Hickory Grove Christian named first Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 HS baseball champion
Hickory Grove was playing nearly .500 baseball heading into the 2023 N.C. Independent Schools 3A baseball playoffs. In its final 11 regular-season and conference tournament games, Hickory Grove was 6-5 and had a three-game losing streak.
The Lions, though, got hot at the right time and won a N.C. Independent Schools 3A state title. A No. 2 seed in the postseason, Hickory Grove (19-10) upset No. 1 overall seed High Point Christian (26-5) to win the state championship series last week.
It was the only Observer-area team to win a state title this season, and the Lions are the first Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 baseball champion.
The school will get a banner to celebrate its accomplishment, in the same way The Observer has honored winners of its football and basketball polls since the 1980s.
N.C. 4A quarterfinalist Myers Park finished No. 2 and NCISAA 4A state finalist Providence Day finished third.
Final Sweet 16
| Rk | School | Rec. | Cl. | Prvs |
| 1 | Hickory Grove Christian | 19-10 | IND | 3 |
| 2 | Myers Park | 23-6 | 4A | 1 |
| 3 | Providence Day | 22-10 | IND | 2 |
| 4 | Providence | 24-6 | 4A | 4 |
| 5 | Charlotte Christian | 22-10 | IND | 5 |
| 6 | Hickory Ridge | 22-5 | 4A | 6 |
| 7 | Weddington | 21-7 | 4A | 7 |
| 8 | Ardrey Kell | 20-8 | 4A | 8 |
| 9 | Hopewell | 22-7 | 4A | 9 |
| 10 | South Point | 17-7 | 3A | 10 |
| 11 | Covenant Day | 18-11-1 | IND | 11 |
| 12 | North Lincoln | 14-10 | 3A | 12 |
| 13 | Northwest Cabarrus | 14-10 | 3A | 13 |
| 14 | Mount Pleasant | 16-9 | 2A | 14 |
| 15 | Hough | 16-8 | 4A | 15 |
| 16 | Charlotte Catholic | 17-7 | 4A | 16 |
