NCHSAA baseball, softball playoff brackets unveiled. What's on deck for area teams? (2024)

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

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More: 'Trust the process': How Kings Mountain baseball ended a lengthy league title drought

Baseball

3A West

Seeding

  1. South Rowan: South Piedmont 3A No. 1
  2. Ledford: Mid Piedmont 3A No. 1
  3. Kings Mountain: Big South 3A No. 1
  4. West Henderson: Mountain 7 3A
  5. North Lincoln: Western Foothills 3A No. 1
  6. Eastern Guilford: Mid-State 3A
  7. Parkwood: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
  8. Enka: The Mountain 3A/4A No. 1
  9. East Rowan
  10. St. Stephens
  11. East Lincoln
  12. Crest
  13. Foard
  14. Carson
  15. Oak Grove
  16. West Rowan
  17. South Point
  18. Northwest Cabarrus
  19. North Henderson
  20. North Davidson
  21. Rockingham County
  22. Forestview
  23. Central Davdison
  24. North Gaston
  25. Erwin
  26. Hickory
  27. Franklin
  28. North Iredell
  29. Asheboro
  30. Tuscola
  31. Hibriten: Northwestern 3A/4A qualifier
  32. 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

  1. Randleman: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
  2. North Stanly: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
  3. Burns: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
  4. East Surry: Foothills 2A No. 1
  5. East Rutherford: Mountain Foothills 7 2A No. 1
  6. West Stokes: Mid-State 2A No. 1
  7. Lincoln Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
  8. West Stanly: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
  9. Bandys: Catawba Valley 2A No. 1
  10. East Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
  11. Madison: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
  12. Morehead
  13. RS Central
  14. McMichael
  15. Community School of Davidson
  16. East Gaston
  17. Pine Lake Prep
  18. Chase
  19. Trinity
  20. Walkertown
  21. North Surry
  22. Brevard
  23. Forbush
  24. Shelby
  25. Mount Pleasant
  26. Surry Central
  27. Polk County
  28. West Davidson
  29. Hendersonville
  30. West Wilkes
  31. Bunker Hill
  32. 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

  1. South Stokes: Northwest 1A No. 1
  2. Draughn: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
  3. Cherryville: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
  4. Swain County: Smoky Mountain 1A No. 1
  5. Union Academy: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
  6. Cornerstone Charter: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
  7. Bradford Prep: Metro 8 1A No. 1
  8. Mount Airy: Northwest 1A No. 1
  9. Bethany Community: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
  10. Murphy
  11. Bishop McGuinness
  12. Christ the King
  13. Hayesville
  14. Starmount
  15. North Stokes
  16. Langtree Charter
  17. Mountain Heritage
  18. Uwharrie Charter
  19. Mountain Island Charter
  20. South Stanly
  21. Gray Stone Day
  22. Leadership Academy
  23. Eastern Randolph
  24. Mitchell
  25. Queen’s Grant
  26. Alleghany
  27. East Wilkes
  28. Corvian Community
  29. Hiwassee Dam
  30. Piedmont Community Charter
  31. Highland Tech
  32. 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

  1. East Lincoln: Western Foothills 3A No. 1
  2. Crest: Big South 3A No. 1
  3. North Buncombe: The Mountain 3A/4A No. 1
  4. Central Davidson: Mid Piedmont 3A No. 1
  5. Central Cabarrus: South Piedmont 3A No. 1
  6. Rockingham County: Mid-State 3A No. 1
  7. Smoky Mountain: Mountain 7 3A No. 1
  8. Hibriten: Northwestern 3A/4A No. 1
  9. Parkwood: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
  10. North Davidson
  11. Stuart Cramer
  12. West Rowan
  13. Oak Grove
  14. North Lincoln
  15. West Henderson
  16. Ledford
  17. East Rowan
  18. Carson
  19. Enka
  20. North Gaston
  21. Eastern Guilford
  22. St. Stephens
  23. Franklin
  24. Southern Guilford
  25. Kings Mountain
  26. South Rowan
  27. Forestview
  28. Foard
  29. Pisgah
  30. Tuscola
  31. CATA
  32. 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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More: A 'no-no' type of night: Wave of no-hitters highlight Tuesday's prep sports slate

2A West

Seeding

  1. Providence Grove: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
  2. West Stanly: Rocky River 2A/3A No. 1
  3. East Rutherford: Mountain Foothills 7 2A No. 1
  4. Forbush: Foothills 2A No. 1
  5. West Stokes: Mid-State 2A No. 1
  6. Bandys: Catawba Valley 2A No. 1
  7. Burns: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
  8. Mount Pleasant: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
  9. Lincoln Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
  10. Owen: Western Highlands 1A/2A No. 1
  11. West Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
  12. Southwest Randolph
  13. McMichael
  14. Anson
  15. RS Central
  16. Chase
  17. West Wilkes
  18. West Lincoln
  19. Brevard
  20. Walkertown
  21. Maiden
  22. North Stanly
  23. Morehead
  24. Wilkes Central
  25. Madison
  26. Pine Lake Prep
  27. East Gaston
  28. North Surry
  29. Randleman
  30. East Davidson
  31. Wheatmore
  32. 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

  1. South Stanly: Yadkin Valley 1A/2A No. 1
  2. East Wilkes:Northwest 1A No. 1
  3. Robbinsville: Smoky Mountain 1A No.1
  4. Mountain Heritage: Western Highland 1A/2A No. 1
  5. Eastern Randolph: Piedmont Athletic 1A/2A No. 1
  6. Cornerstone Charter: Northwest Piedmont 1A No. 1
  7. Mountain Island Charter: Catawba Shores 1A/2A No. 1
  8. Cherryville: Southern Piedmont 1A/2A No. 1
  9. South Davidson: Central Carolina 1A/2A No. 1
  10. Queen’s Grant: Metro 8 1A No. 1
  11. South Stokes
  12. Union Academy
  13. Starmount
  14. Hiwassee Dam
  15. Gray Stone Day
  16. Uwharrie Charter
  17. Draughn
  18. Elkin
  19. Rosman
  20. Cherokee
  21. Murphy
  22. Highland Tech
  23. Bethany Community
  24. North Stokes
  25. Swain County
  26. Piedmont Community Charter
  27. Mount Airy
  28. Hayesville
  29. Leadership Academy
  30. Avery County
  31. Bessemer City
  32. 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.

NCHSAA baseball, softball playoff brackets unveiled. What's on deck for area teams? (2024)
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