Roberson: No. 8 in 2014 Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings

If the Roberson Rams end the year as the No. 1 team in the nation, they will have definitely earned it.

Playing one of the more challenging schedules in the country, Roberson will be battle-tested by the time the North Carolina Class 4A playoffs roll around in May. Besides playing perennial powerhouses from Tennessee in Science Hill and Farragut, the Rams also face defending South Carolina state champion Lexington. Throw in Charlotte Christian, one of the top private schools in the state, and you have a pretty impressive schedule.

And that doesn't even include the National High School Invitational, which Roberson will compete in for the second year in a row. Acting as the tournament host, Roberson will open the tournament against Huntsville (Ala.). The tournament includes defending Florida state champion Venice and defending Georgia state champion Milton.

"Our schedule is as challenging a schedule as there is in our state," said fourth-year coach Eric Filipek.



The Rams appear to have the talent necessary to compete for a national championship. They begin the season ranked No. 8 in the MaxPreps Preseason National Baseball Rankings. MaxPreps is announcing each of its top 10 preseason teams over the next two weeks, concluding with a Top 100 on Feb. 21.

See the Top 10 teams landing page here

Topping the list of returning starters for the Rams is senior first baseman Braxton Davidson. Already signed by North Carolina, Davidson may never play for the Tar Heels. Regarded as one of the top 10 high school prospects in the country, Davidson will go early in the June Major League Baseball Draft.

Last year, Davidson batted .403 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. He is considered one of the top hitting prospects in the Class of 2014. He can also pitch when needed and he struck out 52 batters in posting a 4-2 record last year.

The Rams have one of the state's top backstops in Dominick Cammarata. He's headed to University of Tennessee, but he could also go somewhere in the June draft. He batted .371 as a junior with 23 RBIs.

With Davidson at one corner of the infield, Connor Lind will man the other. The senior third baseman is headed to Northwestern and he batted .341 last year.



One senior who won't return is Katon Harwood. One of the team's top pitchers as a junior, Harwood graduated a semester early and will play at Appalachian State this spring. Harwood was one of the top performers at last year's National High School Invitational, throwing a shutout against Florida Christian.

Despite the loss of Harwood, the Rams still figure to be very solid, especially in the infield. Every starter from last year returns with junior Josh McNair coming back at second base and senior Grant Hiriak returning at shortstop.

The pitching staff will be manned mostly by newcomers, including lefty Marshall Beachboard and righthanders Ryan Goode and Garrett Blaylock.

The Rams (21-10 in 2013) got off to a rocky start last year, losing six games by the end of March. However they went 16-4 down the stretch before being eliminated in the Class 4A semifinals by South Mecklenburg.

View a photo gallery from the Roberson preseason photo shoot {PAGEBREAK}
School size: North Carolina Class 4A


Enrollment: 1,543




2013 finish: 21-10, North Carolina Class 4A semifinalist


Head coach: Eric Filipek


Career record: 73-20


Years at school: 4


Notable MLB players:

Chris Narveson (2000-2013)

Darren Holmes (1984-2003)



Cameron Maybin (2006-2013){PAGEBREAK}
No. of starters returning: 5

Top losses:

Nathan Blaylock, IF

Tanner Bush, CF

JD Cook, LHP

Parker Johnson, RHP-C



Katon Harwood, P (Early graduate)

Key returners:

Braxton Davidson, Senior, LHP-1B-OF, .403 average, 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, 36 runs, 4-2 record, 2.79 ERA, 52 K, 19 BB, signed with North Carolina

Dominick Cammarata, Senior, C-RHP, .371 average, 2 home runs, 23 RBIs, 29 runs, signed with Tennessee

Connor Lind, Senior, 3B, .341 average, 20 RBIs, 23 runs, signed with Northwestern

Josh McNair, Junior, 2B-OF, .259 average, 8 RBIs, 16 runs, 5 doubles



Grant Hiriak, Senior, SS, .278 average, 11 RBIs, 21 runs, 4 doubles

Alex Talley, OF, .182 average, 4 RBIs, 7 runs


Key newcomers:

Ryan Goode, Sr, RHP-DH

Adam Earley, Jr, IF

Marshall Beachboard, Sr, LHP



Garrett Blaylock, Fr, RHP-OF-IF
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Toughest game: Roberson's schedule is as tough as it gets. Besides participating in the nation's toughest tournament, the National High School Invitational, Roberson will also host powerhouses such as Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.), defending South Carolina state champion Lexington and perennial Tennessee state champion Farragut.

Local outlook: North Carolina has lots of talented players this year, including Davidson, Ryder Ryan of North Mecklenburg and Alex Destino of North Buncombe. Coach Filipek lists North Buncombe and McDowell as Roberson's toughest competition for the 2014 season.

Overall outlook: With one of the nation's top talents in Braxton Davidson and a challenging schedule, Roberson has the capability of battling for a national championship. Its performance in the NHSI will largely determine whether or not Roberson can finish at the top of the national rankings.

Coach quote: "Our lineup top to bottom is experienced and battle-tested. Our defense returns lots of starters."
- Eric Filipek