Cullowhee, North Carolina – As Western Carolina University’s baseball team prepares to open its season against George Washington University, attention is focused on the depth and experience within the catching corps. Head coach Alan Beck has four players vying for time behind the plate, a mix of returning players and promising freshmen, as the Catamounts begin their 2026 campaign at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The team’s starting catcher is expected to be redshirt sophomore Noah Quarless. A product of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Regan High School, Quarless is mentored by former Catamount catcher Spencer Holcomb (2015-2018). Last season, Quarless started 31 games, sharing duties with Jack Spyke and returning redshirt senior Cam Murray. He demonstrated offensive potential, finishing the season with a .298 batting average over 104 at-bats, including 12 extra-base hits – six doubles and six home runs. Defensively, he successfully threw out nine potential base stealers.
Quarless’s development is particularly noteworthy as he began last season as the opening-day starter, securing his first collegiate hit. He finished the year strongly, improving his batting average by 34 points over the final four games.
Providing experienced depth is Cam Murray, a fifth-year senior who was last year’s recipient of the Leggett No. 7 Legacy award. Murray appeared in 15 games last season, making five starts at catcher and twice as the designated hitter. He has played in 76 career games with 31 starts, and has been twice elected team captain, demonstrating leadership qualities within the squad.
The Catamounts have also bolstered their catching depth with the addition of two freshmen: Carlos Diaz from Youngsville, North Carolina, and Turner Gross from St. Petersburg, Florida. Both are described as physically imposing players, with Diaz listed at 6-1 and 215 pounds, and Gross at 6-4 and 220 pounds.
Diaz arrives with a strong prep baseball pedigree, having been named the No. 1 catching prospect in North Carolina by PrepBaseballNC. Originally committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Diaz excelled at Wake Forest High School, maintaining a .390 batting average over his final three seasons, culminating in a .443 average as a junior and a .400 average as a senior. He accumulated 99 career hits, including 17 doubles, three triples, and one home run, driving in 69 runs and boasting a .487 on-base percentage.
Gross, meanwhile, brings a championship-winning background from Northside Christian in St. Petersburg, Florida, where his team secured four consecutive district titles and a regional title during his junior year. He was named the NCHS Male Athlete of the Year as a senior and captained his team to a 2025 High School Spring Open championship. Throughout his high school career, Gross maintained a .275 lifetime batting average with 47 hits, including 16 doubles and two home runs, and 29 RBI.
Coach Beck anticipates Quarless will be the primary starter, but expects all four catchers to see playing time throughout the season, particularly during weekend series and midweek matchups. This approach suggests a commitment to developing the entire catching corps and providing opportunities for all players to contribute.
The availability of season and single-game tickets is currently open through the Catamount Athletics ticket office, both online and by phone. A special ticket package, the “Baseball and Bo’s Flex Tickets,” offers 15 general admission vouchers and coupons for complimentary Cajun filet biscuits from Bojangles, providing an added incentive for fans to attend games.
The Catamounts’ season opener marks the beginning of a new chapter for the program, with a focus on building upon past successes and developing the next generation of talent. The catching position, with its blend of experience and youthful potential, will be a key component of the team’s overall performance.
