2-3-22 roundup: College baseball and basketball, Pro basketball and football, College football, High school basketball, Middle school basketball
By Richard Walker
Eighty-six Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln county products begin college baseball seasons all over the country this month, including a preseason All-American and a starting outfielder for nationally-ranked East Carolina,
Sophomore left-hander C.J. Mayhue, a 2019 Crest High graduate, was named third team preseason All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) earlier this week. Mayhue is 4-1 with eight saves in two seasons for the Pirates and was a 2020 Collegiate Baseball freshman All-American.
Also for ECU, Lane Hoover (Lincolnton 2018) is a junior outfielder with 93 starts and .303 batting average in 111 career games.
The Pirates, who lost last spring in the NCAA Super Regionals at Vanderbilt, are ranked No. 8 (Collegiate Baseball), No. 12 (D1 baseball) and No. 15 (Baseball America) in three top preseason polls.
Here’s a look at other local products playing college baseball this season:
Anderson: Nathan Ledford (Gaston Christian 2019) is a junior pitcher for the Trojans.
Appalachian State: Dalton Williams (North Gaston 2018) is a senior outfielder, Seth Whitley (North Lincoln 2021) a freshman pitcher, Austin Primm (North Gaston 2018) a junior pitcher, Jordan Fisher (East Lincoln 2021) a freshman pitcher and former Belmont Abbey and Gaston Braves head coach Kermit Smith is the Mountaineers’ sixth-year head coach.
Averett: Jason Maggs (Cramer 2018) is a senior outfielder for the Cougars.
Belmont: Aiden Smith (Gaston Day 2021) is a freshman pitcher for the Bruins.
Belmont Abbey: Jackson Risk (South Point 2021) is a freshman catcher for the Crusaders.
Berea: A.J. Wylie (Kings Mountain 2021) is a freshman utility player for the Mountaineers.
Brevard: Cameron Cook (Cramer 2020) is a sophomore pitcher, Zane Beaver (Cherryville 2018) a senior pitcher, Adam Rushing (East Gaston 2020) a sophomore infielder, Jonathan Groves (Cramer 2021) a freshman outfielder and Baylor Wyatt (Ashbrook 2021) a freshman infielder for the Tornados.
Caldwell Tech: Seth Willis (West Lincoln 2019) is a sophomore pitcher, Denver’s Darien Farley is a sophomore infielder and Tyler Bradley (North Gaston 2018) a sophomore outfielder for the Cobras.
Campbell: Lawson Harrill (Crest 2019) is a sophomore outfielder and Tyler McPeak (North Lincoln 2018) a sophomore catcher for the Camels.
Carson-Newman: Jackson Harbin (Forestview 2019) is a sophomore pitcher, Spencer Bright (Lincoln Charter 2019) a junior catcher and Dylan Dodson (Lincoln Charter 2019) a sophomore catcher for the Eagles.
Catawba: Jackson Finger (North Gaston 2020) is a freshman infielder and Robbie Cowie (Lincolnton 2018) a junior pitcher-outfielder for the Indians.
Catawba Valley Community College: Preston Conner (South Point 2019) is a sophomore third baseman and Zach Summerville (North Gaston 2019) a sophomore pitcher-outfielder for the Red Hawks.
Chattanooga State Community College: Jared Emory (Cherryville 2019) is a sophomore third baseman for the Tigers.
Cleveland Community College: Boone Cartee (Kings Mountain 2021) is a freshman catcher-outfielder, Patrick Spangler (Burns 2020) a freshman pitcher and John Grigg (Burns 2016) a first-year assistant coach for the Yetis.
Coker: Evan Pawlowski (East Lincoln 2018) is a senior catcher and Cody Chapman (Gaston Christian 2021) a freshman pitcher-infielder for the Cobras.
College Charleston: Gastonia’s Preston Hall is a sophomore outfielder and Chad Holbrook (Shelby 1989) a fifth-year head coach for the Cougars.
Duke: Associate head coach Josh Jordan (Huss 1998) is in his 10th year on the Blue Devils’ staff.
Gaston College: Xavier Swann (Huss 2018) is a freshman infielder-outfielder and Logan Russell (East Gaston 2019) a freshman infielder for the Rhinos.
George Washington: Matthew McCowan (East Lincoln 2021) is a freshman utility player for the Colonials.
Guilford: Allden Horne (East Lincoln 2019) is a junior infielder, Adam Anderson (North Gaston 2019) a junior pitcher-outfielder and Stanley’s Casey Hagaman a sophomore pitcher for the Quakers.
King: Derek Martin (East Lincoln 2020)
Lenoir-Rhyne: David Bell (Kings Mountain 2019) is a sophomore infielder, Joey Cobb (North Lincoln 2019) a sophomore pitcher and Cherryville’s Brett Eurey a sophomore outfielder for the Bears.
Limestone: Garrett Sutton (Forestview 2016) is a senior pitcher for the Saints.
Longwood: Noah Eaker (Cherryville 2017) is a junior pitcher for the Lancers.
Mars Hill: Jordan Lathe (South Point 2018) and Scottie Lee (South Point 2018) are junior infielders for the Lions.
Mount Olive: Matt Stokes (Lincoln Charter 2017) is a senior outfielder and Dawson Gause (South Point 2018) a junior pitcher for the Trojans.
North Carolina: Dalton Pence (Cherryville 2021) is a freshman pitcher for the Tar Heels.
Patrick & Henry: Michael Royston (Forestview 2021) is a freshman catcher for the Patriots.
Pfeiffer: Alec Bell (Kings Mountain 2018) is a senior infielder, Jacob Landis (South Point 2019) a junior pitcher, Ben Bowman (South Point 2018) a senior outfielder, Dakota Caughey (Forestview 2018), Nate Callahan (Lincoln Charter 2019) a junior utility player, Carter Merrill (Cramer 2020) a sophomore catcher and a senior pitcher-outfielder and Craig Bolton (Crest 2011) a second-year head coach for the Falcons.
Queens: Riley Cheek (Crest 2018) s a junior utility player, Nick Melton (Crest 2018) a junior infielder, Daniel Bagwell (Kings Mountain 2018) a junior pitcher and former Gardner-Webb assistant coach Russ Steedley is a second-year head coach for the Royals.
Rockingham Community College: Gabe Duncan (East Lincoln 2019) is a freshman outfielder and Sam Bolling (East Lincoln 2019) a freshman pitcher-outfielder for the Eagles.
Seminole State: Mike Nicholson (Bessemer City 1979) is an 18th-year head coach for the Raiders.
Surry Community College: Kyle Brittain (North Lincoln 2021) and Cade Doolittle (East Lincoln 2021) are freshmen catchers and Drew Ashley (Crest 2019) is a sophomore pitcher for the Knights.
Tusculum: Zach Wilson (Burns 2020) is a sophomore utility player, Cherryville’s Wes Reynolds is a senior outfielder and Caleb Narron (Cherryvillle 2014) is a second-year assistant for the Pioneers.
UNC-Asheville: Fermin Osio (North Gaston 2019) is a junior infielder and Bryce Fisher (Kings Mountain 2020) a sophomore pitcher for the Bulldogs.
UNC-Greensboro: Dosi Jonas (East Gaston 2018) is a sophomore infielder for the Spartans.
U.S. Merchant Marines: Jack Millen (Crest 2020) is a freshman infielder and Billy Todd (Forestview 2018) is a senior pitcher for the Mariners.
Walters State: Ty Cobb (East Lincoln 2020) is a freshman pitcher for the Senators.
Wingate: Ben Hodge (Crest 2021) is a freshman infielder, Brent Walls (Cherryville 2020) a freshman pitcher, Austin Mitchell (North Gaston 2018) a sophomore pitcher and Logan McNeely (Crest 2017) a senior catcher for the Bulldogs.
College football
Gardner-Webb signed Forestview linebacker Jaycob Neely (6-1, 205) on Wednesday’s national signing day.
High school basketball
The rest of this week’s games:
(Friday)
Crest at Forestview
Huss at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Cramer
South Point at Ashbrook
Burns at Bessemer City
Cherryville at Highland Tech
Shelby at East Gaston
Queen’s Grant at Piedmont CC
East Lincoln at St. Stephens
Foard at North Lincoln
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Community School of Davidson
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove
Gaston Day at Northside Christian
Asheville Trailblazers at Thomas Jefferson
(Saturday)
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Forestview
Pro basketball
Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule (with results):
OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON (L 129-140, OT)
Wed. 27 at Orlando (W 120-111)
Fri. 29 at Miami (L 99-114)
Sun. 31 PORTLAND (W 125-113)
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND (L 110-113)
Wed. 3 at Golden State (L 92-114)
Fri. 5 at Sacramento (L 110-140)
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers (L 106-120)
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers (L 123-126, OT)
Wed. 10 at Memphis (W 118-108)
Fri. 12 NEW YORK (W 104-96)
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE (W 106-102)
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON (W 97-87)
Fri. 19 INDIANA (W 121-118)
Sat. 20 at Atlanta (L 105-115)
Mon. 22 at Washington (W 109-103)
Wed. 24 at Orlando (W 108-99)
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA (W 133-115)
Sat. 27 at Houston (L 143-146, OT)
Mon. 29 at Chicago (L 119-133)
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee (L 125-127)
Sun. 5 at Atlanta (W 130-127)
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA (L 124-127, OT)
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA (L 106-110)
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO (W 124-123)
Mon. 13 at Dallas (L 96-120)
Wed. 15 at San Antonio (W 131-115)
Fri. 17 at Portland (L 116-125)
Sun. 19 at Phoenix (L 106-137)
Mon. 20 at Utah (L 102-112)
Thu. 23 at Denver (W 115-107)
Mon. 27 HOUSTON (W 123-99)
Wed. 29 at Indiana (W 116-108)
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX (L 99-133)
Mon. 3 at Washington (L 121-124)
Wed. 5 DETROIT (W 140-111)
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE (W 114-106)
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE (W 103-99)
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia (W 109-98)
Fri. 14 ORLANDO (L 109-116)
Mon. 17 at New York (W 97-87)
Wed. 19 at Boston (W 111-102)
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY (W 121-98)
Sun. 23 ATLANTA (L 91-113)
Tue. 25 at Toronto (L 113-125)
Wed. 26 at Indiana (W 158-126)
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS (W 117-114)
Sun. 30 LA CLIPPERS (L 90-115)
FEBRUARY
Wed. 2 at Boston (L 107-113)
Fri. 4 CLEVELAND 7:00
Sat. 5 MIAMI 7:00
Mon. 7 TORONTO 7:00
Wed. 9 CHICAGO 7:30
Fri. 11 at Detroit 7:00
Sat. 12 MEMPHIS 7:00
Tue. 15 at Minnesota 8:00
Thu. 17 MIAMI 7:00
Fri. 25 TORONTO 7:00
Sun. 27 DETROIT 7:00
Mon. 28 at Milwaukee 8:00
MARCH
Wed. 2 at Cleveland 7:00
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO 7:00
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN 7:00
Wed. 9 BOSTON 7:00
Fri. 11 at New Orleans 8:00
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City 8:00
Wed. 16 ATLANTA 7:00
Sat. 19 DALLAS 7:00
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS 7:00
Wed. 23 NEW YORK 7:00
Fri. 25 UTAH 7:00
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn 7:30
Mon. 28 DENVER 7:00
Wed. 30 at New York 7:30
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia 12:30
Tue. 5 at Miami 7:30
Thu. 7 ORLANDO 7:00
Fri. 8 at Chicago 8:00
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON TBD
College basketball
Western Kentucky 78, Charlotte 57: The visiting Hilltoppers roared out to a 43-19 halftime lead and cruised past Charlotte (11-9, 4-4).
Middle school basketball
(Thursday’s boys games)
Belmont 45, Holbrook 39: K.J. Shouse (15 points, 14 rebounds), Dylan Bradley (14 points), Allen Edwards (9 points), Jaishawn Woods (7 points) and Zeke Pruitt (13 rebounds) led Belmont and Savion Lindsay had 17 points and Kendall Southern 12 for Holbrook.
Grier 63, Bessemer City 13
(Thursday’s girls games)
Holbrook 32, Belmont 9: Jakyra Sadler had 11 points and Jaleila Littlejohn seven for Holbrook.
Grier 30, Bessemer City 28 (OT)
Chavis 33, W.C. Friday 32: Emily Allen had 21 points and Reagan Floyd eight for Chavis.
Pro football
The 2021-22 NFL playoffs:
(AFC 1st round)
1. Tennessee (12-5) – bye
4. Cincinnati (11-7) 26, 5. Las Vegas (10-8) 19
3. Buffalo (12-6) 47, 6. New England (10-8) 17
2. Kansas City (13-5) 42, 7. Pittsburgh (9-8-1) 21
(NFC 1st round)
1. Green Bay (13-4) – bye
2. Tampa Bay (14-4) 31, 7. Philadelphia (9-9) 15
6. San Francisco (11-7) 23, 3. Dallas (12-6) 17
4. Los Angeles (13-5) 34, 5. Arizona (11-7) 11
(AFC, NFC semifinals)
AFC
Cincinnati (12-7) 19, Tennessee (12-6) 16
Kansas City (14-5) 42, Buffalo (12-7) 36, OT
NFC
San Francisco (12-7) 13, Green Bay (13-5) 10
Los Angeles (14-5) 30, Tampa Bay (14-5) 27
(AFC, NFC championship games)
NFC
Los Angeles (15-5) 20, San Francisco (12-8) 17
AFC
Cincinnati (13-7) 27, Kansas City (14-6) 24, OT
(Super Bowl)
Feb. 13 – L.A. Rams vs. Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.