Uwharrie Charter takes down North Moore for NCHSAA 1-A baseball title

Eagles sweep series to win second state championship; Carter Brown named MVP

HOLLY SPRINGS - Uwharrie Charter topped North Moore 8-1 on Saturday at Ting Stadium to capture the program’s second NCHSAA 1-A state baseball championship.

North Moore broke the ice as Bradley Mauldin hit an RBI double that scored Ethan Dunlap in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. 

The Eagles took control of the game in the third inning as each of the first three batters – Carter Brown, Jake Hunter and Landen Zephir – each had a base hit and came around to score. Ben Medinger also singled later in the inning and scored when Walker Wilkins doubled.

Brown, who was named MVP for the Championship Series, scored again in the fourth inning to push the lead to 5-1.

NCHSAA photoCarter Brown of Uwharrie Charter was named the MVP of the NCHSAA 1-A baseball state championship series

Medinger scored again in the fifth as well as Grat Dalton to give the Eagles a 7-1 lead and Troy Carver scored the final run of the game in the sixth.

Eagles pitcher Brett Smith tossed a complete game and gave up just four hits in the championship-sealing win.

The Mustangs finished the season 22-10 and made their first appearance in an NCHSAA Championship Series. The Eagles also wrapped 2023 at 22-10.

In Game 1 of the series on Friday night, the Eagles slipped past the Mustangs 2-1 after scoring both runs in the third inning and making them hold up.

The Mustangs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third as SS Ty Allred, who went 2-for-2 reached with a leadoff single and then came around to score on a single from Elliot Furr.

In the bottom of the inning, DH Caleb McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and Peyton McCullom followed with a single. Both would touch the plate as Troy Carver and Ben Medinger followed suit with singles of their own in the next two at-bats.

Those would prove to be the final runs of the game but the Mustangs threatened in the bottom of the seventh. 1B Dawson Futrell hit a lead-off single and reached third base after Allred was intentionally walked. The Eagles turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and seal the win.

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 1A Baseball Sportsmanship Award winners were Will Kennedy from North Moore and Chris Wheat from Uwharrie Charter.