All posts by Chad Willis

Sports and brand marketing professional with 20+ years of experience for corporate brands like RJ Reynolds, NEXTEL, Sprint, and NASCAR.
Nebraska, news, Omaha, schedule, SlumpBuster, Triple Crown Baseball

“ROAD TO OMAHA” IS HERE FOR CANES CAROLINA

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) – “Go West, young man,” is a phrase that originated nearly 160 years ago and has found new relevance for Canes Carolina.  The Charlotte-based 12U Canes travel baseball squad is taking to the road and skies for its next tournament (June 13-16) in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 22nd Annual Omaha SlumpBuster, sanctioned by Triple Crown Sports and billed as the “World’s Largest Baseball Tournament,” brings together close to 700 teams across six age divisions.  The 12U division features 56 teams from 19 states, but only one from North Carolina – Canes Carolina.

Canes Carolina will play four pool play games on Thursday and Friday before starting the double-elimination tournament on Saturday.  Thursday finds the Canes squaring off against Wow Factor Southwest Ortiz (Houston, Texas) and the Olive Hurricanes (Orange, California).  Friday’s schedule pits the Canes against Majestic Baseball (Peyton, Colorado) and Arlington Cardinals Red (Arlington Heights, Illinois).

The tournament coincides with the opening of “The Greatest Show on Dirt,” the Men’s College World Series.  The Canes will attend the evening session of the opening day of the CWS at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. 

CANES CAROLINA – OMAHA ROSTER

Bryce Henrickson (Huntersville, NC)

Wyatt Hogston (Wilmington, NC)

Benji Malloy (Davidson, NC)

Lex Melito (Clarksburg, MD)

Sam O’Neill (Newton, NC)

Eli Schmolke (Mooresville, NC)

Sam Spangler (Mooresville, NC)

Connor Sylvan (Charlotte, NC)

Chase Willis (Mooresville, NC)

Jett Wright (Statesville, NC)

TOURNAMENT FIELD – STATES REPRESENTED

Minnesota (8)

Colorado (7)

Texas (7)

Illinois (6)

Nebraska (5)

Iowa (4)

California (3)

Indiana (3)

Missouri (2)

Utah (2)

Arizona

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Louisiana

Montana

North Carolina

Washington

Wisconsin

news, TRYOUTS

CANES CAROLINA 13U FALL TRYOUTS REGISTRATION FORM

CANES CAROLINA THANKS YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR TEAM! PLEASE COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR 13U FALL SEASON TRYOUTS.

PLAYERS BORN ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 2011, ARE ELIGIBLE TO TRY OUT FOR RISING 13U TEAMS.

PLAYERS BORN BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2011, AND APRIL 30, 2011, ARE ELIGIBLE, PROVIDED THEY ARE IN THE CLASS OF 2030 (RISING 7TH GRADERS IN FALL 2024).

PRIMARY (NON-PITCHING) POSITION PLAYED

DOES PLAYER PITCH?

WHICH TRYOUT DATE WILL YOU ATTEND?(required)

Charlotte, North Carolina, schedule, USSSA

USSSA CROWN JEWEL EVENT NEXT FOR CANES CAROLINA

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — As the saying goes, “Business is about to pick up.”

The USSSA Queen City Super Select NIT – the granddaddy of all Charlotte region travel baseball tournaments – takes center stage this weekend. Canes Carolina will once again step between the lines and take on some of the best the area offers in 12U Major-level competition.

The Canes will begin pool play at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow against Dirtbags Charlotte in the first meeting between these teams from rival organizations. Canes then face ZT Prospects Carolina at 2:30 p.m., also for the first time. Both games will take place at Park Road Park in Charlotte.

In all, 16 teams are competing in the 12U Major division, including five of the top eight teams in North Carolina, according to Travel Baseball Rankings. SBA Bolts National (No. 2, TBR), WOW Factor Atlantic (No. 5), GBC Prospects (No. 6), USA Prime Coastal (No. 7), and Dirtbags Elite Gold (No. 8) are among the top contenders for the Queen City crown.

The complete field is as follows:

Major

Athletes Lab Red (Hickory, N.C.)

Canes Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.)

Canes Danko (Clayton, N.C.)

Carolina Clippers Orange (Richfield, N.C.)

Carolina Express (Charlotte, N.C.)

Dirtbags Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)

Dirtbags Elite Gold (Flat Rock, N.C.)

GBC Prospects (Greensboro, N.C.)

SBA Bolts National (Matthews, N.C.)

USA Prime Coastal Stars (Clemmons, N.C.)

WOW Factor Atlantic (Mooresville, N.C.)

ZT Prospects Carolina (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.)

AAA

5 Star Powerhouse (Leland, N.C.)

Hayseeds (Lugoff-Elgin, S.C.)

GBC Prospects-Baker (Greensboro, N.C.)

Carolina Evo (Evo, N.C.)

Charlotte, news, Perfect Game, schedule

CANES TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: PERFECT GAME SUPER25 SUPER REGIONAL (APRIL 6-7)

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CLOVER (S.C.) — Canes Carolina will compete in their first Perfect Game tournament of the season at this weekend’s 12U Perfect Game Coastal Super25 Super Regional.

The Canes hit the turf at Field Day Park Saturday at 9 a.m., squaring off with Carolina Evo. It will be a rematch of the most recent game for the Canes, an 8-5 loss to the Evo at USSSA March Mania in Charlotte on March 24.

Canes Carolina will then face nationally-ranked Canes Nation in an inter-organizational matchup at 11 a.m.

A total of 13 teams make up the Major and AAA tournament. The full field is as follows:

MAJOR

Canes Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.)

Canes Nation (Raleigh, N.C.)

Carolina Express (Charlotte, N.C.)

Carolina Clippers Orange (Richfield, N.C.)

GBC Prospects-Matthews (Summerfield, N.C.)

SBA Bolts National (Charlotte, N.C.)

South Charlotte Panthers Black (Sophia, N.C.)

South Charlotte Panthers Cardinal (Charlotte, N.C.)

Wow Factor Atlantic National (Mooresville, N.C.)

AAA

5 Star Heat Travelers (Penrose, N.C.)

Carolina Evo (Lexington, N.C.)

Hayseeds (Elgin, S.C.)

Mill Town White (Fort Mill, S.C.)

Charlotte, news, North Carolina, schedule, USSSA

USSSA MARCH MANIA NEXT FOR CANES CAROLINA

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — Spring returned to the Carolinas this week, and with it comes the enthusiastic return of travel baseball for teams across the region.

Canes Carolina joins 15 other 12U teams from North and South Carolina to round out the field for this weekend’s USSSA March Mania tournament in Charlotte.

UPDATED MARCH 23 (2:25 PM)

Inclement weather has transformed March Mania into a one-day tournament. Canes Carolina will face Carolina Express (1:30 p.m.) and Carolina Evo (5:00 p.m.) at TM Winget Park in Charlotte on Sunday, March 24. The top two teams from the 12U pool will advance to the finals at 6:45 p.m.

Canes Carolina last played on March 10 in the one-day March Bucket Bash (Top Gun), where they won a pair of games by a combined 11-3 score to take the top spot in the weather-shortened tournament. Knox Duncan was named to the event’s All-Tournament team after recording three hits, including a pair of doubles, and picking up two runs batted in.

Knox Duncan hits a baseball for Canes Carolina.

The complete roster of teams competing in this weekend’s 12U field is:

Canes Carolina – Charlotte, N.C.

T24 Black – York, S.C.

Mill Town White – Fort Mill, S.C.

Copperheads Black – Mooresville, N.C.

NBA Queen City Bulls – Charlotte, N.C.

Carolina Express – Charlotte, N.C.

MARA Bolts – Matthews, N.C.

Legacy Baseball – Fort Mill, S.C.

South Park Chargers – Charlotte, N.C.

South Charlotte Revolution (Forman) – Charlotte, N.C.

Carolina Evo – Evo, N.C.

SBA Futures – Matthews, N.C.

Athletes Lab Navy – Denver, N.C.

Red Clay Athletics Black – Huntersville, N.C.

Charlotte, news, roster

TALENTED NEW ADDITION JOINS CANES ROSTER

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — Canes Carolina 12U welcomes the addition of Bryce Henrickson (Huntersville) to the roster for the upcoming 2024 season.

Henrickson joins eight returning players on the only 12U Canes squad in the Charlotte area. The updated roster is:

Miles Byrd – Fuquay-Varina, NC

Knox Duncan – Matthews, NC

Nash Hayes – Iron Station, NC

Bryce Henrickson – Huntersville, NC

Benji Malloy – Davidson, NC

Sam O’Neill – Newton, NC

Eli Schmolke – Mooresville, NC

Connor Sylvan – Charlotte, NC

Chase Willis – Mooresville, NC

The Canes are led by General Manager Darren Schmolke and Assistant Coach Steve Chapter.

Charlotte, news, schedule, USSSA

CANES CLOSE FALL CAMPAIGN AT USSSA QUEEN CITY SELECT SUPER NIT

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — You know a tournament has history and well-earned prestige when it has been gifted a nickname, in this case, “The Beast of the Southeast.”

USSSA’s twice-a-year classic, formally known as the Queen City Select Super NIT, has been a fixture on the Charlotte travel baseball schedule for years and a highlight of the season for all that participate.

Canes Carolina will compete in its fifth and final tournament of the fall season at the NIT. The tourney features a 13-team Major division and some of the top organizations in 12U travel baseball.

Pool play starts for the Canes at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in a matchup with the Rawlings Prospects NC out of Wake Forest, N.C. It will be the first meeting between the squads.

Then comes an all-Canes showdown as Canes Carolina takes on Canes Danko out of Clayton, N.C. at 4:30 p.m. This will also be the first meeting between these Canes affiliates. Both games will take place at Crooked Creek Park in Indian Trail, N.C.

TEAMLOCATION
Canes CarolinaCharlotte, N.C.
Canes DankoClayton, N.C.
Carolina Elite of ClaytonClayton, N.C.
Carolina ExpressCharlotte, N.C.
GBC ProspectsGreensboro, N.C.
HayseedsLugoff-Elkin, S.C.
MARA BoltsMatthews, N.C.
Mission SaintsWaxhaw, N.C.
Rawlings Prospects NCWake Forest, N.C.
SBA FuturesMatthews, N.C.
SBA North ProspectsRockwell, N.C.
South Charlotte Panthers MarucciRandleman, N.C.
USA Prime Coastal StarsClemmons, S.C.
news, Ripken Experience, schedule

CANES CAROLINA OFF TO MYRTLE BEACH FOR RIPKEN BASEBALL FALL KICKOFF

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — They’re going to a beach town, but it’s a business trip for Canes Carolina.

The Canes will be participating in the Fall Kickoff at The Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach, joining a dozen other 12U baseball teams from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

The Canes open play with 5 Star Savannah (Ga.) Black tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., then face the SC Jets (West Columbia, SC) at 10:45 a.m. Both games will be played on the Huntington Park field, a youth baseball tribute to the former home of the Boston Red Sox. The Sox called Huntington home from 1901-1912 and hosted the first-ever World Series and was the site of Major League Baseball’s first perfect game, thrown by the immortal Cy Young.

The complete field for the tournament includes the following squads:

TEAMCITYSTATE
Canes CarolinaCharlotteNC
5 Star Savannah BlackSavannahGA
SC BravesCharlotteNC
Palmetto PulseFlorenceSC
Team Elite TealConwaySC
SC JetsWest ColumbiaSC
Hi-YieldersChesterfieldSC
DHYS Red DevilsAtlantaGA
Myrtle Beach MarlinsMyrtle BeachSC
North Iredell NitroStatesvilleNC
Rock Solid RedWilmingtonNC
Carolina FreedomLillingtonNC
Roadrunners BaseballCrouseNC
Charlotte, North Carolina, schedule, USSSA

FALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND HAS ARRIVED

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CHARLOTTE (N.C.) — Canes Carolina is at the midway point of its fall baseball season, and the strongest field to date awaits in the USSSA Fall State Championship.

Nine major-level teams are set to compete for the Old North State’s bragging rights, including a “who’s who” of the best squads in the area.

TEAMCITY
Canes CarolinaCharlotte, N.C.
Mission SaintsMatthews, N.C.
GBC ProspectsGreensboro, N.C.
Carolina ExpressCharlotte, N.C.
Panthers MarucciRandleman, N.C.
USA Prime Coastal StarsClemmons, N.C.
Canes SouthGreenville, S.C.
SBA FuturesMatthews, N.C.
SBA North ProspectsRockwell, N.C.

Canes Carolina will face Carolina Express (2 p.m.) and GBC Prospects (5:40 p.m.) in Saturday’s pool play at Crooked Creek Park in Indian Trail, N.C. It will be the first meeting of the season between the Canes and Express. The Canes will square off with GBC Prospects for the second consecutive tournament, with the Prospects taking a rain-shortened 3-1 win in the previous meeting.

SBA Futures and SBA North Prospects were ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, in the most recent TBR North Carolina poll. Canes South was the top-ranked team in South Carolina.

Sunday’s tournament play will occur at Catawba Park in Tega Cay, S.C.