For most high school seniors, graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone. But for a group of student-athletes at North Carolina Leadership Academy, that moment might be eclipsed by something even bigger.
The NCLA baseball team is headed to the state finals this weekend after a remarkable 21-2 season, explained Tiffany Smith, whose son Clay is one of the team’s seniors.
After powering through conference and regional play to earn a spot in a best-of-three series in Holly Springs, game one is set for Friday evening with game two and three (if needed) to be played on Saturday.
Back home in Kernersville, though, NCLA’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
If the series goes the distance, the seniors plan to hustle back, but Smith acknowledged the reality: “We’re going to be late.”
For Clay Smith, Hank Gaston, and Brayden Hatfield, the moment is bittersweet. The trio has played together since seventh grade, building a bond that extends far beyond the field.
“These three boys are really, really close,” Tiffany Smith said. “They’ve been together a long time.”
Hatfield recently pitched a complete game to clinch the regional title and punctuate a season defined by consistency.
NCLA Athletic Director Stephanie McCormick said the opportunity reflects years of commitment from players, coaches, and families.
“The team has been 100% committed and worked hard over the last four years with this goal in mind,” she said. “They’ve fought through a lot of challenges to stay the course.”
But she said the team’s success can’t be measured by wins and losses alone.
“Not just talented athletes, they are also good students, respectful, fun-loving, family-oriented, humble, and high-character kids,” she said. “That’s the NCLA way.”
Alongside head coach David Sellers, she credited the team’s seniors with exemplifying that standard.
“To the bitter end, they continue to sacrifice for the team,” she said.
The baseball team’s run is part of a broader narrative across NCLA athletics this year. The school claimed its first NCHSAA state championship in men’s cross country, saw its volleyball team reach the state finals, and brought home multiple medals in track and field this spring.
Now, baseball is adding its own chapter to a “storybook year,” McCormick said, adding: “It’s a great day to be a Falcon.”
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