The NCHSAA Tournament has entered its Regional Final stage.  There are 4 teams at each classification that can taste the championship dog pile.  Below we breakdown the 1A Regional Finals with a look at each club and our scout's thoughts on what could be coming this week.

NCHSAA 1A Regional Final Previews

WEST REGION

TUE 5/21 -- Uwharrie Charter at Mt. Airy
THUR 5/23 -- Mt. Airy at Uwharrie Charter
SAT 5/25 -- Uwharrie Charter at Mt. Airy (if needed)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

No. 1 Seed - Mt. Airy

Potentially the top pitching staff in the 1A level. Mt. Airy will lean on their arms to set a tone in this series and keep games manageable so their offense can get rolling.

Path to the Regional Final
+ Langtree Charter - 11-5
+ Highland Tech - 8-0
+ Thomasville - 1-0
+ Cherryville - 4-2

No. 2 Seed - Uwharrie Charter

The Eagles have built a tradition of making runs late in May.  Their schedule early in the year and through spring break can be challenging as they work to prep for anything they may see in the post-season.  The Mt. Airy arms are good, but Uwharrie will feel prepared.

Path to the Regional Final
+Bradford Prep - 15-0
+ Polk County - 8-1
+ Mountain Heritage - 15-5
+ Christ the King - 4-3 (8)

West Region Bracket

EAST REGION

TUE 5/21 -- Whiteville at Greene Central
THUR 5/23 -- Greene Central at Whiteville
SAT 5/25 -- Whiteville at Greene Central (if needed)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

No. 3 Seed - Northside Pinetown

The Panthers will lean on pitching and defense in this series.  While the offense can get rolling, most of Northside's wins have been due to their ability to limit their opposition.

Path to the Regional Final
+ Hobbton - 8-1
+ Oxford Prep - 6-0
+ Southside - 5-0
+ Roxboro Comm - 6-5 (9)

No. 4 Seed - East Wake Academy

Working to play a very aggressive schedule the Eagles opened the year 1-4, losing 3 games to 4A playoff teams.  They have since rolled off 16 straight wins.  There is confidence that they will match up with anyone they see in this tournament.

Path to the Regional Final
+ River Mill - 10-0
+ Voyager - 7-5
+ Perquimans - 8-2
+ Bear Grass - 8-6

East Region Bracket

PRE-TOURNAMENT PREDICITIONS - REVISITED

CINDERELLA STORY - WEST REGION

Below is what our team of scouts wrote prior to the tournament.  We have underlined areas where they were on to something and crossed out areas that were way off.  See how they did.

Brandon Hall, NC/Mid-ATL Scouting Director:

This is always a wild tournament, but I think the West Region was seeded pretty well from what we have seen.  I do not see a Cinderella Run in the West.

Patrick Johnson, NC Asst Scouting Director:

Don't see a Cinderella story happening in the 1A west region, teams seem to be seeded fairly and I like the top seeds to run the table.

Zach Boraski, NC Asst Scouting Director:

Cinderlla stories are fun to see not sure I see one all the way to the finish here. I could see Swain County make a little run in the playoffs, never know what happens if they can win the first one.

 

SCOUTS PICKS - FINAL FOUR & WEST REGION CHAMPION

Brandon Hall:

No. 1 Mt. Airy vs. No. 5 Cherryville
No. 6 Union Academy vs. No. 2 Uwharrie Charter

Region Final
No. 5 Cherryville vs. No. 2 Uwharrie Charter

Region Champion: Uwharrie Charter

Patrick Johnson: 

No. 1 Mt. Airy vs No. 4 Draughn
No. 2 Uwharrie Charter vs No. 3 Christ the King

Region Championship
No. 4 Draughn vs. No. 2 Uwharrie Charter

Region Champion
No. 4 Draughn 

Zach Boraski:

No. 1 Mt. Airy vs No. 4 Draughn
No. 2 Uwharrie Charter vs No. 3 Christ the King

Region Championship
No. 1 Mount Airy vs. No. 2 Uwharrie Charter

Region Champion
No. 2 Uwharrie Charter

CINDERELLA STORY - EAST REGION

From our team of scouts, a look at the bracket to see if any teams outside the Top 10 seeds could make a run.

Brandon Hall, NC/Mid-ATL Scouting Director:

The No. 12 seed Perquimans jumps out at me a little.  This is a club that has experience in making a deep run in this tournament. They are more use to the travel that could be expected, but for games where they are the higher seed, the bus ride to Perquimans could equate to a couple of runs if it is not handled well. 

Patrick Johnson, NC Asst Scouting Director:

Hard for me to see a team that truly jumps out as a cinderella story in this bracket, the top seeds are just too tough for the lower seeds. 

Zach Boraski, NC Asst Scouting Director:

Voyager and Perquimans both have enough talent to make a deep run. They are both on the bottom of the bracket so it wouldnt surprise me if one of them made it out.

Brandon Hall:

No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 12 Perquimans
No. 6. Chatham Charter vs. No. 2 Wilson Prep

Region Championship
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 6 Chatham Charter

Region Champion
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter

 

Patrick Johnson: 

No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs No. 4 East Wake Academy
No. 2 Wilson Prep vs No. 6 Chatham Charter

Region Championship
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs No. 2 Wilson Prep

Region Champion
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter in 2 games

Zach Boraski:

No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 4 East Academy 
No. 11. Ocracoke vs. No. 2 Wilson Prep

Region Championship
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 2 Wilson Prep

Region Champion
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter

 

UPDATED PREDICTIONS

Brandon Hall -- East Wake Academy & Uwharrie Charter Academy, both in 3

Patrick Johnson -- East Wake Academy & Uwharrie Charter Academy, both in 2 games

Zach Boraski -- East Wake Academy & Uwharrie Charter Academy, both in 3