 3A champion Kings Mountain leads the way. Ranked third, it will host Tuscola in opening-round competition. Western Foothills 3A regular-season champ North Lincoln will also be at home, taking on league foe North Iredell. Burns claimed the No. 3 spot in 2A West, drawing South Stokes as its first-round opponent.
Others hosting first-round matchups include Crest (vs. Rockingham County) and East Lincoln (vs. Forestview) in 3A West; Catawba Shores 1A/2A champion Lincoln Charter (vs. Surry Central) and East Gaston (vs. Pine Lake Prep) in 2A; while Cherryville hosts Piedmont Community Charter.
Sixteen softball teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are playoff bound, with 3A West's top seeds homegrown.
Undefeated East Lincoln is the region's top seed,hosting West Charlotte in opening round competition. Big South 3A champion Crest followed at No. 2, drawing Central Academy.
In 2A West, Burns is the highest-ranked team at No. 7. It will host Pine Lake Prep on Tuesday. Lincoln Charter is ninth, drawing Wilkes Central in the first round.
Mountain Island Charter and Cherryville also earned playoff home dates.
A complete look at playoff pairings: and seeding is found below
More: Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland county players to watch in NCHSAA baseball playoffs
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More: 'Trust the process': How Kings Mountain baseball ended a lengthy league title drought
Baseball
3A West
Seeding
- South Rowan: South Piedmont 3A No. 1
- Ledford: Mid Piedmont 3A No. 1
- Kings Mountain: Big South 3A No. 1
- West Henderson: Mountain 7 3A
- North Lincoln: Western Foothills 3A No. 1
- Eastern Guilford: Mid-State 3A
- Parkwood: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
- Enka: The Mountain 3A/4A No. 1
- East Rowan
- St. Stephens
- East Lincoln
- Crest
- Foard
- Carson
- Oak Grove
- West Rowan
- South Point
- Northwest Cabarrus
- North Henderson
- North Davidson
- Rockingham County
- Forestview
- Central Davdison
- North Gaston
- Erwin
- Hickory
- Franklin
- North Iredell
- Asheboro
- Tuscola
- Hibriten: Northwestern 3A/4A qualifier
- West Charlotte: Queen City 3A/4A qualifier
Pairings
- (32) West Charlotte at (1) South Rowan / (17) South Point at (16) West Rowan
- (25) Erwin at (8) Enka / (24) North Gaston at (9) East Rowan
- (28) North Iredell at (5) North Lincoln / (21) Rockingham County at (12) Crest
- (20) North Davidson at (13) Foard / (29) Asheboro at (4) West Henderson
- (30) Tuscola at (3) Kings Mountain / (19) North Henderson at (14) Carson
- (27) Franklin at (6) Eastern Guilford / (22) Forestview at (11) East Lincoln
- (26) Hickory at (7) Parkwood / (23) Central Davidson at (10) St. Stephens
- (18) Northwest Cabarrus at (15) Oak Grove / (31) Hibriten at (2) Ledford
2A West
Seeding
- Randleman: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
- North Stanly: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
- Burns: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
- East Surry: Foothills 2A No. 1
- East Rutherford: Mountain Foothills 7 2A No. 1
- West Stokes: Mid-State 2A No. 1
- Lincoln Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
- West Stanly: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
- Bandys: Catawba Valley 2A No. 1
- East Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
- Madison: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
- Morehead
- RS Central
- McMichael
- Community School of Davidson
- East Gaston
- Pine Lake Prep
- Chase
- Trinity
- Walkertown
- North Surry
- Brevard
- Forbush
- Shelby
- Mount Pleasant
- Surry Central
- Polk County
- West Davidson
- Hendersonville
- West Wilkes
- Bunker Hill
- Lincolnton
Pairings
- (32) Lincolnton at (1) Randleman / (17) Pine Lake Prep at (16) East Gaston
- (25) Mount Pleasant at (8) West Stanly / (24) Shelby at (9) Bandys
- (28) West Davidson at (5) East Rutherford / (21) North Surry at (12) Morehead
- (20) Walkertown at (13) RS Central / (29) Hendersonville at (4) East Surry
- (30) West Wilkes at (3) Burns / (19) Trinity at (14) McMichael
- (27) Polk County at (6) West Stokes / (22) Brevard at (11) Madison
- (26) Surry Central at (7) Lincoln Charter / (23) Forbush at (10) East Davidson
- (18) Chase at (15) Community School of Davidson / (31) Bunker Hill at (2) North Stanly
1A West
Seeding
- South Stokes: Northwest 1A No. 1
- Draughn: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
- Cherryville: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
- Swain County: Smoky Mountain 1A No. 1
- Union Academy: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
- Cornerstone Charter: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
- Bradford Prep: Metro 8 1A No. 1
- Mount Airy: Northwest 1A No. 1
- Bethany Community: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
- Murphy
- Bishop McGuinness
- Christ the King
- Hayesville
- Starmount
- North Stokes
- Langtree Charter
- Mountain Heritage
- Uwharrie Charter
- Mountain Island Charter
- South Stanly
- Gray Stone Day
- Leadership Academy
- Eastern Randolph
- Mitchell
- Queen’s Grant
- Alleghany
- East Wilkes
- Corvian Community
- Hiwassee Dam
- Piedmont Community Charter
- Highland Tech
- South Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A qualifier
Pairings
- (32) South Davidson at (1) South Stokes / (17) Mountain Heritage at (16) Langtree Charter
- (25) Queen’s Grant at (8) Mount Airy / (24) Mitchell at (9) Bethany Community
- (28) Corvian Community at (5) Union Academy / (21) Gray Stone Day at (12) Christ the King
- (20) South Stanly at (13) Hayesville / (29) Hiwassee Dam at (4) Swain County
- (30) Piedmont Community Charter at (3) Cherryville / (19) Mountain Island Charter at (14) Starmount
- (27) East Wilkes at (6) Cornerstone Charter / (22) Leadership Academy at (11) Bishop McGuinness
- (26) Alleghany at (7) Bradford Prep / (23) Eastern Randolph at (10) Murphy
- (18) Uwharrie Charter at (15) North Stokes / (31) Highland Tech at (2) Draughn
Softball
3A West
Seeding
- East Lincoln: Western Foothills 3A No. 1
- Crest: Big South 3A No. 1
- North Buncombe: The Mountain 3A/4A No. 1
- Central Davidson: Mid Piedmont 3A No. 1
- Central Cabarrus: South Piedmont 3A No. 1
- Rockingham County: Mid-State 3A No. 1
- Smoky Mountain: Mountain 7 3A No. 1
- Hibriten: Northwestern 3A/4A No. 1
- Parkwood: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
- North Davidson
- Stuart Cramer
- West Rowan
- Oak Grove
- North Lincoln
- West Henderson
- Ledford
- East Rowan
- Carson
- Enka
- North Gaston
- Eastern Guilford
- St. Stephens
- Franklin
- Southern Guilford
- Kings Mountain
- South Rowan
- Forestview
- Foard
- Pisgah
- Tuscola
- CATA
- West Charlotte: Queen City 3A/4A qualifier
Pairings
- (32) West Charlotte at (1) East Lincoln / (17) East Rowan at (16) Ledford
- (25) Kings Mountain at (8) Hibriten / (24) Southern Guilford at (9) Parkwood
- (28) Foard at (5) Central Cabarrus / (21) Eastern Guilford at (12) West Rowan
- (20) North Gaston at (13) Oak Grove / (29) Pisgah at (4) Central Davidson
- (30) Tuscola at (3) North Buncombe / (19) Enka at (14) North Lincoln
- (27) Forestview at (6) Rockingham County / (22) St. Stephens at (11) Stuart Cramer
- (26) South Rowan at (7) Smoky Mountain / (23) Franklin at (10) North Davidson
- (18) Carson at (15) West Henderson / (31) CATA at (2) Crest
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2A West
Seeding
- Providence Grove: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
- West Stanly: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
- East Rutherford: Mountain Foothills 7 2A No. 1
- Forbush: Foothills 2A No. 1
- West Stokes: Mid-State 2A No. 1
- Bandys: Catawba Valley 2A No. 1
- Burns: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
- Mount Pleasant: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
- Lincoln Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
- Owen: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
- West Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
- Southwest Randolph
- McMichael
- Anson
- RS Central
- Chase
- West Wilkes
- West Lincoln
- Brevard
- Walkertown
- Maiden
- North Stanly
- Morehead
- Wilkes Central
- Madison
- Pine Lake Prep
- East Gaston
- North Surry
- Randleman
- East Davidson
- Wheatmore
- Patton
Pairings
- (32) Patton at (1) Providence Grove / (17) West Wilkes at (16) Chase
- (25) Madison at (8) Mount Pleasant / (24) Wilkes Central at (9) Lincoln Charter
- (28) North Surry at (5) West Stokes / (21) Maiden at (12) Southwest Randolpph
- (20) Walkertown at (13) McMichael / (29) Randleman at (4) Forbush
- (30) East Davidson at (3) East Rutherford / (19) Brevard at (14) Anson
- (27) East Gaston at (6) Bandys / (22) North Stanly at (11) West Davidson
- (26) Pine Lake Prep at (7) Burns / (23) Morehead at (10) Owen
- (18) West Lincoln at (15) RS Central / (31) Wheatmore at (2) West Stanly
1A West
Seeding
- South Stanly: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
- East Wilkes:Northwest 1A No. 1
- Robbinsville: Smoky Mountain 1A No.1
- Mountain Heritage: Western Highland 1A/2A No. 1
- Eastern Randolph: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
- Cornerstone Charter: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
- Mountain Island Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
- Cherryville: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
- South Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
- Queen’s Grant: Metro 8 1A No. 1
- South Stokes
- Union Academy
- Starmount
- Hiwassee Dam
- Gray Stone Day
- Uwharrie Charter
- Draughn
- Elkin
- Rosman
- Cherokee
- Murphy
- Highland Tech
- Bethany Community
- North Stokes
- Swain County
- Piedmont Community Charter
- Mount Airy
- Hayesville
- Leadership Academy
- Avery County
- Bessemer City
- Andrews
Pairings
- (32) Andrews at (1) South Stanly / (17) Draughn at (16) Uwharrie Charter
- (25) Swain County at (8) Cherryville / (24) North Stokes at (9) South Davdison
- (28) Hayesville at (5) Eastern Randolph / (21) Murphy at (12) Union Academy
- (20) Cherokee at (13) Starmount / (29) Leadership Academy at (4) Mountain Heritage
- (30) Avery County at (3) Robbinsville / (19) Hiwassee Dam at (14) Starmount
- (27) Mount Airy at (6) Cornerstone Charter / (22) Highland Tech at (11) South Stokes
- (26) Piedmont Community Charter at (7) Mountain Island Charter / (23) Bethany Community at (10) Queen’s Grant
- (18) Elkin at (15) Gray Stone Day / (31) Bessemer City at (2) East Wilkes
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.