It’s May, and that means it’s time for NCHSAA and NCISAA state baseball playoffs to begin.
As we hop into postseason play, eight teams will represent Fayetteville and their respective conferences in the playoffs.
Terry Sanford secured the No. 2 seed in the NCHSAA 3A East, while Cape Fear stands at No. 7. Gray’s Creek won the United 8 Conference tournament and was placed at the No. 9 seed in the 4A East, and Freedom Christian took the No. 2 seed in the NCISAA 2A.
Here are the top 15 baseball players to watch in the NCHSAA and NCISAA playoffs. Statistics are from maxpreps.com.
NCHSAA players to watch
3A
Caden Jeffrey, Cape Fear — The Colts’ ace is ranked sixth in the 3A East in strikeouts with 71 on the season.
Josh Mozingo, Terry Sanford — The ECU commit has had a stellar season and has the numbers to back it up. Mozingo ranks eighth in batting average, hitting .457 on the year, fourth in runs (31), third in stolen bases (24), and 14th in on-base percentage (.552), all across the 3A East.
Johnathan Pate, Terry Sanford — Pate has been one of the top winners, helping the Bulldogs to another 20-win season. The reigning All American Conference pitcher of the year is tied for third in wins with seven on the year.
Brycen Talley, Cape Fear — Talley’s consistent hitting has been among the best in the state this season. He ranks fifth in the 3A East in home runs (4) and runs scored (30).
Mason Walker, Terry Sanford — Walker has put together an all-around effort for the Bulldogs as a junior so far. He sits at No. 13 in the 3A East in batting average (.437) and No. 1 in RBIs (32)..
Parker Wallace, Cape Fear — Wallace showed himself as one of the best hitters by average in the area this season. The sophomore held a .542 batting average that ranks second in the 3A East.
4A
David Ramsey, South View — The Tigers’ ace is tied for second in wins (8), fifth in strikeouts (72), and 15th in ERA (0.96) in the 4A East.
Gunner Sterling, Gray’s Creek — Sterling specializes in getting on base. His on-base percentage ranks seventh in the 4A East (.584) and he’s fourth in runs (31).
Ryan Temple, Pine Forest — Temple ranks No. 14 in the 4A East in ERA with 0.93 in over 37 innings pitched.
Ja’Lynn Thomas, Pine Forest — The Citadel commit ranked ninth in the 4A East in batting average (.451), second in runs (34), and No. 12 in RBIs (25).
NCISAA players to watch
Christian Alleman, Freedom Christian — The team’s top overall slugger holds a .757 slugging percentage, a team-high in triples (4), and three home runs.
Eli Corney, Freedom Christian — Corney leads the NCISAA 2A class in runs scored with 45, second in stolen bases (31)
Eli Guinn, Village Christian — Guinn ranks third in the NCISAA 2A in home runs with six, fifth in runs (33), and first in stolen bases (34).
Graysen Stafford, Freedom Christian — Stafford is arguably one of the best sluggers in the state and is No. 1 in RBIs in the entire state across public and private schools. He’s also No. 2 in the NCISAA 2A in batting average (.544), No. 3 in runs (37), and No. 1 in home runs (7).
Alonzo Webster, Freedom Christian — Webster is second on the NCISAA 2A in runs with 40 on the year, No. 2 in RBIs (30), and sixth in home runs with three on the year.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC high school baseball players to watch in playoffs
It’s May, and that means it’s time for NCHSAA and NCISAA state baseball playoffs to begin.
As we hop into postseason play, eight teams will represent Fayetteville and their respective conferences in the playoffs.
Terry Sanford secured the No. 2 seed in the NCHSAA 3A East, while Cape Fear stands at No. 7. Gray’s Creek won the United 8 Conference tournament and was placed at the No. 9 seed in the 4A East, and Freedom Christian took the No. 2 seed in the NCISAA 2A.
Here are the top 15 baseball players to watch in the NCHSAA and NCISAA playoffs. Statistics are from maxpreps.com.
NCHSAA players to watch
3A
Caden Jeffrey, Cape Fear — The Colts’ ace is ranked sixth in the 3A East in strikeouts with 71 on the season.
Josh Mozingo, Terry Sanford — The ECU commit has had a stellar season and has the numbers to back it up. Mozingo ranks eighth in batting average, hitting .457 on the year, fourth in runs (31), third in stolen bases (24), and 14th in on-base percentage (.552), all across the 3A East.
Johnathan Pate, Terry Sanford — Pate has been one of the top winners, helping the Bulldogs to another 20-win season. The reigning All American Conference pitcher of the year is tied for third in wins with seven on the year.
Brycen Talley, Cape Fear — Talley’s consistent hitting has been among the best in the state this season. He ranks fifth in the 3A East in home runs (4) and runs scored (30).
Mason Walker, Terry Sanford — Walker has put together an all-around effort for the Bulldogs as a junior so far. He sits at No. 13 in the 3A East in batting average (.437) and No. 1 in RBIs (32)..
Parker Wallace, Cape Fear — Wallace showed himself as one of the best hitters by average in the area this season. The sophomore held a .542 batting average that ranks second in the 3A East.
4A
David Ramsey, South View — The Tigers’ ace is tied for second in wins (8), fifth in strikeouts (72), and 15th in ERA (0.96) in the 4A East.
Gunner Sterling, Gray’s Creek — Sterling specializes in getting on base. His on-base percentage ranks seventh in the 4A East (.584) and he’s fourth in runs (31).
Ryan Temple, Pine Forest — Temple ranks No. 14 in the 4A East in ERA with 0.93 in over 37 innings pitched.
Ja’Lynn Thomas, Pine Forest — The Citadel commit ranked ninth in the 4A East in batting average (.451), second in runs (34), and No. 12 in RBIs (25).
NCISAA players to watch
Christian Alleman, Freedom Christian — The team’s top overall slugger holds a .757 slugging percentage, a team-high in triples (4), and three home runs.
Eli Corney, Freedom Christian — Corney leads the NCISAA 2A class in runs scored with 45, second in stolen bases (31)
Eli Guinn, Village Christian — Guinn ranks third in the NCISAA 2A in home runs with six, fifth in runs (33), and first in stolen bases (34).
Graysen Stafford, Freedom Christian — Stafford is arguably one of the best sluggers in the state and is No. 1 in RBIs in the entire state across public and private schools. He’s also No. 2 in the NCISAA 2A in batting average (.544), No. 3 in runs (37), and No. 1 in home runs (7).
Alonzo Webster, Freedom Christian — Webster is second on the NCISAA 2A in runs with 40 on the year, No. 2 in RBIs (30), and sixth in home runs with three on the year.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC high school baseball players to watch in playoffs
