Greene Central Baseball Preview: Defending Champions Look to Reload and Repeat
Greene Central Baseball Preview: Defending Champions Look to Reload and Repeat
Greene Central baseball made history last season, capturing its sixth state championship and first since 2000 with an 8-5 victory over Burns at Burlington Athletic Stadium. The Rams finished with a dominant 29-1 record, sweeping through conference play (12-0) and nearly unblemished at home (15-1), with their only home loss coming in the playoffs to Whiteville.
Now, with six seniors graduated, head coach Ben Brann faces the challenge of reloading a roster full of young talent while maintaining the high standard that Greene Central baseball is known for.
“Our team expectation isn’t much different than last year,” Brann said. “We emphasize staying in the moment, doing the best we can each day, and focusing on what we can do to get better right now.”
Home Field Advantage
One of the biggest strengths of last season’s run was Greene Central’s dominance at home. The Rams haven’t lost a regular-season home game since March 1, 2023, when they fell to Hunt. Their home crowd plays a massive role in their success.
“It’s huge for us,” Brann said. “People in Greene County, people in Snow Hill love to come out and support our baseball program. It’s been like that for a long time. Our boys definitely feed off that energy, and there’s always extra excitement when we play in front of our home fans.”
The atmosphere at home is something that Brann believes sets Greene Central apart.
“The fans bring it every night,” Brann said. “Our guys know when they step onto the field here, they’ve got a community behind them. It’s just a different energy.”
With another championship banner hanging at the ballpark, Greene Central knows every opponent will come into Snow Hill looking to take them down.
“We’ve got a target on our back now,” Brann said. “When you win a couple of conference championships in a row and add a state championship to that, every team wants to beat Greene Central. We have to bring it every single day.”
Senior Leadership and Key Returners
The Rams enter the season with four seniors, all of whom will play vital roles in keeping the championship culture alive.
Austin Brock will be a key presence at first base and as a designated hitter, bringing a strong bat to the middle of the lineup. Brock played a huge role in last year’s postseason run, delivering clutch hits in the Eastern Finals that helped propel the Rams to the state championship.
“Brock came through in some really big spots last year,” Brann said. “He’s definitely going to be an important bat for us.”
Elijah Monroe has been a steady figure in the Greene Central program for years, and his unwavering dedication has finally earned him a starting role.
“Elijah is an incredible young man,” Brann said. “He’s become more of a leader this offseason and has always been a great teammate. He’s extremely unselfish and does whatever he can to help the team. It’s been great to see him grow over these four years.”
Easton Creech has been a major contributor the past two seasons and will be an anchor in the infield once again. Last year, he drove in 28 runs and provided key experience up the middle.
“Easton’s played pretty much all four years,” Brann said. “He knows where to be, knows what to do, and has really stepped up as a leader for our younger guys.”
The fourth senior, Zach Harrison, transferred in from Bethel Academy and will be a crucial part of the catching rotation.
“Zach grew up playing with these guys, so the transition has been smooth,” Brann said. “He’s going to be a key piece for us, especially in handling our pitching staff.”
Power Players: Will Radford and Riley Radford
While the Rams graduated six key pieces from last year’s title-winning squad, two of the most impactful returners are junior catcher Will Radford and junior pitcher/infielder Riley Radford.
Will Radford put up video-game numbers in 2024, batting .588 with 37 RBIs, 14 doubles, and a triple. His presence behind the plate and in the middle of the lineup makes him one of the best all-around players in the state.
“He’s 100 percent someone we’re leaning on,” Brann said. “Will isn’t always the most vocal leader, but his work ethic speaks for itself. He shows up ready to go every day, and not enough people talk about how talented he is. He’s one of the best catchers in the state—without question.”
Riley Radford will take over as the Rams’ ace on the mound after a stellar season in which he posted a 0.51 ERA in 27 innings, allowing just two earned runs. Offensively, he drove in 34 RBIs and slugged 13 doubles and three home runs.
“Riley is going to be our number one pitcher for sure,” Brann said. “He’s been working on being more efficient with his pitches, attacking the zone better, and being a leader on the mound. He knows we’re going to lean on him this season.”
Young Talent Stepping Up
With a handful of key contributors gone, Greene Central will rely on several underclassmen to step into larger roles.
Among those expected to make an impact are Logan Burress, Sutton Harris, and Austin Oliver, who have shown tremendous promise in the offseason.
“Those guys have been working really hard,” Brann said. “They have the work ethic and the willingness to do whatever it takes for the team. That’s exactly what we need as we reload.”
Junior Everett Kirkland and Noah Robertson are two more names to watch. Both have been waiting their turn behind experienced players but have been grinding in the offseason.
“They remind me of Elijah Monroe’s situation,” Brann said. “They’ve been patient, working behind some older guys, and now it’s their time to step up.”
Coaching Staff Stability
The Rams return the same coaching staff, with Brann leading the way, assisted by his father, Russell Brann, along with David Bryant and Jamie Tilley.
“I trust those guys completely,” Brann said. “We’re all like-minded, and it’s great to bounce ideas off each other. Coach Bryant is an outstanding infield coach—people don’t realize how knowledgeable he is. And Coach Tilley is a great motivator and really connects with the players.”
Offseason Work and Looking Ahead
After celebrating a state championship, the Rams quickly got back to work.
“I gave them a little break after the state title, but by summer, we were back at it,” Brann said. “We played some summer ball, had some success, and since Labor Day, we’ve been going hard three or four days a week.”
With the season opener looming, Greene Central is focused on defending its title while remaining true to its identity.
“We’ve emphasized staying in the moment, just like last year,” Brann said. “If we keep playing good defense, doing the little things right, and working to get better every day, we’ll put ourselves in a good position again.”
