North Lincoln High School's baseball team captured its second straight N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A state championship, defeating Seaforth 8‑3 in the title game.
The victory underscored the Knights' dominance, finishing the season with a 20‑3 record and entering the tournament as the No. 9 seed in the 5A East bracket.
Coach Charlie Goss praised his squad's confidence and determination, noting that the experience of a recent championship run helped the players execute under pressure.
Star Performances
MVP Cason McGinnis, the senior infielder, anchored the offense with a double that drove in a run in the sixth inning and contributed multiple RBIs throughout the series.
Pitcher Parker Williams delivered a stellar outing, recording four strikeouts while allowing just one hit over six innings.
The Knights' bats were relentless; Beckett Rinkus sparked a rally with an RBI base hit in the fifth, while Cole Nemire's two‑out RBI single in the second ignited the offense.
Additional contributors included Caleb Hancock, whose shallow‑right flare brought in a run, and Bryson Summey, who joined Nemire, Hancock, Rinkus and McGinnis with multi‑hit performances.
Spenser Messmore, Jaedyn Rader and other teammates provided consistent support, reinforcing the belief that North Lincoln was the class of the division.