Abney joined the Tornado staff prior to the 2018 season and helped King finish third in the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship.

The Tornado won seven straight games early in the 2018 season that was highlighted by a third place finish in the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship. King finished fifth in the league and earned wins over perennial power Mount Olive and 20th-ranked Belmont Abbey. Octavio Mirabal earned second team All-Conference Carolinas honors. The Tornado also swept the season series' from regional rivals Carson-Newman an