NC State’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library will be the host of a competitive esports event — the ePremier 12 USA Finals and the Opening Round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation HUGAN ePremier 12 2024. Competitors will play WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS, a Japanese arcade-style baseball game, for a chance to win a global championship.
The United States’ top six players began competing on Friday at Hunt Library, with three spots on the line for the ePremier 12 Opening Round. These spots were awarded via a round-robin tournament, followed by gold and bronze medal games. The winners of each of these, plus the runner-up in the gold medal game will compete in the global competition on Saturday and Sunday.
The competitors come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from former college baseball players to lifelong gamers. The major differences in background heavily influence player strategies, leading to vastly different approaches. However, as an arcade-style game, the competition leans into big plays and exciting moments.
One of the competitors, Markus “Emmdotfrisk” Frieske, is a former infielder who played college baseball at Northern Iowa. With a lifelong passion for baseball and a strong understanding of the sport, Frieske is taking an analytical approach to the competition, similar to players in college baseball.
“I play the game like I played [baseball] in real life — I think that’s maybe one of the reasons I have a little bit of an edge,” Frieske said. “I think knowing the numbers side that goes into it, I learned a lot from playing in college and from my coaches like Rick Heller. … I look at a lot of other players’ weaknesses, like if they can’t hit or they do the same thing to the same pitch.”
While Frieske has plenty of experience on the diamond, he also is very familiar with the Power Pros series and is one of its more well-known players. After discovering the series over 20 years ago, Frieske now runs his own YouTube channel, teaching newer players the intricacies of the game. Having the ability to not only excel in the game but also to teach others should prove valuable for Frieske.
“I have a couple of YouTube channels, one that’s specifically built to help people learn how to play the game,” Frieske said. “I started to separate myself as someone who could be a leader in the community, but also someone who could help others get better, but also someone that’s quite good at the game.”
Another competitor in this weekend’s competition is Carter “Compass” Copus. Unlike Frieske, Copus does not have a background playing or even watching baseball. Instead, he’s an avid gamer who has mastered the intricacies of Power Pros. He brings an aggressive approach to the game, taking every opportunity to create big plays and steal bases.
“I would describe my playstyle as very hectic, definitely not a baseball enthusiast’s style of watching the game,” Copus said. “I like to hit and run a lot, even in situations where it doesn’t make sense. I am a very aggressive player on the base paths.”
For both Frieske and Copus, this isn’t their first rodeo. Both are making their second consecutive appearance in competition and looking to win their first title. The experience from last year could certainly prove to be valuable for both players in their return trip to the USA Finals.
“I lost in the semifinals last time,” Copus said. “It’s really motivating me to come out and do better this time. I think it’s helped me to be a lot more confident in my skills. Last time I didn’t come in too confident. I was a little bit timid, a little bit nervous. But this time I’m really confident I can make things happen in this tournament.”
Fans interested in watching the matches can watch them live at Hunt Library. Additionally, streams will be available on the USA Baseball and WBSC YouTube channels for fans to watch from home.
