Burlington – Head coach Eric Filipek’s Rams (27-6) demolished Wilmington Laney 12-0 then edged the Bucs 8-7 to win the best-of-three state finals.
Roberson is North Carolina’s only 4A public high school to win three consecutive state baseball titles. Classifications are split from four to eight starting this fall.
T.C. now stands for Three-peating Champs. The lineup is full of seniors who are third and even fourth-year starters. They achieved three state titles in a row, boasting a record of 28-4 over four postseasons. “Incredible!” exclaimed shortstop Jake Parham. They are set to graduate in a week.
Coach Filipek describes the 2025 Rams as the best team in state high school baseball history, with the senior nucleus being the greatest dynasty ever. They had to compete against schools with two to three times as many students in the unlimited 4A classification.
The Rams (27-6) were not facing a Mission Impossible, as Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is doing in theaters. Instead, the Rams’ three-peat challenge loomed stronger, clearly resembling Mission Inevitable.
Ram batters overwhelmed Buccaneer UNC-Wilmington commit T.J. Ziermann on Friday night and East Carolina commit Jason Sproull on Saturday afternoon. Roberson scored four runs in the top of the first inning of the opener, followed by four runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to reach the ten-run slaughter threshold.
Game two was a back-and-forth battle, showcasing TCR’s confidence in coming from behind. After falling behind 4-0 in the first half-inning, TCR scored in five of its six at-bats. “We kept scoring,” said leadoff hitter Zeb Swangim. Ram batters demonstrated Coach Filipek’s master class by consistently “pressuring” opponents with patient batting, strategic base running, and small-ball scoring.
Meanwhile, side-armed senior starter C.J. Wallace kept Laney scoreless for four innings. The Bucs managed to score three runs in their final two at-bats, setting up a dramatic finish.
Ninja Encore
The senior 2025 Finals co-MVPs are ace pitcher and cleanup hitter Micah “Nimble Ninja” Simpson (the 2023 MVP) and slugging first baseman Caden “Hulk” Davidson (the 2024 MVP).
In the opener, Simpson struck out seven Bucs over six innings, including the final two batters, ending the game an inning early. “My adrenaline was flowing,” Simpson said. “I threw everything I had left in the tank,” totaling over 91 pitches. Coach Filipek told Simpson, “You put us on your back.”
In state finals openers, Simpson shut out Wake Forest in 2023, Ashley in 2024, and Laney this year. The future Western Carolina Catamount is among nine Ram college signees.
Simpson secured the save in the clincher after sophomore Cooper Friedholm pitched into the seventh inning. Laney loaded the bases with one out, and Simpson allowed a two-run single. However, the crafty lefty struck out the next Buc with a sequence of fastball, slider, and breaking ball. Sophomore left fielder Brooks Hemphill caught the final out.
Master Blaster
Davidson delivered the biggest hit of the finals. On Saturday, his two-run home run to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth broke a 5-5 tie. He anticipated a fastball with a 2-2 count but adjusted to hit a “hanging” breaking ball that might soon reach the next solar system.
Fiery senior catcher J.T. Smith doubled ahead of him in the sixth inning. He noted that whenever he gets on base, he knows that either Davidson or Simpson will bring him home.
Zo Lyles singled in sophomore Parker Filipek for TCR’s first lead at 5-4 an inning earlier. Seniors Lyles and Swangim both recorded infield hits during the finals.
‘Zebbed and Zo’d’
Both players made defensive gems. In the opener, Swangim dashed far behind the third base line, spearing a blistering one-hopper and gunning out the batter. “Zeb’s the best third baseman in the state,” Davidson said. “He’s a human vacuum. He’s so smooth!”
Centerfielder Lyles made the catch of the year in game two, diving backhanded to his right to stifle a rally. In game one, Filipek raced to the right field line for a catch.
TCR’s defense executed pickoffs and a rundown in each game. “Micah and I are on the same wavelength” regarding when to attempt pickoffs, Davidson said.
Double Trouble
The Rams frequently hit doubles. Swangim led off game one with a double, immediately setting the tone. “We ‘cut ‘em’ early,” he said. “When I get on, it creates momentum. Others start hitting.” Filipek singled in Davidson and Parham, stole a base, and scored on a wild pitch, resulting in four unearned runs.
Roberson doubled its lead with four runs in the fifth inning. An inning later, consecutive singles by Lyles, Swangim, and J.T. Smith brought in another run. Davidson and Filipek each hit deep RBI doubles.
Coach Filipek praised his Rams as “humble…hungry…focused” and “selfless” sacrificers of fundamentals in practice. “You’ve given so much.” He’ll “miss filling out this (loaded) lineup card.”