Baseball season is here!!! Today marks the first day every school in the state can play live games that count as everyone works to make an appearance in June.  This time of year brings big dreams.  Every school is one play away from making a run to a championship.  Each team has a path of what has to happen to hang a banner at the end of the year.

As our staff worked through the 2018 Team Previews, player evaluations, and talked with high school coaches, college coaches, and pro scouts we realized the 2018 season could be a wild one.  There are favorites at each classification, but there are not clear cut ‘top dogs’.  This rings more true when you take into account the state playoff setup of single elimination until the regional finals. 

The AAAA classification will have a new champion as both of last year’s state finalists were part of the state’s re-classification.  Both TC Roberson HS and New Hanover HS are now a part of the AAA classification.  While both may have contended in 2018, their absence may open the door for teams that were on the verge in 2017.

Below we take a look at several teams that could make a run deep into May and hoist a state championship in June at the AAAA level.  Our staff will be covering games and teams throughout the spring and there is no doubt there will be teams missing from this list as teams gel and make progress in the spring.   That is part of what makes the baseball across North Carolina great.  There are good players, of all ages, all across the state.  A couple of guys getting hot at the right time, can make a difference.

AAAA Class

State Championship Contenders

Lake Norman HS
+ Quite possibly the deepest lineup and bench in NC.  They should be able to score with speed and athleticism, as well as driving the baseball.  Look for this lineup to run pitch counts up as pitchers work to get outs.
+ A true No. 1 in Justin Jarvis (RHP, 2018, UNC Wilmington commit) – Ranked No. 3 in NC
+ Jonathan Perez (LHP/OF, 2018, UNC Asheville commit) and Sam Zayicek (OF/2B/RHP, 2018, High Point commit) were leaders on a team in the Western Region Finals in 2017
+ 2020 Cam Arnold (LHP) gives Lake Norman 4 legitimate options to win on the mound, and balance with 2 LHP and 2 RHP.
+ There is strength behind the plate and in the outfield as well, with options
+ See more about Lake Norman from a pre-season scrimmage HERE.

Plus: 5 more teams with in-depth reports on why they will hoist the trophy... and 8 teams that could play spoiler.  Log in or subscribe to see more.