NCHSAA 1A Regionals Preview
May 24, 2022
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We are four rounds into the NCHSAA State Playoffs. Beginning today, the Regional Finals round will begin. The Regional Finals will be a best of three series with the first two games played on each school’s campus and the third game played either at the higher seed’s home field or at a neutral site.
Below we break down the NCHSAA 1A Regional Finals that will give us the State Championship Matchup.
1A West Regional Finals
Union Academy vs. Cherryville HS
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 7:00pm - Union Academy at Cherryville
Game 2: Thursday 5/26/22 at 7:00pm - Cherryville at Union Academy
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at TBA - Union Academy at Cherryville (if necessary)
Cherryville Ironmen’s Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 1A Poll Ranking - No. 4
+ Overall Record - 19-9
+ Conference Record - 8-4
+ Home Record - 11-4
+ Away Record - 7-3
+ Neutral Record - 1-2
+ Streak - 4 wins in a row
+ 3rd in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 10-0 vs. Piedmont Community School
- Rd 2 - 4-1 vs. Mountain Island Charter
- Rd 3 - 4-3 vs. East Wilkes HS
- Rd 4 - 7-5 vs. Uwharrie Charter
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
Pitching and defense can lead to championships. While this proverb is still somewhat true, in today’s game you will need to produce offense at some point. This is what the Ironmen will be looking for this week. There is a ton of trust in their pitching and defense, look for the offense to key at least one big inning to lead to winning in this series.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
Cherryville has won 10 of its last 11. This club has plenty of toughness and has shown the ability grind it out in a low scoring game and the ability to out slug their opponent in a high scoring game. Baseball is important in that part of the state and this team could give that region a lot to be excited about this week.Union Academy Cardinals’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - Tied No. 5
+ Overall Record - 19-7
+ Conference Record - 7-3
+ Home Record - 11-2
+ Away Record - 8-5
+ Neutral - 0-0
+ Streak - 4 wins in a row
+ 2nd in Yadkin Valley 1A/2A Conference
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 16-3 vs. Corvian Community School
- Rd 2 - 7-6 vs. Christ the King
- Rd 3 - 10-9 at Swain County HS
- Rd 4 - 7-0 at South Stokes HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
The Cardinals got out of the gate in 2022 hot. The offense was explosive posting double digit runs in each of their first 10 wins, eventually building a 12-1 record to start. As they got into their conference play, they cooled a bit and worked to figure out how to win in tighter games, with some pitching and defense. Their run through the playoffs suggest the Cardinals are much more comfortable in tight games, and low scoring games.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
Their offense has produced through the first 4 rounds and will need to stay hot in this series. They have shown they can win 1-run games and will need that confidence as they take on Cherryville this week. This could be an exciting series with both teams coming in playing some of their best baseball.1A East Regional Finals
Bear Grass Charter vs. Perquimans HS
Schedule:
Game 1: Tuesday 5/24/22 at 7pm - Bear Grass Charter at Perquimans
Game 2: Friday 5/27/22 at 7pm - Perquimans at Bear Grass Charter
Game 3: Saturday 5/28/22 at 7pm - Bear Grass Charter at Perquimans (if necessary)
Perquimans Pirates’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - No. 19
+ PBR/NCBCA 1A Poll Ranking - No. 1
+ Overall Record - 27-1
+ Conference Record - 12-0
+ Home Record - 14-0
+ Away Record - 9-0
+ Neutral Record - 4-1
+ Streak - 8 wins in a row
+ Four Rivers 1A Conference Champion
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 12-2 vs. Jones HS
- Rd 2 - 7-0 vs. Rosewood HS
- Rd 3 - 9-0 vs. Northside-Pinetown HS
- Rd 4 - 7-0 vs. Chatham Central HS
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
There is big firepower in this lineup and it has produced at an extremely high rate throughout the year. On the bump, much of the same can be said. This is a very talented, and for a 1A program, a very deep roster. They are the favorites to continue to roll through this tournament and someone will need a big performance to put the Pirates into a stressful situation.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
Perquimans was the favorite heading into the year and they have lived up to the hype. The lineup is loaded with talent and they make it tough for opposing staffs to keep them quiet. The Pirates look primed to be back playing for another State Championship.
Bear Grass Charter Bears’ Path to the Regionals
+ PBR Power 25 Rankings - Not Ranked
+ PBR/NCBCA 2A Poll Ranking - Tied No. 5
+ Overall Record - 21-5
+ Conference Record - 8-0
+ Home Record - 14-1
+ Away Record - 7-4
+ Neutral Record - 0-0
+ Streak - 8 wins in a row
+ Atlantic Five 1A Conference Champions
+ Playoff Path
- Rd 1 - 4-0 vs. Lakewood HS
- Rd 2 - 9-1 vs. Chatham Charter HS
- Rd 3 - 3-1 vs. North Duplin HS
- Rd 4 - 11-1 vs. East Columbus
+ Key Players to Know
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Brandon Hall, Mid-ATL Dir of Scouting
The Bears have used 3 arms, Langley, Gurganus, and Lanier to piece together games with a ton of effectiveness in the playoffs. These three flood the zone and have produced strikeouts and zeroes, giving the offense a chance to hang crooked numbers. As we move into a best of three, it will be interesting to see how they manage their pitching staff, working to get 2 wins in one week.
+ PBR Scout Thoughts - Matt Payne, NC Dir of Scouting
The Bears have relied on their pitching staff throughout the 2022 season. They have only allowed 44 runs this year and will need another strong week against the talented Perquimans lineup. If they staff can keep games low scoring their lineup has the ability to get timely hits and make this a competitive series.