2026 A Season to Remember: Raleigh Red Sox Capture 2026 CNCMSBL 32+ Championship
Central North Carolina MSBL, 32+ Division
Raleigh Red Sox 4, Alamance Giants 3
Submitted by Jason Angel
The Raleigh Red Sox capped the best offensive season in franchise history with a finish worthy of the occasion: a ninth-inning, walk-off double by Playoff MVP Paul Regan to defeat the Alamance Giants 4–3 and secure the 2026 CNCMSBL 32+ championship.
The September 27 championship victory brought together everything that defined this Red Sox team—production throughout the lineup, timely hitting, dependable defense, and outstanding pitching when it mattered most.
The Red Sox finished the regular season at 15–2, earning the No. 1 seed while outscoring their opponents by a whopping 115 runs. With a team batting average above .450, the Red Sox set a new franchise standard for offensive excellence. Their postseason performance carried that momentum all the way to the title.
On September 13, the Red Sox won 11–1 and 15–3 over the Sanford Marlins and Sanford Bulldogs, combining for 28 hits and 26 runs. Mike Edwards powered the opening win against the Marlins with five RBIs, including a three-run homer and a two-run single. Brandon Cotton, Adam Chavis, Regan, Edwards, and Jason Angel each contributed two hits, while Jeff Webb threw seven innings of one-run baseball. The Red Sox also stole eight bases and played error-free defense.
The victory over the Bulldogs showcased the lineup’s depth. An eight-run sixth inning broke the game open, with contributions from Mike Durdock, James Harris, Edwards, Regan, Rich Harris, and Josh Burnette. Edwards finished 3-for-3, while James Harris and Regan each drove in three runs. Angel earned the pitching victory, and Durdock added a scoreless inning in relief. The Red Sox again stole eight bases, pairing its hitting with aggressive baserunning.
The September 27 semifinal against the Raleigh Braves brought another offensive surge as the Red Sox collected 18 hits in a 14–6 victory. Chavis led the charge with a home run, double, and single, while Rich Harris also recorded three hits. Edwards added another home run, and Josh Burnette and Angel each drove in three runs.
A six-run sixth inning demonstrated the Red Sox ability to create opportunities and capitalize on them. Hits, patient plate appearances, and productive outs kept the inning moving and put the game firmly in the Red Sox’s hands. Webb delivered a complete-game performance, striking out seven over nine innings and allowing just three earned runs to send the Raleigh Red Sox into the championship.
The title game against the Alamance Giants demanded a different kind of performance. After overwhelming teams with their bats throughout the season, the Red Sox had to prevail in a tight, nine-inning contest.
Angel was stellar on the mound against the Giants, throwing a complete game while allowing just six hits and three runs. He struck out three, walked two, and kept the Red Sox within striking distance throughout. Behind him, the defense turned two double plays and made play after play without committing an error.
Regan drove in the game’s first run with a first-inning sacrifice fly. Trailing 2–1 in the sixth, the Red Sox reclaimed the lead on RBI singles from Burnette and Durdock. The game was tied again in the eighth, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The Red Sox finished with 16 hits. James Harris led the team with three, while Cotton, Chris Budnick, Angel, and Regan each collected multiple hits.
In the bottom of the ninth, James Harris got things going with a single, setting the stage for Regan’s dramatic finish. Regan delivered the decisive blow—a walk-off double that brought home the championship-winning run and set off the celebration.
Regan earned Playoff MVP honors by batting .500 (8-for-16) with five doubles, nine RBIs, and four stolen bases across the Red Sox’s four postseason victories, while catching two complete games. In the championship, he went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a stolen base—driving in the Red Sox’s first run, stealing second with two outs to set up the tying run, and delivering the title-winning walk-off double.
Across four postseason victories, the Red Sox totaled 44 runs and 62 hits. Edwards supplied power and run production, Chavis delivered a standout semifinal, Burnette drove in three runs in the semifinal and contributed a key RBI in the championship, Webb earned two wins, and Angel followed his earlier pitching victory with a complete-game championship performance. The team’s contributions came from throughout the roster, with Harris starting the final rally and Regan delivering the final swing.
The 2026 Raleigh Red Sox will be remembered for their historic offense and dominant regular season. Their championship finish showed the full measure of the team: the ability to win with power, patience, pitching, defense, and composure.
A 15–2 regular season. The best offensive campaign in Red Sox history. And a walk-off championship victory.
A season to remember—and a championship earned together!