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Past Season Recaps

2025 SEASON RECAP

June 26th, 2025 (still in progress)

CHARLOTTE, NC – Head Coach Eddie Hull led Charlotte Catholic to a Southwestern 4A Conference Championship and a 22-6-1 record during the 2025 season.  It was another successful season for the Cougars, culminating in a second round playoff loss at 3-time state champion, TC Roberson.

REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE CO-CHAMPIONS

Catholic shared the regular season crown with Providence after the two programs split their two game series in early March.

STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS

Win over East Forsyth

Loss @ TC Roberson

PITCHING DEPTH

OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS

POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

THANK YOU SENIORS

Nine seniors wrapped up their high school baseball careers this spring.  Coach Hull and the coaching staff would like to thank the following seniors for the commitment and dedication to our program:

  • #1 Justin Tavares
  • #4 Jahdier Rodriguez
  • #5 Hunter Conklin
  • #8 Will O'Rourke
  • #9 Tripp Warnement
  • #10 Jon Fijalkowski
  • #11 Matt McKnight
  • #21 Dylan Kelleher
  • #27 Nick Bernardini

Five seniors will continue their baseball careers at the college level:

  • Jahdier Rodriguez (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
  • Will O'Rourke (Lenoir-Rhyne University)
  • Jon Fijalkowski (Clarion University)
  • Matt McKnight (UNC Chapel Hill)
  • Dylan Kelleher (Cleveland CC)

NEXT UP

The Catholic Baseball players will be moving into their summer baseball seasons.  Several players will be playing with the area’s top-ranked showcase teams, traveling across the southeast to compete in various showcase events.  Catholic Baseball will continue to lift weights throughout the summer and will begin fall practice in early September.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@diamondcougs) for updates throughout the year.

2024 SEASON RECAP

June 30th, 2024

CHARLOTTE, NC – Head Coach Eddie Hull led the Cougar baseball team to new heights this past spring, leading the baseball program to a 23-10 record and its best finish since 1988.  Charlotte Catholic finished in second place during the SW4A regular season and were able to outlast perennial power Providence in the conference tournament championship, resulting in the program's first conference championship since 2012.  The Cougars then made a deep run in the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs, finishing as the 4A West Regional Runner Ups.

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

Charlotte Catholic's postseason run began in the Southwestern 4A Conference Tournament, which was held at Garinger High School in late April.   The Cougars earned the 2 seed in the tournament, and  opened with a first round win over Garinger.  Catholic was then matched up with 3-seed Butler in the semifinals.  The two teams split their regular season series earlier in April.  Jack Hedrick got the ball for the Cougars, and he  dominated for 6 innings, allowing 1 unearned run and striking out 8 Butler hitters en route to an 11-1 victory.  Evan MacIntyre led the Cougars with 5 RBIs and helped send the Cougars to the conference championship game.    

On May 2nd, Catholic met the Providence Panthers in the Conference Championship game.  The game saw two UNCW left-handed pitchers facing off against each other.  Mason Child was given the ball for the Cougars, and Jake McCoy toed the rubber for Providence.  Through 4 innings, the game was tied at 2.  Providence was able to score 2 runs in the bottom half of the 5th to take a 4-2 lead.  That lead held through 6 innings.  Down to their last strike in the 7th, Catholic battled back.   Evan MacIntyre started things with 2 outs in the 7th, doubling down the left field line.  Nathan Schwartz then drew a walk, followed by an intentional walk to power-hitter John McKillop, who was swinging a hot bat that night.  Cooper Gornet came up with the bases loaded and came through for the Cougars, singling into shallow RF, scoring MacIntyre and pinch runner Hunter Conklin to tie the game.  McKillop eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-4, and Joey Hall came through as well, driving in Gornet to extend the lead to 6-4.  Mason Child and Alex Hoffman worked together to finish the 7th on the mound, and the Cougars won their first conference championship since 2012!    

HISTORIC POSTSEASON RUN

Catholic matched up with East Forsyth in Round 1 of the NCHSAA Playoffs.  Hedrick gave the Cougs another great start, going a complete 7 innings, allowing 3 unearned runs and striking out 8 Eagle hitters.  Catholic went to the bottom half of the 7th inning down 3-2, but the Cardiac Cougs would not let the season end that night.  In the 7th, Jon Fijalkowski led the inning off with a single to left field.  After a Sam Hucko pop up for out number one, MacIntyre drew a walk to put the winning run at 1st base.  That allowed Nathan Schwartz to be the hero, doubling in both runners, as Schwartz walked it off for a 4-3 win!

In Round 2 of the NCHSAA Playoffs, Catholic went on the road to Myers Park, in a game that saw almost 1,000 fans walk through the gates at Jack Sink Field.  The environment was electric!  Catholic was able to get up early in this one, scoring 5 runs in the second inning, highlighted by a Sam Hucko 3-Run Home Run.  Jon Fijalkowski homered later in the game as well.  Mason Child threw another gem, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing 3 unearned runs.  Dylan Kelleher came out of the bullpen to shut the door and earn the save, as Catholic won 6-3 over the Mustangs.

Round 3 saw the Cougars back on the road, this time at Cox Mill High School in Concord.  Although Cox Mill was highly ranked and the clear favorite that night, the Cougars dominated in all facets of the game.  Hedrick went 5 2/3 innings, striking out 9, and Brody Roderick came in to finish the job and send the Cougs into the next round.

After several upsets in the 4A bracket, Round 4 was back home at Jack Hughes Park in Pineville against a really good Alexander Central club.  Cougar fans packed the Jack and were rowdy from first pitch.  This one turned out to be another thriller.  Child gave the Cougars another quality start, pitching into the 7th inning.  The Cougars offense struggled to come through at times throughout this one, but the Cardiac Cougs were not done yet.  After Alexander Central tied the game at 3 in the top half of the 7th, Catholic found a way to win in the bottom half.  Fijalkowski got things going (again) with a leadoff single.  Same Hucko then doubled, putting runners at 2B and 3B.  MacIntyre was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force play.  That set the table for Nathan Schwartz again, who was the hero in round one.  Schwartz found a way to get it done again, with a single up the middle to score Fijalkowski and send the Cougars to the 4A West Regional Finals!

The Regional Finals would be a three game series during the week of May 20th.  Catholic matched up with defending state champion TC Roberson, who would be a tough test for the Cougars.  Catholic went to Asheville for Game 1 and were sent home early after 5 innings, losing 13-0.  Game 2 was back in Pineville, and while the Cougars battled throughout this one, just could not extend the series, and lost 3-1 to the Rams, ending the Cougars historic season.

A STABLE OF ARMS

Charlotte Catholic has established itself as one of the top programs in Charlotte for developing elite level pitchers.  Seniors Jack Hedrick and Mason Child led the Cougar pitching staff in 2024, combining for 110 of the 208 innings pitched this season.  Hedrick went 6 and 2 in 10 starts, allowed only 7 earned runs, walked 13, struck out 88, and finished with a 0.86 ERA over 57 innings.  Child went 5 and 3 in 10 starts, allowed only 13 earned runs, walked 20, struck out 70, and finished with a 1.71 ERA over 53 innings.

Senior Brody Roderick was the go-to arm out of the bullpen, throwing 24 innings on the year and finishing with a 3.45 ERA.  Juniors Dylan Kelleher and Alex Hoffman became strong back-end options as well.  Kelleher had a 4.96 ERA over 18 1/3 innings, and Hoffman finished with a 3.17 ERA and struck out 31 hitters over 17 2/3 innings.

STEADY OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

Catholic finished the season with a .296 team batting average.  The offense was led by Seniors Sam Hucko (.391 AVG, .525 OBP, 8 2Bs, 1 HR, 23 RBI, and 29 Runs Scored), Nathan Schwartz (.325 AVG, .444 OBP, 5 2Bs, 15 RBI, 13 Runs Scored), Evan MacIntyre (.289 AVG, .421 OBP, 5 2Bs, 13 RBI, 27 Runs Scored), John McKillop (.277 AVG, .406 OBP, 9 2Bs, 2 HRs, 15 RBI, 18 Runs Scored), and Joey Hall (.253 AVG, .434 OBP, 5 2Bs, 13 RBI, 21 Runs Scored).  Junior Jon Fijalkowski made big contributions as well, and led the team with 3 home runs.  Sophomores Cooper Gornet and Alex Hoffman were everyday players, adding some youth to a strong, older lineup.  There will be several key spots in the lineup that will need to be filled for the 2025 season.

POSTSEASON ACCOLADES

The 2024 Cougars saw the most individual accolades as of late.

  • Jack Hedrick: SW4A Co-Pitcher of the Year, 1st Team All-State
  • Mason Child: SW4A All-Conference, 1st Team All-Region
  • Sam Hucko: SW4A All-Conference, 1st Team All-Region
  • Nathan Schwartz: SW4A All-Conference

THANK YOU SENIORS

Ten seniors wrapped up their high school baseball careers this spring.  Coach Hull and the coaching staff would like to thank the following seniors for the commitment levels to our program: #2 Evan MacIntyre, #4 Brody Roderick, #7 Joey Hall, #11 Jack Hedrick, #12 Mason Child, #17 John McKillop, #20 Sam Hucko, #22 Matt Sermeno, #23 Nathan Schwartz, and #24 Chris Chester.

Five seniors will continue their baseball careers at the college level:

  • Evan MacIntyre (Indiana)
  • Brody Roderick (Southern Wesleyan)
  • Jack Hedrick (Duke)
  • Mason Child (UNC Wilmington)
  • John McKillop (Army West Point).

NEXT UP

The Catholic Baseball players will be moving into their summer baseball seasons.  Several players will be playing with the area’s top-ranked showcase teams, traveling across the southeast to compete in various showcase events.  Catholic Baseball will continue to lift weights throughout the summer and will begin fall practice in early September.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@diamondcougs) for updates throughout the year.

2023 SEASON RECAP

August 12th, 2023

CHARLOTTE, NC – Head Coach Kevin Glossner’s team wrapped up the 2023 season on May 9th, losing to West Forsyth in the first round of the state playoffs.  The Cougars finished the year with an overall record of 17-7, finishing the regular season in 3rd place in the Southwestern 4A Conference, behind Butler and Providence.

POWER ARMS

Catholic has seen an influx of quality pitching in the program over the last several years.  During the 2023 season, the bulk of the innings were eaten up by Jake Young, Zach Vigre, and Brody Roderick.  Young finished the year with 30 IP, a 2-2 record, and a strong 1.59 ERA.  Vigre finished with a 1.50 ERA over 28 innings, with a striking 22 Ks to 2 BBs. Roderick's 1.63 ERA over 25 innings was strong for the junior RHP.  The Diamond Cougs also saw contributions on the mound from freshman Alex Hoffman (31 Ks over 17 innings), junior Jack Hedrick, senior Drew Heiser, junior Mason Child, senior Payton Wildman, junior Chris Chester, and senior Joe Hickman.

HOT BATS

The Cougars were led offensively by senior Jake Kernodle.  Jake anchored the middle of the lineup, finishing the season with a .357 average, with 4 HRs and 22 RBIs.  Junior Evan MacIntyre was a spark at the top of the order, batting .388, with an OBP of .551.  Junior John McKillop was another big bat for the Cougars, finishing at .366, with 2 HRs and 12 RBIs.  Sam Hucko, Joey Hall, Elliot Johnston, and Matt Sermeno were also big contributors offensively.  Senior Cam Daigle put together a quiet, yet really good senior season.  Freshman Alex Hoffman also held his own as a first-year varsity player.

THANK YOU SENIORS

Eleven seniors saw their high school baseball careers end on the field at West Forsyth.  The coaching staff would like to thank the following seniors for their contributions to the baseball program over the last few years: Avery Kafka, Joe Rotola, Elliot Johnston, Cam Daigle, Drew Heiser, Payton Wildman, Jake Kernodle, Jake Young, Joe Hickman, Zach Vigre, and Jake Reichert.

Two seniors will continue playing baseball at the collegiate level.  Jake Kernodle is heading to Princeton University to continue his academic and baseball career.  Jake Young will move to the mountains and continue his career at UNC Asheville.

THANK YOU COACH GLOSSNER

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 season, Kevin Glossner announced his retirement.  Coach Glossner spent 16 years with Catholic Baseball, including 7 seasons as the Head Varsity Coach.  The entire Charlotte Catholic community thanks Coach Glossner for his leadership and guidance over the last 16 years!

2022 SEASON RECAP

May 13th, 2022

CHARLOTTE, NC – Head Coach Kevin Glossner’s team wrapped up the 2022 season on Tuesday evening, losing to Marvin Ridge in the first round of the state playoffs.  The Cougars finished the year with an overall record of 17-10, finishing the regular season in 2nd place in the Southwestern 4A Conference, behind nationally-ranked Providence.

DOMINANT STARTING PITCHING

Catholic was led by the pitching staff for most of the year.  Seniors Will Hanson and Joey Ruller anchored the staff.  Hanson finished the season with a 4 and 3 record and an ERA of 1.92.  Hanson struck out 69 batters in 43.2 innings.  Ruller was dominant in several of his outings, finishing the season with a 3 and 2 record and a 1.85 ERA.  Ruler struck out 80 batters in 37.2 innings.

QUALITY BULLPEN OUTINGS

The Cougar bullpen played a big role this season as well.  Sophomore LHP Mason Child stepped into a huge role out of the pen, becoming the go to guy late in games.  Child threw 18 innings this season, with 32 strikeouts, earning two saves.  Junior RHP Jake Young was another strong option for the Cougars.  Young finished the year with three saves, striking out 20 in 21.1 innings.  Sophomores Jack Hedrick and Brody Roderick, along with Juniors Payton Wildman, Drew Heiser, and Joe Hickman, all contributed out of the pen throughout the year as well.

STRONG OFFENSIVE NUMBERS

Several Catholic hitters had big offensive seasons, putting up big numbers and producing in big spots when needed.  Junior 3B Jake Kernodle led the charge, batting .381, with 6 doubles and 2 home runs, while driving in 19 runs..  Sophomore infielder Matt Sermeno hit .313 with 4 doubles and 2 home runs, driving in 13 runs.

Sophomore outfielder Evan MacIntyre did a great job in the leadoff spot, and fellow sophomore John McKillop did a great job in the middle of the lineup, belting 2 home runs and driving in 17 RBIs.  Senior infielders Nick Smith and Tommy Hoefling had good years offensively as well, with Smith hitting 3 home runs.  Junior catchers Zach Vigre and Jake Reichert split time behind the dish, both doing a great job managing the pitching staff.  They both helped offensively too, with Vigre finishing at .258 and Reichert at .385.  The Cougars also received offensive contributions from junior outfielder Joe Rotola and sophomore infielder Joey Hall, as they stepped in and filled a variety of roles.

THANK YOU SENIORS

Seven Cougar seniors saw their high school baseball careers end on Tuesday night: Dom Artieri, Joey Ruller, Tommy Hoefling, Jack Bhojwani, Nathan Peine, Will Hanson, and Nick Smith.  These guys have been an instrumental part of this program for the last several years and will forever be etched in the history of Catholic Baseball.

Three seniors will continue playing baseball at the collegiate level.  Both Will Hanson and Joey Ruller will be attending Queens University of Charlotte next year, where they will join the Royals pitching staff under head coach Ross Steedley.  Nick Smith is heading to Tallahassee CC, where he will play under head coach Mike McLeod.

NEXT UP

The Catholic Baseball players will be moving into their summer baseball seasons.  Several players will be playing with the area’s top-ranked travel teams, traveling across the southeast to compete in various showcase events.  Catholic Baseball will continue to lift weights throughout the summer, and plan to begin fall practice in early September.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@diamondcougs) for updates throughout the summer.

CATHOLIC BASEBALL HISTORY

Cougar Baseball has a rich history, dating back to the early 1980s.

Charlotte Catholic Baseball was led by longtime skipper Randy Belk for 34 years, retiring after the 2016 season. Coach Belk was a math teacher at CCHS for 16 years and the Dean of Students for 21 years. He led the Cougars to 460 wins on the baseball field, winning Conference Coach of the Year six times throughout his career. His teams won numerous conference championships and made the state playoffs in each of his last 14 seasons. The 1987 team lost in the state semi-finals and the 1988 team lost in the state championship game.

The 2011 Cougar Baseball team is the most decorated team as of late. The 2011 squad holds the state record for most consecutive shutouts (10) and most consecutive shutout innings (71). This team was also named the 2011 Hot Stove Team of the Year by Tripp Roakes and the South Charlotte Sports Report. The 2011 team lost in the third round of the state playoffs to Weddington HS.

From 2010 to 2013, Catholic Baseball won 4 straight conference championships.

Kevin Glossner led the Catholic Baseball program from 2017 to 2023.  He was known for developing players and sending guys to play in college, highlighted by current minor leaguer Al Womack and D2 National Champion McCann Mellett.  Glossner's 2022 and 2023 teams saw the most success, as both teams won 17 games and faired well in the highly competitive Southwestern 4A Conference.

Eddie Hull took over the program in May of 2023 and led the 2024 Cougars to a runner-up finish in the SW4A regular season, a SW4A Conference Tournament Championship, and finishing as the 4A West Regional Runner-Up.  Hull led the 2025 team to a Co-Regular Season Championship.