Asheville – Roberson (23-5) faces the top-seeded Cuthbertson Cavaliers (25-4) from Waxhaw this week in the West Region’s best-of-three finals.
Third-seeded Roberson is eager to achieve the first 4A state title three-peat in state history.
The “Slamming Rams” showcased their strength with the past two state championship series MVPs hitting grand slams in their recent playoff victories.
First, 2023 MVP Micah “Nimble Ninja” Simpson delivered a four-run homer, the biggest hit, as Roberson (23-5) defeated Charlotte Providence 8-4 in round three.
Simpson’s 380-foot moonshot to right-center field was the icing on the cake, extending Roberson’s lead to 8-1 in the fourth inning.
This marked the first Ram playoff homer in 2025, with the next one occurring just two days later. Caden “Hulk” Davidson’s slam in the fifth inning propelled TCR past the Marvin Ridge Mavericks 5-3 on Friday. He was the state series MVP in 2024.
Roberson is located in Asheville’s Skyland community. The sky seems to be the limit again for these hard-hitting “Skyland Skywalkers.”
Sugar Jets
The other dominant local team in the playoffs was Enka (23-2; 12-0 MAC) in softball. The West Region’s top seed and Mountain Athletic Conference champion, the Sugar Jets, annihilated West Charlotte 17-0. They edged South Rowan 6-5 and crushed East Lincoln 6-1. Enka lost 3-1 to fifth-seeded Crest on Friday.
The 2A softball seventh seed, Western Highlands champion Owen (17-4; 12-0), won 12-2 and 13-1 before falling by a run. West Henderson (18-4; 10-2 M7) is the only other team to defeat Enka. West was outscored 12-10 by Parkwood in its opener.
The Falcon boys got revenge with a 9-3 upset win at Parkwood but then lost. A.C. Reynolds (16-10), the 3A sixth seed, won twice by a run. MAC co-champion Asheville (16-7-1; 11-1) in 4A and 3A North Henderson (15-10) lost their openers by one run.
Dominance
Roberson’s performance remains “awesome,” head coach Eric Filipek told his Rams after their victory in round three.
Roberson defeated Northwest Guilford 14-5, Charlotte Catholic 13-5, and sixth-seeded Providence (23-6) by 8-4. TCR eliminated the tenth-seeded Mavericks (21-8) and their star outfielder Nico Soul with a score of 5-3. Simpson and C.J. “Warrior” Wallace pitched.
‘Warrior Wallace’
Providence scored a run in its first at-bat against sophomore Holt “Gas ‘Em” Gaston, who allowed two hits in one and two-thirds innings. “He battled and kept them to one run,” Coach Filipek said.
Wallace pitched three no-hit innings into the fifth inning, striking out four Panthers, including the first one he faced to halt a rally. Wallace “felt good” about his stamina and velocity. Sophomore Cooper Friedholm finished the game, stating, “I wanted the ball!” Ace Simpson started in round four.
‘Win Every Inning’
The win over Providence exemplifies how Roberson patiently grinds down opponents with “small ball” runs. Coach Filipek told his Rams, “We didn’t panic. We’re five runs better than them. We just had to deliver.” And they did.
“We stay calm” when trailing, leadoff hitter Zeb “Swingin’” Swangim told the Tribune. “We work together,” batter after batter.
Roberson scored three times in the second inning. Senior Lorenzo “Clear the Aisles” Lyles and sophomore “Battling” Brooks Hemphill executed perfect short bunts to reach base. Coach Filipek remarked, “We win because we’re willing to put a bunt down. We put pressure on them.”
Simpson hit a ball to right field that resulted in a two-base error in the third inning, stole third base, and scored an unearned run. Providence committed four errors.
The Rams did not relent. “Win every inning” is a team mantra, noted slugging senior first baseman Davidson.
Bustin’ Loose
Simpson’s homer soared toward his friends watching from a pickup truck beyond the fence.
Senior Simpson mentioned that teams fed him off-speed pitches last season and early this season after his success against fastballs in 2023. Once he demonstrated in 2025 that he could handle breaking balls, a new strategy emerged.
“They’re busting me with fastballs inside”—like the one Simpson belted. “Toes on the line” is a Ram motto; they crowd the plate to better reach outside pitches, sometimes getting hit by pitches to reach base.
Roberson eliminated Charlotte Catholic Cougars and UNC-commit infielder Matt McKnight in round two. TCR exploded for four, four, three, and two runs in the early innings.
The Rams avenged a regular-season loss to the Cougars’ hard-throwing junior pitcher Alex Hoffman.
This experience helped TCR face even tougher pitchers from elite teams during early tournaments in Florida and Alabama. The Rams edged Poly Prep Country Day of Brooklyn, N.Y., by 4-3 on March 24, successfully timing Miguel Sime, Jr.’s blazing 99 mph fastball.