4-17-23 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football and soccer, High school baseball and softball, College volleyball, NASCAR
By Richard Walker
A pair of former local high school baseball standouts have set career milestones in recent weeks.
Lane Hoover, a 2018 Lincolnton High graduate, is hitting .320 with two home runs and 15 RBIs for East Carolina’s No. 7 nationally-ranked Pirates. He also now has 160 career runs, which is the new record for American Athletic Conference.
East Carolina (28-8, 7-2 AAC) also is making its closest trip to his hometown on Wednesday when the Pirates visit the Charlotte 49ers at Truist Field at 6 p.m.
At Mars Hill, 2018 South Point High graduate Jordan Lathe is hitting .378 with three home runs and 27 RBIs for the Lions. He recently surpassed 200 career hits.
Mars Hill (11-33, 8-15 SAC) hosts Emmanuel, Ga., on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
High school baseball
(Monday, April 17)
East Gaston 11, Thomas Jefferson 0 (5 innings)
Gaston Christian 9, Providence Day 5
Gaston Day 24, Spartanburg Day 12
Mountain Island Charter 5, Piedmont CC 1
(Tuesday, April 18)
Cramer at Ashbrook
Forestview at Huss
Kings Mountain at South Point
North Gaston at Crest
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cherryville at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Burns
Hickory at North Lincoln
Statesville at East Lincoln, DH
Lincolnton at West Caldwell
West Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
(Wednesday, April 19)
Bradford Prep at Piedmont CC
Cherryville at West Lincoln
Cramer at Lincolnton
Mallard Creek at Lincoln Charter
Palisades at Forestview
West Meck at Huss
SouthLake Christian at Gaston Day
(Thursday, April 20)
South Point at Kings Mountain
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Legion Collegiate at Gaston Christian
Piedmont CC at Queen’s Grant
(Friday, April 21)
Ashbrook at Cramer
Crest at North Gaston
Huss at Forestview
Burns at East Gaston
Shelby at Bessemer City
North Iredell at North Lincoln
West Iredell at East Lincoln
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Community School of Davidson
Carolina Royals at Mountain Island Charter
High school softball
(Monday, April 17)
East Gaston 18, Thomas Jefferson 1
(Tuesday, April 18)
Crest at Ashbrook
Forestview at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Huss
South Point at Cramer
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cherryville at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Burns
Hickory at North Lincoln
Statesville at East Lincoln
Lincolnton at West Caldwell
West Lincoln at Newton-Conover
(Wednesday, April 19)
Burns at Chase
Palisades at Forestview
South Point at Bessemer City
Piedmont CC at Mountain Island Charter
(Thursday, April 20)
Crest at Cramer
Huss at South Point
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Lincoln Charter at North Lincoln
(Friday, April 21)
Ashbrook at Forestview
North Gaston at Kings Mountain
Shelby at Bessemer City
North Iredell at North Lincoln
West Iredell at East Lincoln
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at West Caldwell
Lincoln Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Middle school baseball
Standings through games of April 17:
Chavis 6-0
Belmont 6-1
Stanley 6-1
Cramerton 4-1
Mount Holly 4-1-x
W.C. Friday 3-3
Holbrook 1-4-x
Bessemer City 1-5
York Chester 1-5
Grier 0-5-x
Southwest 0-6-x
x-missing Monday result
(Monday’s games)
Chavis 6, Belmont 3: Winning pitcher Parker Anderson, Kenan Fowler and Landry Pruitt had 2 hits apiece for Chavis.
Stanley 9, W.C. Friday 2: Jack Scholz had 14 strikeouts and Scholz, Bryson Summey, Caleb Smith, Blake Wilkinson, Devin Phillips, Cam Stillwell and Kai Lucas all had hits for Stanley.
Grier at Southwest, no report
Holbrook at Mount Holly, no report
(Wednesday’s game)
Cramerton at York Chester
(Thursday’s games)
Holbrook at Grier, Mount Holly at W.C. Friday, Southwest at Cramerton, Stanley at Chavis, York Chester at Bessemer City
Middle school girls soccer
Standings through games of April 17:
Belmont 7-0
Stanley 6-1
Mount Holly 5-1
Cramerton 4-1
W.C. Friday 4-2
Chavis 3-3
Grier 2-3
Holbrook 2-4
Bessemer City 0-6
Southwest 0-6
York Chester 0-6
(Monday’s games)
Belmont 9, Chavis 0: Nora Skarpalezos had 3 goals, Ellelousie Blee 2 goals and Alice Bass, Alyssa Sanchez, Rowen Trexler and Gracelynn Doster 1 each for Belmont.
Stanley 5, W.C. Friday 1: Kayla Maiers had 2 goals and Payton Lenox and Ana Astudillo 1 apiece for Stanley.
Grier at Southwest, no report
Mount Holly 6, Holbrook 1: Chloe Robinson had 3 goals and Mallory Hall, Sara Pawlish and Alitzy Cortes-Nicolas 1 goal apiece for Mount Holly.
(Wednesday’s game)
Cramerton at York Chester
(Thursday’s games)
Holbrook at Grier, Mount Holly at W.C. Friday, Southwest at Cramerton, Stanley at Chavis, York Chester at Bessemer City
College volleyball
When the 2022-23 school year began for Gaston College, the Rhinos’ athletic program knew it would have the opportunity to compete for National Junior College Athletic Association postseason glory after being ineligble as a startup program last season.
In the fall, Gaston College’s Victoria Perez set school history by becoming the first student-athlete from the school to qualify for the NJCAA national championships.
And this spring, the Rhinos’ beach volleyball program became the first team in school history to qualify for the NJCAA national championships that start Thursday in Tavares, Fla.
This season, with a roster of 13, the Rhinos have played in 25 matches, opened the school’s first on-campus facility and competed in the Region 10 championships at Sandhills Community College in Southern Pines.
There, Gaston College won two of three matches to finish third in Region 10 and earn a berth to the NJCAA nationals.
The Rhinos will compete in one of four groups in pool play competition when the 2023 NJCAA Beach Volleyball Championships begin; Gaston College is the No. 8 seed in the 16-team field and has been placed in a group with No. 1 overall seed Palm Beach State and No. 9 seeded Region 10 rival Bryant & Stratton.
On Thursday, they’ll face Bryant & Stratton at 11:30 a.m. and Palm Beach State at 2 p.m. and be re-seeded for games on Friday. Games will be livestreamed on www.gcrhinos.com and Team1Sports.
Pro soccer
Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule:
(1-4-3 record)
Feb. 25 New England Revolution (L 0-1)
March 4 at St. Louis City SC (L 1-3)
March 11 Atlanta United FC (L 0-3)
March 18 at Orlando City SC (W 2-1)
March 25 New York Red Bulls (T 1-1)
April 1 at Toronto FC (T 2-2)
April 8 at Real Salt Lake (L 1-3)
April 15 Colorado Rapids (T 2-2)
April 22 Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 29 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 6 New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 at Atlanta United FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 27 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
May 31 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 0.m.
June 3 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
June 10 Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 5 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
July 8 FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 L.A. FC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 Inter Miami CF, TBD
Pro basketball
The NBA play-in tournament games:
(April 11)
Game 1- East No. 8 Atlanta at East No. 7 Miami – Atlanta 116-105
Game 2- West No. 8 Minnesota at West No. 7 L.A. Lakers – L.A. Lakers 108-102 (OT)
(April 12)
Game 3- East No. 10 Chicago at East No. 9 Toronto – Chicago 109-105
Game 4- West No. 10 Oklahoma City at West No. 9 New Orleans – Oklahoma City 123-118
(April 14)
East No. 10 Chicago at East No. 7 Miami – Miami 102-91
West No. 10 Oklahoma City at West No. 8 Minnesota – Minnesota 120-95
The first round NBA playoffs schedule (x-if necessary):
East No. 1 Milwaukee vs. East No. 8 Miami
Game 1: April 16 at Milwaukee – Miami 130-117
Game 2: April 19 at Milwaukee, 9 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 3: April 22 at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 24 at Miami
Game 5-x: April 26 at Milwaukee
Game 6-x: April 28 at Miami
Game 7-x: April 30 at Milwaukee
East No. 2 Boston vs. East No. 7 Atlanta
Game 1: April 15 at Boston – Boston 112-99
Game 2: April 18 at Boston, 7 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 3: April 21 at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 23 at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: April 25 at Boston
Game 6-x: April 27 at Atlanta
Game 7-x: April 29 at Boston (TNT)
East No. 3 Philadelphia vs. East No. 6 Brooklyn
Game 1: April 15 at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 121-101
Game 2: April 17 at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 96-84
Game 3: April 20 at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 22 at Brooklyn, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: April 24 at Philadelphia
Game 6-x: April 27 at Brooklyn
Game 7-x: April 29 at Philadelphia (TNT)
East No. 4 Cleveland vs. East No. 5 New York
Game 1: April 15 at Cleveland – New York 101-97
Game 2: April 18 at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 21 at New York, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 4: April 23 at New York, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5-x: April 26 at Cleveland
Game 6-x: April 28 at New York
Game 7-x: April 30 at Cleveland
West No. 1 Denver vs. West No. 8 Minnesota
Game 1: April 16 at Denver – Denver 109-80
Game 2: April 19 at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 21 at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 23 at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: April 25 at Denver
Game 6-x: April 27 at Minnesota
Game 7-x: April 29 at Denver (TNT)
West No. 2 Memphis vs. West No. 7 L.A. Lakers
Game 1: April 16 at Memphis – L.A. Lakers 128-112
Game 2: April 19 at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 22 at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 24 at Los Angeles
Game 5-x: April 26 at Memphis
Game 6-x: April 28 at Los Angeles
Game 7-x: April 30 at Memphis
West No. 3 Sacramento vs. West No. 6 Golden State
Game 1: April 15 at Sacramento – Sacramento 126-123
Game 2: April 17 at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 20 at Golden State, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 4: April 23 at Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5-x: April 26 at Sacramento
Game 6-x: April 28 at Golden State
Game 7-x: April 30 at Sacramento
West No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. West No. 5 L.A. Clippers
Game 1: April 16 at Phoenix – L.A. Clippers 115-110
Game 2: April 18 at Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: April 20 at LA, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBATV)
Game 4: April 22 at LA, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: April 25 at Phoenix
Game 6-x: April 27 at LA
Game 7-x: April 29 at Phoenix (TNT)
Auto racing
The 2023 NASCAR schedule (with winners in parentheses):
Feb 5 Clash at The Coliseum, Los Angeles CA (Martin Truex, Jr.)
Feb 16 Duel No. 1, Daytona Beach FL (Joey Logano)
Feb 16 Duel No. 2, Daytona Beach FL (Aric Almirola)
Feb 19 Daytona 500, Daytona Beach FL (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.)
Feb 26 NASCAR Cup Series at California, Fontana CA (Kyle Busch)
Mar 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV (William Byron)
Mar 12 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ (William Byron-2)
Mar 19 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA (Joey Logano-2)
Mar 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas, Austin TX (Tyler Reddick)
Apr 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA (Kyle Larson)
Apr 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN (Christopher Bell)
Apr 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville VA (Kyle Larson-2)
Apr 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 3 p.m. on FOX
Apr 30 NASCAR Cup Series at Dover, Dover DE, 2 p.m. on FS1
May 7 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS, 3 p.m. on FS1
May 14 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC, 3 p.m. on FS1
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open Race, North Wilkesboro NC, 6 p.m. on FS1
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro NC, 8 p.m. on FS1
May 28 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC, 6 p.m. at FOX
Jun 4 NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison IL, 3:30 p.m. on FS1
Jun 11 NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma, Sonoma CA, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Jun 25 NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville, Lebanon TN, 7 p.m. on NBC
Jul 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Chicago, Chicago IL, 5:30 p.m. on NBC
Jul 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA, 7 p.m. on USA
Jul 16 NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire, Loudon NH, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Jul 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono, Long Pond PA, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Jul 30 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 6 NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan, Brooklyn MI, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Aug 13 NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Road Course, Speedway IN, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Aug 20 NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen NY, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona, Daytona Beach FL, 7 p.m. on NBC
(Cup Playoffs)
Sep 3 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC, 6 p.m. on USA
Sep 10 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS, 3 p.m. on USA
Sep 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN, 7:30 p.m. on USA
Sep 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Texas, Fort Worth TX, 3:30 p.m. on USA
Oct 1 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 8 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 15 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 22 NASCAR Cup Series at Miami, Homestead FL, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 29 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville, 2 p.m. on NBC
Nov 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ, 3 p.m. on NBC