Pod 3 of the 2025 National High School Invitational (NHSI), presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and Netting Pros, welcomes two new programs to the event and two returners from the 2024 edition. Corona (Corona, Calif.) and Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.) both make their second appearances, while Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and Edwardsville (Edwardsville, Ill.) are making their tournament debuts in 2025.
Corona
After winning the NHSI title in 2024, Corona is an early favorite to repeat as back-to-back champions. The Panthers had an impressive 4-0 run at last year's event, pitching to a 1.34 ERA and outsourcing opponents 19-5. Corona’s roster features a multitude of high-level talent including headliners Seth Hernandez and Billy Carlson. At the 2024 NHSI, Carlson batted .375 with a team-best three RBIs to earn All-Tournament Team honors, while Hernandez hit at a .333 clip and pitched two 1-2-3 innings on the bump in the championship game to earn tournament MVP. Both Hernandez (Vanderbilt commit) and Carlson (Tennessee commit) also land within the Top-12 Draft Prospects according to MLB Pipeline. Head Coach Andy Wise is confident in his team's ability to make another deep run: “I think our experience as a group will be one of our strengths moving forward. We have a veteran group. All of the guys respect and appreciate each other so we have a good thing going for us right now.”
Casteel
Another NHSI second-year participant, Casteel, is primed for an additional shot at the NHSI title after going 3-2 in the event last year. Unlike Corona, Casteel is a younger team after graduating 16 seniors from last season's lineup. Despite the turnover, Head Coach Matt Denny recognizes that his youngsters are filled with talent who have a chance to prove themselves at the NHSI. At the heart of the lineup is 2022 15U National Team gold medalist Ryan Harwood. Harwood is a Texas A&M commit who hit .364 at the 2024 NHSI and is hurling in the 90’s on the mound according to Denny. Coach Denny’s son, Baylor, is another threat from the mound as one of the team's top hurlers in only his sophomore season. After going 25-6 last season and winning back-to-back 5A State Championships in Arizona, Casteel looks to continue its success at the NHSI.
Edwardsville
The Edwardsville Tigers are set to make their NHSI debut in 2025, but don’t mistake the program’s inexperience at the event for weakness. Edwardsville returns multiple arms and position players from a 32-9 season that saw the Tigers collect their fifth Southwestern Conference title in a row under Head Coach Tim Funkhouser. Funkhouser’s lineup features a fine mix of strong arms and impactful hitters who are sure to give opponents headaches. A trio of Power 5 commits in Joseph Chiarodo (Alabama), Lucas Krebs (University of Illinois), and Tony Eberlin (Texas Christian University) lead the charge for Edwardsville on the mound and at the plate. Hurlers Chiarodo and Eberlin combined for an 11-3 record last season while Krebs held it down at the plate and batted .377 with 35 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. The trio is joined by 2024 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) All-State Selection Chase Milburn, who worked to a 0.57 ERA in 61.1 innings pitched last season. Despite the success of the program, Funkhouser is ready to see how his squad elevates their game in 2025: “I’m really looking forward to seeing our guys grow throughout the season and how they’ll fare at an event like the NHSI.”
Christopher Columbus
Fellow newcomer Christopher Columbus is no slouch either after it went 20-7 last season and won a district title while also reaching the regional semifinals. Led by a pair of Miami commits, the Explorers offer a lineup that features plenty of firepower that has the potential to find its way to the championship match. Mario Magana, one of the future Hurricanes and a top prospect, transferred into Columbus after the conclusion of last season and is already looking to be a proven leader that anchors the infield from shortstop. Magana’s counterpart and future Miami teammate Rafael Diaz aids the defense in the corner infield. The third baseman sports a consistent bat that compliments an already talent-stuffed roster. With the addition of Magana, Columbus has a roster filled with junior and senior talent that will be able to use their experience to come out victorious in tough games.
Matchup Breakdown
The first matchup of Pod 3 pairs the two newcomers against each other. Both Edwardsville and Christopher Columbus get to make their NHSI debuts without facing an opponent with prior experience in the event. Edwardsville is likely to hand the ball to Alabama commit Chiarodo who serves as a hitter's nightmare with his fastball that sits in the low-90s. If Edwardsville deploys Chiarodo, he’ll have to face a scary Columbus lineup that possesses plenty of power to leave the yard.
Casteel is tasked with conquering defending champs Corona in the second match within Pod 3. Corona seemingly has unlimited options on the mound with Hernandez and Auburn commit Ethin Bingamin highlighting the rotation. Both Hernandez and Bingaman would be difficult matchups for the Colts, but with a deep and youthful rotation of its own, the match between the two could provide a low-scoring affair decided by a single run.
