GREENVILLE, S.C. | The Young Harris College baseball team was well represented on the 2025 Conference Carolinas All-Conference teams, with eight Mountain Lions earning recognition following an outstanding season. Young Harris finished the regular season with a 37-13 record and captured a share of the Conference Carolinas regular season title, being named Co-Champions alongside Francis Marion University. 

Leading the way were four Mountain Lions named to the First Team: Drew Bray (Third Base), Luke Hatcher (Outfield), Graham Edwards (Pitcher), and Jeremy Begora (Utility). 

Bray, a junior from Canton, Georgia, anchored the left side of the infield all year, starting all 50 games at third base. He finished with a .355 batting average, tallying 71 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, and two home runs while driving in 31 runs. Bray led the Mountain Lions with a .494 on-base percentage and a .979 OPS, providing steady production at the plate and strong defense in the field. Bray was also named to the Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team at third base, posting a .957 fielding percentage. 

Hatcher, a senior from Cross City, Florida, was a driving force in the Young Harris offense from his outfield position. Hatcher batted .350 across 50 starts, compiling 72 hits, 27 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, and a conference-high 64 RBI. He also led Conference Carolinas in total bases (147) and finished with a 1.141 OPS, solidifying himself as one of the top hitters in the league. 

Edwards, a graduate student from Woodruff, South Carolina, solidified the Young Harris rotation, making 14 appearances (12 starts) and posting a 3.06 ERA over 64.2 innings. He struck out 78 batters—third-most in the league—and limited opponents to a .230 batting average, making him a key weapon on the mound. 

Begora, a senior from Cartersville, Georgia, showcased his versatility, earning First Team honors as a utility player and a spot on the All-Defensive Team at first base. Offensively, he hit .331 with 58 hits, 18 home runs, and 56 RBI—leading Conference Carolinas in home runs during the regular season. Defensively, Begora posted a near-perfect .995 fielding percentage, recording 417 putouts, 12 assists, and only two errors while helping turn 27 double plays. 

Four more Mountain Lions earned spots on the All-Conference Second Team: Jonny Smith (Second Base), Kade Smallwood (Designated Hitter), Zach Hart (Pitcher), and Austin Ritchie (Pitcher). 

Smith, a freshman from Suwanee, Georgia, made an immediate impact in his debut season. Smith led the Mountain Lions in batting average (.358) while collecting 58 hits, eight doubles, seven home runs, and 51 RBI. He posted a .978 OPS and swiped five bases, providing consistent production in the middle of the lineup. 

Smallwood, a sophomore designated hitter from Flowery Branch, Georgia, turned in a powerful season, batting .346 with 63 hits, eight doubles, and 16 home runs. He drove in 53 runs and ranked second in Conference Carolinas in home runs, compiling a 1.126 OPS and a .472 on-base percentage. 

Hart, a senior pitcher from Middletown, Delaware, anchored the Mountain Lions' starting rotation. He posted an 8-3 record over 14 starts, recording a 3.94 ERA in 77.2 innings while striking out 64 and holding opponents to a .268 batting average. 

Ritchie, a junior from Edinburg, Virginia, provided another strong arm for the Mountain Lions, finishing with a 9-2 record over 12 starts. Ritchie ranked tied for second in Conference Carolinas in wins, while posting a 3.50 ERA across 69.1 innings pitched. 

The eight selections cap off a historic season for Young Harris, as the Mountain Lions captured a share of the Conference Carolinas regular season crown for the first time in program history. 

The Mountain Lions now shift their focus toward the 2025 Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament in Gastonia, North Carolina, where they enter as the No. 2 seed.