Meet the 2025 All-Observer baseball team, the region’s top athletes
Hopewell High School’s Tyler Howe and Metrolina Christian’s Case Gibbs headline the 2025 Charlotte Observer all-star baseball team.
North Lincoln’s Charlie Goss is The All-Observer coach of the year.
▪ Howe is the baseball player of the year after earning both all-state honors and Queen City Athletic conference player of the year for the third straight season.
Howe hit .446 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, plus 19 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 26 stolen bases while walking 31 times this season.
Howe also went 2-1 on the mound with a save, 19 strikeouts with 2.82 earned-run average.
Howe will continue his academic and athletic career at the University of North Carolina.
▪ Metrolina Chrsitian senior Case Gibbs is the All-Observer pitcher of the year after going 11-1 on the mound with 127 strikeouts in 72.2 innings with an 0.67 ERA and three saves.
The left-hander, whose only loss came in the NCISAA 4A state championship series, had five complete games and four shutouts, stepping up after teammate Chase Kiker — the team’s ace — went down with a back injury, according to coach Darren Adams.
Gibbs, a University of Maryland commit, helped Metrolina Christian to a 28-3 record and NCISAA 4A state runner-up finish this season.
▪ Goss led the Knights (23-9) to a 3A state championship after a 1-5 start. On April 15, North Lincoln was 9-8, before winning 14 of their last 15 games to close the season.
North Lincoln’s only loss came in the 3A state championship series where they lost game one to J.H. Rose, before winning the final two games to win the 3A state title.
All-Observer first team
PITCHERS
Tyler Baird, Hough, Sr.: The Huskies’ senior, a Vanderbilt University signee, went 4-1 on the mound with 60 strikeouts and an 0.88 ERA in 39 innings of work to earn Queen City Athletic 4A conference player of the year honors.
Case Gibbs, Metrolina Christian, Sr.: The Warriors’ all-state senior, a University of Maryland commit, was 11-1 on the mound with three saves, 127 strikeouts in 72.2 innings of work with an 0.67 ERA. Gibbs finished with five complete games and four shutouts this season.
Kellen Karr, North Lincoln, Sr.: The Knights’ senior, a Coastal Carolina signee, went 9-0 on the mound with 124 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work with a 1.21 ERA, earning Western Foothills’ pitcher of the year honors, while helping North Lincoln to the NCHSAA 3A state championship.
Grant Nicholson, Charlotte Christian, Sr.: The Knights’ all-state star, a Wake Forest signee, went 7-1 on the mound with 100 strikeouts in 66.2 innings of work. Nicholson had a 1.37 ERA and earned CISAA player of the year honors, while tying the school-record for wins in a career with 27 victories (against only five losses).
INFIELDERS
Ben Baldassarre, Providence, Sr.: The Panthers’ all-state senior, a Wingate University signee, hit .520 with eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 11 stolen bases this season.
C.J. Gray, A.L. Brown, Sr.: The Wonders’ all-state pick, an N.C. State signee, hit .508 with 11 home runs, while going 3-1 on the mound with a 97-mph fastball. He is a potential MLB draft pick this summer.
Logan James, Cuthbertson, Jr.: The Cavaliers’ star was an all-state shortstop and is a USC Upstate commit. This season he hit .475 with three home runs, 29 RBIs, 47 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. As a pitcher, James was 3-0 with five saves and a 1.45 ERA to earn Southern Carolinas’ conference player of the year.
Matt McKnight, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: The Cougars’ all-state star, a University of North Carolina commit, hit .413 with seven doubles, eight home runs, 32 RBIs and 36 runs scored to earn Southwestern 4A conference player of the year.
Bowen Powell, Hickory Ridge, Sr.: The Ragin’ Bulls’ all-state star, a Wingate University signee, hit .412 with nine home runs, 10 doubles, 33 RBIs and 28 runs scored this season.
OUTFIELDERS
Tyler Howe, Hopewell, Sr.: The Titans’ all state star, a University of North Carolina signee, hit .446 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, 19 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. Howe drew 31 walks.
Jaxon Matthews, Hough, Jr.: A Clemson University commit, hit .431 with four home runs, 14 RBIs, three triples, 12 stolen bases and 26 runs scored.
Jacob Seamon, Metrolina Christian, So.: The Warriors’ all-state pick had a breakout season, batting .361 with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 22 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 25 stolen bases. He is ranked as the No. 1 high school draft prospect in the nation in the class of 2027 by Baseball America.
Nico Soul, Marvin Ridge, Sr.: The Mavericks’ senior hit five home runs, six doubles, three triples and is a major Division I recruit.
CATCHER
Thomas Shumaker, North Iredell, Sr.: The Raiders’ Catawba Valley Community College commit was Western Foothills’ Athletic 3A conference player of the year. Shumaker hit .444 with five doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Patrick Walsh, Christ the King, Sr.: The Naval Academy commit was an all-state pick and is a two-time, Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A player of the year. Walsh hit .381 with 12 home runs, 28 RBIs, five doubles, 30 runs and went 3-1 on the mound with 42 strikeouts in 30 innings of work.
UTILITY PLAYERS
Gavin Aldredge, Cuthbertson, Sr.: The Western Carolina University commit hit .300 with three doubles, 17 RBIs, 19 runs and 13 stolen bases, while also going 8-2 on the mound with 55 strikeouts, a 1.20 ERA and one save.
Max Luzarraga, Weddington, Sr.: The Warriors’ all-state star hit .418 with two home runs, nine doubles, 27 RBIs and 24 runs scored. As a pitcher, Luzarraga was 6-1 with 78 strikeouts with an 0.91 ERA in 46 innings of work. He was named Southern Carolinas Conference pitcher of the year.
All-Observer second team
PITCHERS
Michael Clemente, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Caleb Cloninger, North Gaston, Sr.
Grant Gardner, Covenant Day, Sr.
Chase Kiker, Metrolina Christian, Jr.
INFIELDERS
Alex Hoffman, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.
Meridian Leffew, Gaston Christian, Sr.
Xavier McCoury, Providence, Sr.
Brayden Richards, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Tucker Sigmon, North Lincoln, Jr.
OUTFIELDERS
Owen Farrell, Charlotte Christian, Sr.
Evan Matile, East Lincoln, Sr.
Gavin McElhinny, Corvian Charter, Jr.
Evan Myers, Lincoln Charter, Sr.
CATCHER
Declan Duffy, Hopewell, Sr.
Designated Hitter
Luke Modrak, Mooresville, Sr.
UTILITY PLAYERS
Avery Booker, Charlotte Latin, Sr.
Brock Bumgardner, Cherryville, So.
