Friday’s roundup: TC Roberson eliminates Cuthbertson baseball in regional final
Two-time defending state champion T.C. Roberson will pursue another baseball state title after completing a come-from-behind win in the best-of-three Western N.C. 4A championship series against Cuthbertson.
The visiting Rams returned to where they were drubbed 13-0 in five innings in Tuesday’s opener and exacted some revenge with a 13-3, 5-inning victory to wrap up a two games to one series victory.
“That’s a really good team,” Cuthbertson coach Sam Skinner said. “They’ve won back-to-back state titles and have been really good for a long time.
“We made some mistakes that really cost us.”
Roberson (25-6) — which will play the winner of Saturday afternoon’s Eastern series finale between Corinth Holders and Wilmington Laney in next weekend’s state championship series — fell behind 3-1 after two innings before a seven-run third inning changed the game’s momentum for good.
Cuthbertson had taken its 3-1 lead after center fielder Nathan Wilson was hit with a pitch to open a two-run second inning. The pitch hit Wilson above his eyes resulting in his departure from the game after a five-minute delay and a cut that would later require stitches.
The rally appeared to regain momentum for the Cavaliers after Thursday’s 7-5 loss in Skyland. Gavin Aldredge’s two-out, two-run double made it 3-1 before the Rams’ erupted for seven runs in the third inning, four in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
After Roberson starter and winner C.J. Wallace yielded a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, he wriggled out of a jam to maintain the 10-run lead and end the contest after five innings.
THREE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Caden Davidson, Roberson: Rams’ first baseman had three hits and three RBIs.
Robert Johnstone, Cuthbertson: Cavaliers’ catcher and third baseman had two hits and one RBI.
Logan James, Cuthbertson: Cavaliers’ shortstop and pitcher had two doubles.
NOTABLE
▪ Cuthbertson was playing in its first regional final in the Cavaliers’ 14th playoff appearance in its 15-year history as a school. Cuthbertson had previously advanced to the fourth round three times before breaking through this season.
▪ Roberson’s roster features four seniors with college commitments: Jake Parham and Zeb Swagnim (UNC-Asheville), Micah Simpson (Western Carolina), C.J. Wallace (Winthrop).
▪ The game’s start was delayed from 6:30 p.m. until 7:46 p.m. as the teams waited for the late arrival of umpires from the Raleigh area who had been stuck in holiday traffic.
THEY SAID IT
“This loss doesn’t define our season. I couldn’t be more proud of this team, this coaching staff and this community. It’s very humbling as a coach to have been a part of all of this.” - Cuthbertson coach Sam Skinner
GAME SUMMARY
T.C. Roberson 106 42 - 13 13 1
Cuthbertson 120 00 - 3 6 2
W - C.J. Wallace. L - Caden Matthews. Leading hitters: TCR- J.T. Smith (3-4, double), Caden DAvidson (3-4, double, 3 RBIs), Zeb Swangim (2-4), Parker Filipek (1-4, double, 2 RBIs), Jake Parham (1-2, home run, 2 RBIs); Cuthbertson- Logan James (2-3, 2 doubles), Robert Johnstone (2-3, RBI), Gavin Aldredge (1-2, double, 2 RBIs).
Girls lacrosse: Marvin Ridge, Weddington advance to regional final
The NCHSAA 4A Western regional championship will be an all-Union County affair.
Weddington (18-7), the No. 7 seed in the western playoffs, went on the road Friday and upset No. 3 seeded Northwest Guiford (16-5), ending the Vikings’ six game win streak.
Weddington jumped out to a 7-2 lead by halftime and improved to 9-4 in road games this year.
Next up for the Warriors? Tuesday’s regional championship game at Marvin Ridge, the No. 1 overall seed in the West.
Marvin Ridge (20-3) won its seventh straight game, beating Lake Norman 18-5 on Friday to advance to the regional round.
Earlier this season, Marvin Ridge beat Weddington 10-6 on April 10 and 9-8 on May 5.
Boys lacrosse: Hough, Lake Norman Charter head to regional round
Hough 12, Northwest Guilford 8: Hough won its second straight game against a higher playoff seed, advancing to next week’s regional championship at Lake Norman.
Hough (21-3) beat No. 2 seeded RJ Reynolds from Winston-Salem, 16-8, in the third round earlier this week and took down the No. 3 seed Friday. Northwest Guilford ends its season at 20-6.
Hough will now play the No. 1 overall seed from the West next week in Mooresville.
Lake Norman Charter 14, Christ The King 11: Lake Norman Charter (18-6) won its eighth straight game Friday, beating rival Christ The King from Huntersville in the 4A quarterfinals. Christ The King (15-8) was the No. 1 seed in the 1A/2A/3A Western playoffs.
The two teams played on March 28 at Christ The King, and Christ The King won 11-10. Friday’s game was similarly close. Lake Norman Charter led by one after the first quarter and by one at halftime, 8-7. After the third quarter, it led 12-10.
Lake Norman Charter will host Community School of Davidson in the regional final next week.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM.
