ABOUT

Since its inception in 2017, Prep Baseball of North Carolina has released a Power 25, putting the top 25 high school baseball teams into a ranking, regardless of their affiliation or classification.  In 2024 the Power 25 will continue with a release every other week through the regular season, followed up by a final Power 25 after all state champions have been crowned.

Our initial rankings are weighted on previous performances, prospects, and projections, though the ensuing updates will be inherently tied to the production on the field. Simply put: wins and championships matter. A human element to the list will still provide important information on the intricacies that the season bestows. Whether it is a narrow loss in a rivalry game or a five-game in three days gauntlet, you can count on Prep Baseball to critically examine the playing field at all times.

Here's our latest edition of the North Carolina Power 25, updated for end of year, 2024 Season:


North Carolina Power 25

Rank
School
Head Coach & 2024 RECORD
1 METROLINA CHRISTIAN ACAD.   DARREN ADAMS 29-2
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 2
  • Won NCISAA 4A State Title over previously No. 1 Wesleyan Christian Academy in 3 games
2 TC ROBERSON    ERIK FILIPEK 28-4
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 4
  • Repeated as NCHSAA 4A State Champion
  • Ran through the 4A West, sweeping Charlotte Catholic in the Regional Final
  • Swept Ashley in the tate Championship Series
3 WAYNE COUNTRY DAY ADAM PATE 28-4
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 5
  • Dominated the NCISAA 2A Tournament, giving up 3 runs in game 1 and then firing 4 consecutive shutouts on their way to the state title
  • Points to Coach Pate... The Chargers worked to be very aggressive in their scheduling throughout the year, including piling games up during single weeks and the willingness to go on the road.
4 WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN ACAD

MO BLAKENEY 23-7
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 1
  • Lost the NCISAA 4A State Championship Series to No. 1 Metrolina Christian Academy in 3 games.
5 EAST ROWAN   BRETT HATLEY 34-2
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 14
  • Dominate run throughout the season led by a deep lineup and a pitching staff that had several big contributors they could lean on 
  • Won NCHSAA 3A State Title, sweeping South Central HS
6 GREENE CENTRAL BEN BRANN 29-1
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 17
  • The most dominating season in NC in 2024, Greene Central was able to showoff their depth on the mound with the Regional Final vs. Whiteville
  • Won the NCHSAA 2A State Title, sweeping Burns
7 ASHLEY BEN STROEHL 26-6
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 10 
  • Won the NCHSAA 4A East Region in 3 games over Cardinal Gibbons
  • Lost the State Championship Series to No. 2 TC Roberson
8 GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Jason Mills 20-7
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 15
  • Rolled to the NCISAA 3A State Title, sweeping No. 25 Hickory Grove Christian
9 PINECREST JEFF HEWITT 24-5
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 11
  • Strong year saw several late game heroics, only to end in the quarterfinals to No. 7 Ashley in 9 innings
10 BURNS

ALEX LEONHARDT 31-3
Click to review last week
  • Previously No. 3
  • Won the NCHSAA 3A West Regional 2-1 over East Rutherford
  • Lost the NCHSAA State Championship series to No. 6 Greene Central
11 CUTHBERTSON

SAMUEL SKINNER 25-3
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 6
  • Season ended abruptly in 1-0 game vs. conference foe Marvin Ridge in the 2nd Rd of the NCHSAA 4A tournament
12 SOUTH CENTRAL   PAT MCRAE 24-6
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • Followed up a solid regular season with a run to the state championship series
  • Won NCHSAA 3A East Region, sweeping No. 19 Terry Sanford
  • Lost in State Championship series to No. 5 East Rowan
13 WEST FORSYTH Kevin McIntosh 23-7
Click to review last week
  • Previously No. 19
  • Followed up a run to their conference tournament title with a solid showing in the NCHSAA 4A Tournamnet
  • Lost in 4A West Region Final to TC Roberson
14 JH ROSE

RONALD VINCENT 23-3
Click to review last week
  • Previously No. 9
  • Lost a heartbreaker in the NCHSAA 3A 3rd Round, to one of the top arms in the state in Lee County's Walker McDuffie
15 WAKE FOREST CARLOS VARELA 23-4
Click to review last week
  • Down from No. 13
  • Have worked to play a challenging schedule and that should pay off in the post-season
  • Stars need to be stars as they look to make their run
16 DH CONLEY

JASON MILLS 21-4
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 8
  • Concluded a very good season with a loss to Cardinal Gibbons in the NCHSAA 4A state tournament
17 CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN

REID FRONK 22-8
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 16
  • Concluded their season with a loss to No. 4 Wesleyan Christian Acad in the NCISAA 4A State Semi-Finals. 
18 REAGAN

GARY NAILL 22-5
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 7
  • Lost in 3rd round of NCHSAA 4A Tournament to conference foe, West Forsyth
19 TERRY SANFORD   SAMUEL GUY 26-7
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • Stumble slightly out of the gate in 2024 but got hot and road that streak into the NCHSAA 3A East Region Final
20 CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC EDDIE HULL 23-10
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • A ton of buzz in the preseason took some time to unfold, but the Cougars finished by winning their conference touranment and making a run to the NCHSAA 4A West Region Finals
  • Lost to TC Roberson in the West Region Finals
21 EAST RUTHERFORD

DREW REYNOLDS

27-3

TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • A very strong year culminated with a run to the NCHSAA 2A West Region Finals
22 TUSCOLA

ZACK SHEPHERD

22-7

TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • Won the season series vs. West Henderson, including a key win in the 3A West Tournament
  • Handed East Rowan their 1st loss in the NCHSAA 3A West Region Finals, but dropped the 3 game series to the eventual state champions
23 MOREHEAD

KALEB HOUCHINS 25-3
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 23
  • An incredible year ended in the 4th round with a 1 run loss to East Rutherford
24 WEST HENDERSON

JACKIE CORN

21-5

TEAM NOTES
  • Previously No. 13
  • Played well all year with a target on them as the defending state champion
  • Lost in the 4th round of the NCHSAA 3A Playoffs to conference foe Tuscola
25 HICKORY GROVE CHRISTIAN   NICK DADDIO 18-10
TEAM NOTES
  • Previously Not Ranked
  • Worked to play an aggressive schedule throughout
  • Lost their conference tournament title game to No. 1 Metrolina Christian
  • Lost in the NCISAA 3A Playoffs in the Championship Series to No. 8 Grace Christian

Teams That Dropped out of the Power 25

West Stanly, Forbush, Leesville Rd, Hoggard, Randleman

Other Teams in Consideration 

Whiteville, West Stanly, North Stanly, Forbush, Leesville Rd, Hoggard, Randleman, South Mecklenburg, Cox Mill, Uwharrie Charter, North Lenoir, North Davidson


RELATED CONTENT