In a thrilling conclusion to their underdog journey, the No. 4-seed Craven Community College Panthers captured the NCBA Division III World Series title Sunday, May 18, with a 9-6 victory over No. 2 Robert Morris University.
The Panthers wasted no time setting the tone in the championship game. In the bottom of the first inning, John Freeman delivered a momentum-shifting 3-RBI triple that gave Craven a lead they would never surrender. That early offensive spark set the stage for a dominant performance on the mound.
Freshman right-hander Rusty Haswell was electric in relief, pitching 5.2 innings of near-flawless baseball. Haswell struck out eight, allowed just one hit, and surrendered a single run—slamming the door shut on Robert Morris and sealing Craven's place in college baseball history.
This victory not only marks a national championship for the Panthers but also highlights the grit, determination, and teamwork that defined their postseason run. Congratulations to the Craven CC Panthers—2025 NCBA DIII World Series Champions!
The Craven Panthers Baseball team will be celebrated for a phenomenal season during an exhibition game against the New Bern Southpaws on Friday, May 30. More details available at https://cravencc.edu/event-calendar/60th-anniversary-baseball-game-craven-cc-vs-new-bern-southpaws.
Photos courtesy of NCBA.
