46 Gastonia, Shelby high school baseball, softball players to watch in NCHSAA playoffs

Baseball and softball teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties begin their quests toward NCHSAA state titles as the postseason gets underway Tuesday, May 7.

What area players could be difference makers? Here are 46 players who could be X-factors, with stats through Tuesday, April 30.

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Baseball

Patrick Blee, South Point

Quarterback of the Red Raiders’ football team, he also serves as South Point baseball’s leadoff man. Blee is at the head of a balanced lineup including Cam Ashe, Landon King, Zeke Pruitt and Dalton Skipper which have helped it win 14 of its last 16 games.

Chase Ghantt, North Gaston

Finished with a 6-1 pitching record. In 49 ⅓ innings, he allowed four earned runs on 18 hits with 88 strikeouts. He threw a five-inning perfect game in April against Huss, adding no-hitters against Forestview and Ashbrook later in the season.

Kellen Karr, North Lincoln

Has a 4-0 pitching record and a 1.70 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.

Evan Matile, East Lincoln

Batting .435 with four home runs, nine doubles, a triple and 34 RBIs. He also has a 2-1 pitching record with a 1.79 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings pitched.

Eli Newsome, Cherryville

The senior pitcher is enjoying a career year with a 5-2 record and 1.12 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 50 innings of work.

Mason Price, Stuart Cramer

Price has a 5-4 pitching record with a 1.41 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 49 ⅔ innings pitched.

Colby Putnam, Burns

The Gardner-Webb recruit hit .540 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBIs. He’s been just as stellar as a pitcher, allowing one earned run on 18 hits with 83 strikeouts in 53 innings. Fellow junior Marshall McGowan began the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A tournament on a 14-game hitting streak. He’s hitting .461 with four home runs, eight doubles and 24 RBIs.

Jacob Smith, Lincoln Charter

Hit .441 with five home runs, eight doubles and 17 RBIs. He also is 4-0 on the mound with a 0.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ innings. Teammate Evan Myers has been stifling as well, earning a 4-0 pitching record, 0.40 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ innings.

Parker Stafford, East Gaston

Emerged this season for the Warriors with a 4-1 pitching record, a 1.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 31 ⅓ innings.

Kandan Zollo, Kings Mountain

Hit .484 with 10 extra-base hits, including two home runs and 14 RBIs. He’s one of three Mountaineers hitting above .400, including Brayden Patrick and Aidan Taylor. Patrick is also one of the area’s top pitchers, earning a 5-1 pitching record, 1.50 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 42 innings.

Softball

Clara Grace Dellinger, North Lincoln

Hit .519 with 14 extra-base hits — including seven home runs — and 35 RBIs this season.

Maddie Huffman, Kings Mountain

Has a 9-0 pitching record with a 0.74 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 66 ⅔ innings. She’s also hitting .510 with four home runs, 11 doubles and 23 RBIs. She’s one of three Mountaineers hitting .500, joining Kayla McSwain and Kali Weaver.

Aidan Ledbetter, Crest

The junior pitcher has 164 strikeouts in 90 ⅔ innings. She’s also hitting .389 with two home runs and 18 RBIs. Senior slugger Sara Rose Warlick has a .586 average with six home runs and 26 RBIs for the Chargers.

Tatum Martin, East Lincoln

A constant in the Mustangs’ lineup this season, she has a .436 average with seven doubles and 12 RBIs.

Jordan McCorkle, East Gaston

Hit .543 with six home runs, six doubles and 22 RBIs. She was one of three Warriors with more than 70 at-bats to hit .500, along with Carson Summey and Kylee Kloiber.

Alexis McSwain, Cherryville

Seven Cherryville players are hitting .400 or better this season, including Riley Bryant, Krista Davis, Laila Davis, Landyn McBride, Ava Miller and Emma Proctor. McSwain leads them all, batting .561 with two home runs and 31 RBIs.

Blair Riley, Forestview

Hit .593 with three home runs, a triple, 12 doubles, 19 RBIs and 34 runs scored. Lily Cabe has been good as well, hitting .431 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.

Hadley Womack, Stuart Cramer

Hit .431 with a home run, nine doubles and 10 RBIs.

Sarah Terrell, Lincoln Charter

Terrell is one of five Eagles hitting above .400, a list including Hailey Fiora, Bailey Polaski and Ava Patterson. The senior standout has a .632 average to go with eight doubles, three triples and 13 RBIs.

Gabrielle Wright, West Lincoln

Hit a team-high .468 with three home runs, six doubles and 24 RBIs. She’s one of four Rebels with 50 at-bats or more to hit above .400 this season, joined by Addisyn Robinson, Melony Hoffman and Jada Willis.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball players to watch in NCHSAA playoffs