North Greenville Picked to Win Baseball League Title in Preseason Poll

North Greenville Picked to Win Baseball League Title in Preseason Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas baseball coaches have chosen North Greenville to win a third-straight regular-season title in the preseason poll released on Jan. 26.

The Crusaders, the two-time defending Southeast Region champions, were the top choice with 120 points and 10 first-place votes. North Greenville returns several members of last year's team including three all-conference selections, the 2022 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year and the 2021 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year.

UNC Pembroke and Mount Olive, the 2023 Conference Carolinas tournament champions, tied for second with 102 points each while the Braves claimed a first-place vote. Belmont Abbey finished fourth with 93 points and conference newcomer Young Harris was picked fifth with 83 points.

Barton, who claimed the final first-place vote, was picked sixth with 74 points followed by Francis Marion (58), Erskine (53), Emmanuel (41), King (28), Southern Wesleyan (27) and Chowan (11).

The baseball season begins on Thursday, Feb. 1 with the conference championship scheduled for May 1-5 at CaroMont Health Park and Sims Legion Park in Gastonia, North Carolina.

2024 Conference Carolinas
Baseball Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
North Greenville 120 (10)
UNC Pembroke 102 (1)
Mount Olive 102
Belmont Abbey 93
Young Harris 83
Barton 74 (1)
Francis Marion 58
Erskine 53
Emmanuel 41
King 28
Southern Wesleyan 27
Chowan 11
 

2024 Conference Carolinas Baseball
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Tanner Halvorson, LHP/DH, Sr., Eau Claire, Wisconsin (2023 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team, Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year, ABCA/Rawlings, D2CCA and NCBWA First Team All-Southeast Region, NCBWA First Team All-American, D2CCA Third Team All-American)
  • Chase Waddell, C, Jr., Lucama, North Carolina
  • Connor Patterson, LHP, Sr., Randleman, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey
  • Garrett Browder, C, Sr., Wilson, North Carolina (2023 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American, ABCA/Rawlings and D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region, NCBWA Second Team All-Southeast Region)
  • Connor Powell, OF, Sr., Rocky Mount, North Carolina
  • Connor Tucker, INF/DH, Jr., Stanfield, North Carolina
Chowan
  • Christian Bartholomew, OF, So., Norlina, North Carolina 
  • Rowan Hudson, INF, R-So., Sunrise, Florida 
  • Tyler West, UTL, Sr., Warsaw, Virginia 
Erskine
  • Dale Francis, 1B/OF, R-Jr., Fort Pierce, Florida (2023 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, ABCA/Rawlings, D2CCA and NCBWA First Team All-Southeast Region, ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American)
  • Christian Rivera, UTL, R-Sr., Winter Haven, Florida (2023 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, NCBWA Honorable Mention All-American, ABCA/Rawlings, D2CCA and NCBWA First Team All-Southeast Region; 2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Joe Alegre, SP, Jr., Riverside, California
Francis Marion
  • Josh Adams, RHP, Jr., Chesterfield, South Carolina
  • Robbie Jordan, RHP, Jr., Florence, South Carolina (2023 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team, Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team)
  • Peyton Wilson, SS, Jr., American Fork, Utah
King
  • Truman Roper, OF, Sr., Greenville, South Carolina 
  • Rhode Kirkland, LHP/OF, So., Maryville, Tennessee
  • Ray Berry, RHP, Sr., Chilhowie, Virginia
Mount Olive
  • Landon Choboy, UTL, Gr., Raleigh, North Carolina (2023 Conference Carolinas Tournament MVP, D2CCA Second Team All-Southeast Region) 
  • Erik Johnson, LHP, Sr., Rush, New York (2023 First Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Vito Patierno, OF, Sr., Raleigh, North Carolina (2023 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team; 2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas; 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
North Greenville
  • Pat Monteith, 3B, Sr., Charleston, South Carolina (2023 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, ABCA/Rawlings and NCBWA Second Team All-American, ABCA/Rawlings and NCBWA First Team All-Southeast Region; 2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas; 2021 Conference Carolinas All-Freshman of the Year, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Reece Fields, RHP, Gr., West Columbia, South Carolina (2023 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, NCBWA Third Team All-American, NCBWA First Team All-Southeast Region, ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Southeast Region; 2022 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas; 2021 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • David Lewis, 1B, Jr., Greer, South Carolina (2023 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
Southern Wesleyan
  • Marty Grisso, OF, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, California
  • Cam Mitchem, 1B, Sr., North Augusta, South Carolina
  • Steven Mufareh, RHP, So., Nottingham, Maryland
UNC Pembroke
  • Jonathon Jacobs, RHP, Jr., Lumberton, North Carolina (2023 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team) 
  • Luke Barrow, RHP, Sr., Oak Ridge, North Carolina 
  • Kody O’Connor, OF, Sr., Lebanon, Ohio 
Young Harris
  • Jeremy Begora, 1B, Jr., Cartersville, Georgia (2023 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Peach Belt Conference)
  • Zach Murry, RHP, Sr., Cleveland, Georgia
  • Dylan Beck, RHP, Sr., Chesapeake, Virginia (2023 Second Team All-Peach Belt Conference)