Three returning all-conference players could have Christ School varsity baseball in the mix again for the Carolinas Athletic Association championship.
The Greenies are home nine times this season starting with Wednesday’s JV/Varsity doubleheader vs. Mountain Heritage.
Name any offensive category and there is a good chance that Brody Raleigh ’23 was the leader for last year’s team – batting average (.415), base hits (27), RBIs (26), walks (16), and home runs (five). He has signed with Western Carolina University.
Jakob Iwanek ’24 (.333 with 20 RBIs, five doubles, three triples, and a home run in 2022) and Johno Pierce ’23 (.315 with 12 RBIs and three doubles in 2022) were named to the All-CAA team with Brody a year ago, when Christ School (10-13) shared the regular-season championship with Rabun Gap (Ga.) and Asheville Christian Academy.
Johnno will play for Roane State after graduation, while Chase Gribble ’23 has signed with Southern Wesleyan.
Pitching will be more of a question mark for the Greenies, but they do return Ethan Rose ’24. He notably closed out a win over Rabun Gap and beat Providence Academy (Tenn.) on Senior Night in 2022. Ethan (25.1 innings) and Jakob (11.0) got in the most work of any pitcher who returns this year.
Matthew Hammel ’23 rounds out the Greenies’ four-man senior class.