North Carolina
Florida State, Virginia, North Carolina Clinch College World Series Berths, Highlighting Saturday's NCAA Tournament Super Regional Action
Image credit:
James Tibbs III (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)
The busiest day of the super regional weekend delivered plenty of action from around the country, including the first teams advancing to the College World Series.
Here are 10 takeaways from Saturday’s action.
1. The first three tickets to Omaha were punched Saturday and they all went to ACC teams. Florida State, Virginia and North Carolina all swept into the College World Series and will be grouped together in one Omaha bracket.
It was a big day for the conference, which has not sent more than two teams to the CWS since 2008. Now, on one day, it blew past that total. The conference still has two more teams playing, as well. NC State is one win away from reaching the CWS, while Clemson must beat Florida twice to advance.
No matter what happens Sunday (and maybe Monday), this has already been a successful super regionals round for the ACC. The Seminoles, Cavaliers and Tar Heels on Saturday saw to that.
2. Florida State became the first team to secure its CWS berth, beating UConn, 10-8, in 12 innings. After the Seminoles thumped the Huskies, 24-4, on Friday, they had to work a lot harder for Saturday’s series clincher. UConn scored six runs (five earned) off ace Jamie Arnold, matching the most runs any team had scored against him this season. The Huskies fought back all game long, including a pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the ninth from Matt Malcom.
But, in the end, Florida State proved to be up to the challenge – thanks in large part to James Tibbs III. The ACC player of the year had had a quiet postseason before Saturday. He went 0-for-9 in regionals, though he drew six walks, and in Friday’s offensive onslaught, he went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles. On Saturday, however, he broke out in a big way. He went 5-for-6 and hit three two-run home runs, including the 12th-inning blast that proved to be the game-winner.
Florida State (47-15) is now headed back to Omaha for the first time since 2019 and the first time under second-year coach Link Jarrett. It’s been a special year for the Seminoles, who have more than doubled their win total from a season ago when they went 23-31. They’ve endured some tough injuries, especially on the mound, and seen some dramatic growth of players around the diamond.
Florida State has also done it following the death of legendary former coach Mike Martin, just two weeks before Opening Day. Martin’s final season as head coach was the last time the Seminoles played in Omaha. Now, they’re going back.
3. Virginia clinched the Charlottesville Super Regional with a 10-4 victory against Kansas State. The game was closer than the final score, as it was just a one-run advantage for the Cavaliers going into the ninth inning when they plated five runs.
Virginia again got strong pitching, something that had been a bugaboo for the team much of the season. Righthander Jay Woolfolk, fresh off a career outing in the final game of the Charlottesville Regional, delivered a quality start. Lefthander Chase Hungate retired the final six batters of the game to close it out.
The Cavaliers are going to the CWS for the third time in four seasons. It’s an impressive run for the program, especially considering how much talent Virginia lost from last year’s team. But the Cavaliers haven’t missed a beat and now roll into Omaha playing arguably their best baseball of the year.
4. North Carolina again played a dramatic postseason game at Boshamer Stadium. And the Tar Heels again found a way to win.
UNC defeated West Virginia, 2-1, to clinch the Chapel Hill Super Regional. It took an early lead, scratching out two runs in the first three innings, and got outstanding pitching from Jason DeCaro (6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and Dalton Pence (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K) to hold off the Mountaineers’ comeback attempt.
UNC is now headed to Omaha for the first time since 2018 and the first time under fourth-year coach Scott Forbes. It’s had an incredible postseason, winning five thrilling games at Boshamer Stadium, where it is 37-3 this season. It’s also probably been tested more than any host that will make it to Omaha, having to beat LSU and West Virginia. Will that experience be worth anything in the CWS? It’s hard to say, but no one can say the Tar Heels haven’t earned their way into the main event.
5. Evansville stunned Tennessee, taking down the No. 1 overall seed, 10-8. That evened the Knoxville Super Regional and set up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday.
The Volunteers opened the game with three solo home runs in the first inning and led 4-0 after two innings. With that kind of start to the game and righthander Drew Beam, their steadiest pitcher, on the mound, it looked like they were going to roll to a sweep.
But no one told Evansville that midnight was supposed to strike Saturday on Cinderella. The Purple Aces scored three in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take the lead. They really opened things up with a four-run sixth to lead 10-5.
Things got hairy in the ninth and Evansville had to bring on closer Shane Harris to finish the game. He got the job done, finishing the game by getting Christian Moore to fly out with the bases loaded. Evansville calling on Harris may prove significant on Sunday, as he’s now thrown 68 pitches over 3.1 innings the last two days. He has not pitched on three straight days this season, though he did throw 110 pitches over four days last weekend in Greenville.
Regardless, Evansville did what it had to do in a must-win situation. And it made history in the process, becoming the first team seeded No. 4 in a regional to beat the No. 1 overall seed in the super-regional era (since 1999). Previously, No. 4 seeds were 0-30 when facing the No. 1 team in the tournament.
Can Evansville spring another upset on Sunday? It’ll be another tall order, but the Purple Aces are playing with plenty of confidence. Tennessee has also shown some of its best arms already. There will be a lot riding on senior lefthander Zander Sechrist (3-1, 3.60), who will start the rubber game.
6. The worst news of the day came from College Station, where Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery suffered a season-ending injury in the first inning against Oregon. Montgomery was trying to score from second base and awkwardly lost his footing. After the A&M medical team treated him, he was helped off the field with his right ankle in an air cast.
After the game – which A&M won, 10-6, coach Jim Schlossnagle said Montgomery will be out for the season. That means the Aggies will be without their three-hole hitter and one of the best players in the country. Montgomery hit .322/.452/.733 with 27 home runs this season.
The Aggies have a strong lineup, but it’s going to be different without Montgomery, an All-American and a projected top-10 pick next month.
7. The most surprising result of the day was probably NC State walloping Georgia, 18-1. The Wolfpack scored 11 runs in the second inning and never looked back.
The offense was great for NC State – you don’t score 18 runs without looking good offensively. But what stood out the most to me was the way the Wolfpack pitched. Sam Highfill (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 K) and Andrew Shaffner (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) combined to all but silence a powerful Georgia lineup.
NC State is now 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament and has held its opponents to 10 runs. If the Wolfpack can keep that level of pitching up (and they haven’t consistently pitched at that level much of the year), they have more than enough offense to be very dangerous, as Georgia found out Saturday.
8. Kentucky made a statement in its first ever home super regionals game, beating Oregon State, 10-0, in front of a crowd of 7,441 fans at Kentucky Proud Park.
The Wildcats were excellent on the mound. Trey Pooser (7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K) and Jackson Nove (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) combined to silence the Beavers. It was the first time they were shut out this season and the first time they were held to one hit since last March.
The Wildcats broke the game open with a seven-run seventh inning, but the story was really what they did on the mound. Oregon State got a leadoff hit in the second inning from Elijah Hainline. That proved it be it, however. The Beavers did threaten in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out on a hit batter, an error and a walk. But Pooser worked out of the jam and Oregon State couldn’t string anything together the rest of the night.
Kentucky is now one win away from its first trip to the College World Series in program history.
9. Florida beat Clemson, 10-7, to open the Clemson Super Regional. The Gators fell behind early before dealing the Tigers some of their own medicine and coming back for the win.
Florida’s comeback was spurred by a seven-run fifth inning that saw it send 11 batters to the plate and included a massive opposite-field home run by Jac Caglianone. Righthander Brandon Neely, who has found a role as the team’s bullpen ace, made sure the comeback stuck, as he threw four scoreless innings to finish the game.
Neely has been one of the biggest reasons Florida has gotten to this point, where it is one win away from a trip to Omaha. He last week threw eight scoreless innings over two games in the Stillwater Regional, helping Florida beat Nebraska and Oklahoma State. He also held Georgia to one run in 4.2 innings to give Florida time to come back in a must-win game on the final weekend of the regular season.
While it’s been an up-and-down season for Neely, as he bounced between the bullpen and the rotation, he’s pitching his best down the stretch. That sounds a bit like Florida overall and now the Gators are one win away from another CWS appearance.
10. The losses Saturday by Kansas State and West Virginia mean there will be no Big 12 teams in the CWS for the first time since 2013. It was a strange year for the conference, which for the last few months seemed to lack contenders on a national level.
It’s a quiet end to this era for the conference, which is undergoing some big changes. This year it welcomed BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston to the fold. Next year it will say goodbye to Oklahoma and Texas, while welcoming in Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
Is this a one-year blip or does it represent a shift in the conference’s fortune? There’s uncertainty about the future without Oklahoma and Texas, which are the only two Big 12 teams to play for the national championship in the 21st century. And Texas has made more CWS trips than any team in the country. Losing the Longhorns means losing one of the most consistently good teams in the sport.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the Big 12. K-State and West Virginia broke through to super regionals, an important step for both programs. The new Big 12 has six programs that have won a regional in the last five NCAA Tournaments. That, along with the upward momentum of programs like UCF, Cincinnati and Kansas, gives reason for optimism.
Will the new Big 12 produce an Omaha team annually for the next decade? Probably not. The balance of power seems to be consolidating too tightly in the ACC and SEC. But the Big 12 is going to be a serious factor on the national stage more often than not.
A proposal to limit property tax increases is set to go before state lawmakers Tuesday — an effort that could culminate with North Carolinians voting on the issue as early as this year.
The state House of Representatives’ Finance Committee is scheduled to discuss a proposed state constitutional amendment restricting how much city and county governments could raise property taxes each year.
Amendments to the state Constitution must be approved by North Carolina voters. If the idea is approved by a supermajority of legislators, North Carolinians would be asked to decide the issue through a ballot vote, likely in November.
The legislation, House Bill 1089, doesn’t outline a limit for property tax increases. It calls on state lawmakers to come up with specific restrictions at a later date — if the referendum is approved by voters.
The bill is part of a broader push by legislators in the Republican-controlled General Assembly to address affordability issues ahead of the midterm elections.
Republicans in the state Senate last week approved a bill that would temporarily block county governments from applying appraisals conducted during this calendar year to property tax bills. Reappraisals often lead to higher property tax bills. Republican Senate leader Phil Berger has referred to that proposal as a “moratorium” that could bring temporary relief to taxpayers in a number of counties scheduled to reappraise properties this year — including Guilford and Harnett. Berger has framed the idea as simply buying time for the legislature to come up with more sweeping reforms.
The proposed constitutional amendment moving forward in the House could be that more sweeping idea, although it’s unclear if the Senate will go along if the idea passes the House.
Tax reduction has been a stated goal of Republican lawmakers for decades, but the proposed reappraisal moratorium and constitutional amendment are not guaranteed to pass. Neither Berger nor House Speaker Destin Hall has committed to supporting the other chamber’s idea for addressing rising property taxes.
Democrats have expressed skepticism over both plans. Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, D-Wake, chided Senate Republicans last week for failing to take up an amendment to Berger’s bill that would have lowered the state’s income threshold to qualify for property tax exceptions.
Rep. Lindsey Prather, D-Buncombe, said Monday — during a press conference calling for higher taxes on millionaires — that the property tax changes being proposed by GOP lawmakers seemed aimed more at gathering political credit than solving a problem.
“We can be the quote-unquote ‘good guys’ down here in Raleigh and say we’re going to lower your property taxes,” Prather said. “But all that means is that the local governments are going to have to be the ‘bad guys’ to raise revenue in other ways.”
Closing a loophole
The House Finance committee on Tuesday is expected to consider a proposal that could help municipal governments recoup more property tax revenue. The committee is expected to discuss House Bill 1042, which would tighten rules for nonprofit organizations that receive property tax exemptions.
The state currently allows certain organizations to avoid paying property taxes if they use their property entirely for charitable purposes and are not run for profit — a law that kept nearly $750 million worth of property out of Wake County’s tax base in 2025. The proposed change seeks to winnow down the list of who qualifies, especially nonprofits that provide affordable housing for low- or moderate-income people.
North Carolina
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
The 2026 North Carolina high school softball state playoff brackets are out, and High School On SI has all eight brackets with matchups and schedules for every team.
The first round begins on May 5, and the playoffs will culminate with the NCHSAA state championships being played May 27-30 at Duke University in Durham.
2026 North Carolina High School Baseball State Tournament Schedule
May 5: First Round
May 8: Second Round
May 12: Third Round
May 15: Fourth Round
May 19-23: Regionals
May 27-30: State Championships
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view full bracket details)
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 5 Vance Charter
No. 3 East Columbus vs. No. 2 Northside – Pinetown
No. 1 Robbinsville vs. No. 5 Falls Lake Academy
No. 6 Bethany Community vs. No. 2 Oxford Preperatory
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 North Duplin vs. No. 8 Camden County
No. 5 Rosewood vs. No. 4 East Carteret
No. 3 Perquimans vs. No. 11 Pamlico County
No. 10 Franklin Academy vs. No. 2 Manteo
No. 1 South Stanly vs. No. 9 East Wilkes
No. 5 South Stokes vs. No. 4 Starmount
No. 3 Swain County vs. No. 6 Murphy
No. 7 Highland Tech vs. No. 2 Roxboro Community
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Midway vs. No. 9 Providence
No. 12 Wallace-Rose Hill vs. No. 4 Heide Trask
No. 3 Farmville Central vs. No. 11 Ayden – Grifton
No. 10 Northwood vs. No. 2 McMichael
No. 1 West Lincoln vs. No. 8 Union Academy
No. 5 Draughn vs No. 4 Pine Lake Preperatory
No. 3 West Davidson vs. No. 11 East Surry
No. 7 Walkertown vs. No. 2 West Wilkes
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Randleman vs. No. 9 Nash Central
No. 5 Bunn vs. No. 4 East Duplin
No. 3 Southwest Onslow vs. No. 6 Roanoke Rapids
No. 7 Ledford Senior vs. No. 2 Central Davidson
No. 1 West Stokes vs. No. 8 Forbush
No. 5 Pisgah vs. No. 4 West Stanly
No. 19 North Surry vs. No. 11 Foard
No. 10 Mount Pleasant vs. No, 2 Bunker Hill
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Southeast Alamance vs. No. 8 C.B. Aycock
No. 5 Seaforth vs. No. 4 Rockingham County
No. 3 Eastern Alamance vs. No. 6 West Carteret
No. 7 South Brunswick vs. No. 2 Southern Nash
No. 1 Enka vs. No. 9 Oak Grove
No. 5 Crest vs. No. 13 West Rowan
No. 3 North Davidson vs. No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 East Rowan vs. No. 2 North Lincoln
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Union Pines vs. No. 9 South Johnston
No. 5 South View vs. No. 4 Gray’s Creek
No. 3 J.H. Rose vs. No. 6 Harnett Central
No. 7 Triton vs. No. 2 West Brunswick
No. 1 Kings Mountain vs. No. 8 Charlotte Catholic
No. 5 Alexander vs. No. 13 T.C. Roberson
No. 3 Piedmont vs. No. 6 Central Cabarrus
No. 10 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 2 South Caldwell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 D.H. Conley vs. No. 8 Wake Forest
No. 5 Purnell Sweet vs. No. 4 Cleveland
No. 3 Heritage vs. No. 6 Topsail
No. 7 South Central vs. No. 2 New Bern
No. 1 Weddington vs. No. 8 Mooresville
No. 5 A.L. Brown vs. No. 4 Hickory Ridge
No. 3 East Forsyth vs. No. 11 Porter Ridge
No. 7 Ronald Reagan vs. No. 2 South Iredell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Willow Spring vs. No. 4 Hoggard
No. 3 E.A. Laney vs. No. 2 Cornith Holders
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 4 Hough
No. 3 West Forsyth vs. No. 2 Apex Friendship
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North Carolina
Perspective | What North Carolina gets right about workforce: Progress beyond politics
Across the country, workforce development is often framed as a policy challenge. In North Carolina, we’ve come to understand it as something more fundamental: a shared responsibility between educators and employers that works best when it rises above politics. It is a nonpartisan priority with bipartisan support — and a clear focus on outcomes.
North Carolina’s approach to workforce and talent development offers a different model — one grounded in collaboration, consistency, data, and a relentless focus on student and employer needs.
Over the past several years, our state has aligned around an ambitious goal: ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. myFutureNC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, led by a bipartisan Board of Directors, that was created to champion this work.
This goal is not owned by a single administration or political party. It is the state’s attainment goal — codified in law with bipartisan support and signed by the governor — to ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future. The work is guided by leaders across business, education, policymakers, and philanthropy.
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This kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It requires trust, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize long-term impact over short-term wins — placing the needs of students and employers above the silos that often define education and workforce systems.
North Carolina’s leaders don’t agree on everything, and unanimity is not what makes this work. There is broad agreement on a set of essential truths: Talent is the top driver of economic development. Education fuels economic prosperity, public safety, and healthier communities. Having a robust educational system and an educated population is one of our state’s greatest assets. Economic mobility matters. And preparing people for meaningful work benefits everyone.
This alignment is delivering results. North Carolina has been named the No. 1 state for business three out of the past four years and ranks No. 1 for workforce — reinforcing what’s possible when leaders stay focused on shared priorities.
This strong foundation has enabled progress in areas that often stall in partisan debate. Through strategic policy and philanthropic investments, the state has expanded pathways into high-demand careers, strengthened connections between education and industry, and increased access to work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
That same foundation is shaping how policy is developed in real time. The proposed Workforce Act of 2026 reflects North Carolina’s cross-sector approach — bringing together business and education leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists to strengthen pathways into high-demand careers and expand access to work-based learning. Rather than introducing a new direction, this Act builds on what is already working, demonstrating how alignment can translate into coordinated action.
The bipartisan-led Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships puts this approach into practice. Building on the state’s existing foundation, the council brings together leaders from industry, education, and government to strengthen coordination across the workforce system. Its value lies not in setting a new direction, but in reinforcing and accelerating a shared one.
This is what it looks like to build systems designed to last. Workforce development is not a one-year initiative or a single funding cycle — it is a long-term investment in people, communities, employers, and the educational infrastructure that supports them. North Carolina’s progress is rooted in structures that bring partners together consistently, align efforts across sectors, and create continuity beyond political cycles.
By embedding collaboration into how the work gets done — not just what gets prioritized — the state has created a model that can evolve over time while staying focused on its goals.
Work remains to be done. Gaps in attainment persist, and ensuring opportunity reaches every corner of the state will require continued focus and innovation. But North Carolina’s significant progress and continued success being No. 1 nationally in many related categories demonstrates what is possible when leaders choose partnership over partisanship.
At a time when it’s easy to focus on what divides us, North Carolina offers a reminder: Some of the most important work we do — preparing people for the future of work and ensuring employers have access to skilled talent — is our north star and unifying force.
And in our shared goal of 2 million by 2030, we are not just building a stronger workforce. We are building a stronger state — for today and for generations to come.
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