Baseball Sweet 16: Providence coach Danny Hignight could get milestone win Tuesday
Providence High baseball coach Danny Hignight could get a milestone win this week.
Hignight, whose team is ranked No. 8 in the latest Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 poll, is nearing his 500th career win.
Heading into Tuesday’s home doubleheader with Rocky River, Hignight is 498-114 in 22 seasons. His teams won state championships in 2015 and 2022.
This season, the Panthers are 3-1. They will host Rocky River (0-2) for games scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday. If it wins both games, Providence would hand Hignight his 500th career win.
Elsewhere, there are two new ranked teams this week — unbeatens Lincoln Charter and Cherryville — and N.C. private school power Metrolina Christian (5-0) takes over the top spot. Preseason No. 1 Charlotte Catholic, off to a 2-2 start, fell to No. 6.
Note: The Sweet 16 ranks the top teams in The Observer’s coverage area. The winner, at the end of the year, will get a banner to hang in the school’s gym. The rankings are compiled by longtime N.C. high school baseball expert Tripp Roakes.
The Observer’s Sweet 16 baseball rankings
Rk., School, Rec, Prvs.
1. Metrolina Christian Academy 5-0, 2
2. Cuthbertson 3-1, 6
3. Charlotte Christian School 3-2, 3
4. Myers Park 3-1, 5
5. North Lincoln 4-0, 4
6. Charlotte Catholic 2-2, 1
7. Weddington 4-1, 9
8. Providence 3-1, 10
9. Gaston Christian 2-0, 7
10. Hough 2-2, 8
11. Hickory Ridge 4-0, 13
12. Ardrey Kell 3-0, 14
13. Lake Norman 2-1, 12
14. Lincoln Charter 5-0, NR
15. Cherryville 4-0, NR
16. Providence Day School 4-0-1, 16
