11-20-22 roundup: Pro softball, basketball and football, High school football and basketball, College football and basketball, Middle school soccer, volleyball and wrestling
By Richard Walker
One of the area’s most prominent softball players recently received arguably the highest honor he has ever received with induction into the 41st annual National Softball Hall of Fame.
Kings Mountain’s Rusty Bumgardner was among 11 inductees on Nov. 12 in a ceremony held in Shreveport, La.

A 1987 Kings Mountain High graduate, Bumgardner was a nine-time USA Softball All-American (formerly ASA Softball) while playing for some of the top men’s slow pitch teams in the country. He helped three teams to national championships – Team TPS (2000), Long Haul/Taylor/TPS (2001, 2002) and Hague/Resmondo/Sunbelt (2003) – and was a member of three USA Softball Team Border Battle roster where he batting .800 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
“Any Hall of Fame you go in is an honor,” said Bumgardner, also a member of the national USSSA (2006), ISA (2015) and WSL (2015) Hall of Fames in addition to the N.C. USSSA (2012) and Kings Mountain Hall of Fame (2005). “But the ASA/USA Softball Hall of Fame is really important to me because it’s the oldest in softball and it was the first to embrace the sport. ASA Softball pioneered the game as we know it and that makes it really special.”
A football and baseball standout at Kings Mountain and later at Wake Forest University, Bumgardner briefly played professional baseball in the Miami Marlins’ organization before becoming a professional softball player from 1992 to 2015.
Making the recent ceremony even more special for Bumgardner was that his induction class included three others that had an impact on his career – former co-ed teammate Christan Dowling, former slow pitch teammate Brett Helmer and former Border Battle coach Steve Shortland.
“I was really happy to go in with all of the inductees, but those in particular because of my connection to them,” Bumgardner said.
College football
Four Carolinas teams, including Gardner-Webb, are in the Football Championship Series (FCS) playoff field and each will begin play on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb (6-5), which won the Big South Conference for the first time since 2003, will visits Eastern Kentucky (7-4) at 5 p.m.
Other Carolinas pairings have Elon (8-3) at Furman (9-2) at noon and Davidson (8-3) at Richmond (8-3) at 2 p.m.
The full FCS pairings for the first two weeks:
(Nov. 25 first round games)
Elon at Furman, noon
Davidson at Richmond, 2 p.m.
Saint Francis at Delaware, 2 p.m.
Fordham at New Hampshire, 2 p.m.
North Dakota at Weber State, 4 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Eastern Kentucky, 5 p.m.
Idaho at Southeastern Louisiana, 7 p.m.
Southeast Missouri at Montana, 10 p.m.
(Dec. 3 second round game)
Fordham/New Hampshire winner at Holy Cross, noon
Elon/Furman winner at Incarnate Word, 2 p.m.
Gardner-Webb/Eastern Kentucky winner at William & Mary, 2 p.m.
Idaho/Southeastern Louisiana winner at Samford, 3 p.m.
Sain Francis/Delaware winner at South Dakota State, 3 p.m.
North Dakota/Weber State winner at Montana State, 3 p.m.
Southeast Missouri/Montana winner at North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.
Davidson/Richmond at Sacramento State, 5 p.m.
(This weekend’s NCAA Division I Carolinas results:)
-Saturday
Pittsburgh 28, Duke 26
Furman 63, Wofford 28
The Citadel 26, VMI 22
Gardner-Webb 38, North Carolina A&T 17
Western Carolina 32, Chattanooga 29
Davidson 24, Dayton 23
Stetson 42, Presbyterian 21
Norfolk State 42, South Carolina State 38
Houston 42, East Carolina 3
Campbell 34, Delaware State 7
Appalachian State 27, Old Dominion 14
North Carolina Central 22, Tennessee Tech 20
Clemson 40, Miami, Fla. 10
Louisville 25, N.C. State 10
Coastal Carolina at Virginia, cancelled
Charlotte 26, Louisiana Tech 21
Georgia Tech 21, North Carolina 17
South Carolina 63, Tennessee 38
Wake Forest 45, Syracuse 35
-Saturday’s NCAA Division II playoffs
Wingate 32, Virginia Union 7
Delta State 51, Fayetteville State 0
West Florida 45, Limestone 19
(Next weekend’s NCAA Division I Carolinas schedule:)
-Friday
N.C. State at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
-Saturday
South Carolina at Clemson, noon
Coastal Carolina at James Madison, noon
East Carolina at Temple, 1 p.m.
Wake Forest at Duke, 3:30 p.m.
Appaalchian State at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
-Saturday’s FCS playoffs
Elon at Furman, noon
Davidson at Richmond, 2 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Eastern Kentucky, 5 p.m.
-Saturday’s NCAA Division II playoffs
Wingate at Benedict
Pro football
In a season in which the Carolina Panthers have struggled offensively, they reached a new low on Sunday in a 13-3 loss at the Baltimore Ravens.
It was the first game since a 24-6 home loss to New England on Nov. 7, 2021 in which the team didn’t score a touchdown.
Offseason trade acquisition Baker Mayfield made his sixth start at quarterback for the Panthers and struggled again; The former No. 1 pick in the NFL draft completed 21 of 33 passes for 196 yards with two interceptions and dropped to 1-5 as a starter this season.
Carolina, which fell to 3-8 overall, finished with 205 yards total offense.
The Panthers’ defense limited the Ravens to 308 total yards and ended Baltimore’s streak of rushing for 150 or more yards at eight games.
Here’s the full Carolina Panthers schedule for the 2022 season:
Week 1, Sept. 11, Cleveland (L 24-26)
Week 2, Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants (L 16-19)
Week 3, Sept. 25, New Orleans (W 22-14)
Week 4, Oct. 2, Arizona (L 16-26)
Week 5, Oct. 9, San Francisco (L 15-37)
Week 6, Oct. 16, at L.A. Rams (L 10-24)
Week 7, Oct. 23, Tampa Bay (W 21-3)
Week 8, Oct. 30, at Atlanta (L 34-37, OT)
Week 9, Nov. 6, at Cincinnati (L 21-42)
Week 10, Nov. 10, Atlanta (W 25-15)
Week 11, Nov. 20, at Baltimore (L 3-13)
Week 12, Nov. 27, Denver, 1 p.m.
Week 13, Dec. 4, BYE
Week 14, Dec. 11, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15, Dec. 18, Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 16, Dec. 24, Detroit, 1 p.m.
Week 17, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 18, Jan. 7 or 8, at New Orleans, TBD
High school football
Friday’s NCHSAA third round results:
(1A East)
Tarboro 34, Riverside-Martin 14
Northampton County 32, West Columbus 14
Rosewood 28, Hobbton 14
North Moore 42, Perquimans County 26
(1A West)
Eastern Randolph 29, Robbinsville 26
Mount Airy 49, Hayesville 0
Draughn 19, Thomasville 14
Andrews 50, Murphy 23
(2A East)
Princeton 63, Cummings 55
Walllace-Rose Hill 28, Nash Central 7
Whiteville 25, Hertford County 24
East Duplin 28, Clinton 27
(2A West)
Reidsville 30, Chase 0
Maiden 37, Bunker Hill 14
Burns 24, Salisbury 20
Monroe 28, East Surry 23
(3A East)
Northern Nash 21, Southern Durham 14
Triton 37, Jacksonville 35
71st 40, North Brunswick 8
Terry Sanford 27, Eastern Alamance 17
(3A West)
Kings Mountain 22, West Charlotte 19
East Lincoln 28, Ledford 7
South Point 21, Crest 20
Eastern Guilford 35, West Henderson 17
(4A East)
Hillside 28, Pine Forest 7
Millbrook 35, Southern Alamance 7
Rolesville 42, Wake Forest 28
New Bern 38, Jordan 33
(4A West)
Grimsley 44, Independence 36
Hough 17, East Forsyth 7
Weddington 35, Northwest Guilford 14
A.C. Reynolds 21, Butler 17
This week’s fourth round pairings:
(1A)
Northampton County at Tarboro
Rosewood at North Moore
Mount Airy at Eastern Randolph
Draughn at Andrews
(2A)
Wallace-Rose Hill at Princeton
Whiteville at East Duplin
Maiden at Reidsville
Monroe at Burns
(3A)
Triton at Northern Nash
Terry Sanford at 71st
East Lincoln at Kings Mountain
Eastern Guilford at South Point
(4A)
Millbrook at Hillside
Rolesville at New Bern
Hough at Grimsley
A.C. Reynolds at Weddington
N.C. Independent School Athletic Association playoffs
Division 1
(Friday’s championship game)
Charlotte Providence Day 55, Charlotte Christian 13
Division 2
(Friday’s championship game)
Asheville School 46, Covenant Day 10
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets’ slump continued Sunday as the team lost 106-102 at the Washington Wizards.
It was Charlotte’s 11th loss in its last 12 games.
Kelly Oubre (23 points, 7 rebounds), Gordon Hayward (20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), P.J. Washington (13 points) and Nick Richards (11 points, 10 rebounds) led Charlotte.
Here is the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(4-14 record)
October
19 at San Antonio (W 129-102)
21 New Orleans (L 112-124)
23 at Atlanta (W 126-109)
26 at New York (L 131-134, OT)
28 at Orlando (L 93-113)
29 Golden State (W 120-113, OT)
31 Sacramento (L 108-115)
November
2 at Chicago (L 88-106)
4 at Memphis (L 99-130)
5 Brooklyn (L 94-98)
7 Washington (L 100-108)
9 Portland (L 95-105)
10 at Miami (L 112-117, OT)
12 at Miami (L 115-132)
14 at Orlando (W 112-105)
16 Indiana (L 113-125)
18 at Cleveland (L 122-132, 2 OT)
20 at Washington (L 102-106)
23 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
25 Minnesota, 5 p.m.s
28 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
December
2 Washington, 7 p.m.
3 Milwaukee, 6 p.m.
5 L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.
7 at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
9 New York, 7 p.m.
11 at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
14 Detroit, 7 p.m.
16 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
18 at Denver, 8 p.m.
19 at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
21 at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
23 at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
26 at Portland, 10 p.m.
27 at Golden State, 10 p.m.
29 Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
31 Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
January
2 L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.
4 Memphis, 7 p.m.
6 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
8 at Indiana, 5 p.m.
10 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
14 Boston, 7 p.m.
16 Boston, 1 p.m.
18 at Houston, 8 p.m.
21 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
23 at Utah, 9 p.m.
24 at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
26 Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
29 Miami, 1 p.m.
31 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
February
2 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
3 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
5 Orlando, 1 p.m.
8 at Washington, 7 p.m.
10 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
11 Denver, 7 p.m.
13 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
15 San Antonio, 7 p.m.
24 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
25 Miami, 7 p.m.
27 Detroit, 7 p.m.
March
1 Phoenix, 7 p.m.
3 Orlando, 7 p.m.
5 at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.
7 at New York, 7:30 p.m.
9 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
11 Utah, 7 p.m.
12 Cleveland, 5 p.m.
14 Cleveland, 7 p.m.
17 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
20 Indiana, 7 p.m.
23 at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
24 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
26 Dallas, 1 p.m.
28 at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
31 Chicago, 7 p.m.
April
2 Toronto, 1 p.m.
4 Toronto, 7 p.m.
7 Houston, 7 p.m.
9 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
College basketball
(Men)
UMass 60, Charlotte 54: The 49ers (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season in the championship game of Myrtle Beach Invitational at Coastal Carolina.
Davidson 66, Old Dominion 61: Sam Mennenga had 23 points and Foster Loyer had 22 in the 5th place game of the Charleston Classic.
Queens 74, Morgan State 64: Jay’Den Turner’s career-high 23 points led the Royals (4-1) to the Rose Hall Division championship in the Jamaica Classic.
Middle school boys soccer
GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 17:
Cramerton 7-0
Belmont 6-1
Holbrook 6-1
Stanley 6-2
Mount Holly 5-2
Southwest 3-5
York Chester 2-4-1
Bessemer City 2-5
Chavis 2-5-1
Grier 0-7
W.C. Friday 0-7
(Nov. 21 games)
Grier at W.C. Friday, Holbrook at Cramerton, Mount Holly at Chavis, Southwest at Bessemer City, Stanley at Belmont
Middle School volleyball
GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 17:
Mount Holly 7-0
Stanley 7-1
Belmont 6-1
Cramerton 6-1
Chavis 5-2
Holbrook 3-4
Bessemer City 2-5
W.C. Friday 2-5
Southwest 1-7
York Chester 1-7
Grier 0-7
(Nov. 21 games)
Grier at W.C. Friday, Holbrook at Cramerton, Mount Holly at Chavis, Southwest at Bessemer City, Stanley at Belmont
Middle School wrestling
GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 18:
Stanley 6-0
Belmont 6-1
Cramerton 5-1
W.C. Friday 4-1
Grier 4-2
Chavis 3-3
Holbrook 2-4
Mount Holly 2-4
York Chester 2-5
Bessemer City 0-6
Southwest 0-7
(Monday’s match)
W.C. Friday at Stanley
(Tuesday’s matches)
Holbrook at Grier, Mount Holly at W.C. Friday, Southwest at Cramerton, Stanley at Chavis, York Chester at Bessemer City