Conference Carolinas

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.