4-22-23 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer, High school baseball and softball, College basketball, Middle school baseball and soccer, NASCAR
By Richard Walker
Gardner-Webb University announced on Saturday that Scott Merritt will be its new head women’s basketball coach.
A press conference to introduce Merritt will be held next week in Tucker Student Center on campus with the details to be announced at a later date.
Merritt becomes the 13th women’s basketball head coach in school history and replaces Alex Simmons, who guided the Bulldogs to the 2023 NCAA tournament become resigning to take the head caoching job at Memphis.
Simmons was 90-59 in five years at G-W, making her the second-winningest women’s basketball coach in school history behind Rick Reeves; Reeves guided the Bulldogs to a 216-218 record in 14 seasons from 2004 to 2018.
“I am excited to welcome Scott Merritt as the next Head Coach of GWU’s Women’s Basketball team,” GWU President Dr. William Downs said in a school news release. “Coach Merritt has already impressed me as a tenacious competitor and as an effective communicator; equally important, he understands the mission of a university that wants its student-athletes to be truly outstanding in all that they do. With Coach Merritt’s leadership, Gardner-Webb’s Women’s Basketball program can now elevate to the next level by winning games in the NCAA Tournament. That makes this another great day to be a Runnin’ Bulldog!”
Merritt has been associate head coach at Wisconsin since 2021.
“The members of our women’s basketball team asked me to ensure our next head coach was a confident and consistent winner, was a strong cultural fit, and had the ability to help them find opportunities to play professional basketball worldwide after graduation,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich said in a school news release. “Coach Merritt is all of these things and more. He was a championship caliber player at Marquette, including making it to the 2003 Final Four. As an assistant coach he helped lead the top-10 ranked Golden Eagles to three Big East Conference Championships and played nine seasons of professional basketball all over the world.
“After conversations with some of the best college basketball coaches in the country and hearing his vision and strategies to lead the program, it became clear to me that Scott is an incredible coach, teacher, recruiter, and leader who has the knowledge, skills, ability, and passion to take this program to the next level.”
Merritt helped Wisconsin to its highest Big Ten Conference win total since 2010-11 and the program’s highest Big Ten finish in 11 seasons. A late-season win over 12th-ranked Michigan gave Wisconsin a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
“I am thrilled to be the new Head Coach at a faith-based University that’s so rich in tradition,” Merritt said in a school news release. “The vision and leadership of Dr. Downs and Dr. Goodrich, coupled by the support of the campus and surrounding community are what make this such an exciting opportunity. I cannot wait to get to work!”
Merritt was an assistant coach at Illinois during the 2020-2021 season and spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Marquette University. Prior to joining the women’s staff at Marquette, Merritt was an assistant coach with the Menomonee Falls (Wisc.) High boy’s basketball team.
Merritt played professional basketball in Italy, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, Cyprus, Turkey, Japan and South Korea internationally from 2004-2013 and played in the NBDL with the Columbus (Ga.) Riverdragons, Austin (Texas) Toros and Tulsa (Okla.) 66ers during that same span.
He was runner up for NBDL Rookie of the Year in 2005 with Columbus and was a second-team All-NBDL selection with Austin in 2006.
A 6-foot-10 center at Marquette, Merritt emerged as a force down low for the Golden Eagles under head coach Tom Crean. He was a four-year letterwinner and finished his career with 1,049 points, 697 rebounds and 113 blocks – all which rank among the school’s best.
High school baseball
Here are the area standings with conference record, overall record through games of April 21:
Big South 3A
Crest 9-1, 13-6
Kings Mountain 8-2, 14-4
South Point 8-2, 12-6
North Gaston 6-4, 13-6
Cramer 5-5, 14-6
Forestview 4-6, 8-12
Ashbrook 0-10, 2-17
Huss 0-10, 1-12
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Burns 9-1, 17-3
Cherryville 9-1, 16-4
Shelby 7-3, 11-8
East Gaston 6-6, 12-8
Highland Tech 3-7, 9-11
Bessemer City 1-9, 5-16
Thomas Jefferson 1-9, 4-10
Western Foothills 3A
St. Stephens 8-2, 15-4
Foard 7-3, 12-4
Hickory 7-3, 13-5
North Lincoln 7-3, 11-7
East Lincoln 6-4, 11-7
North Iredell 4-6, 9-9
West Iredell 1-9, 7-11
Statesville 0-10, 0-13
Catawba Valley 2A
Maiden 11-1, 14-6
Bandys 9-3, 12-8
East Burke 7-5, 9-8
West Lincoln 7-5, 10-11
Bunker Hill 5-7, 8-10
Newton-Conover 5-7, 7-11
Lincolnton 4-8, 6-12
West Caldwell 0-12, 1-20
Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Lincoln Charter 9-0, 14-5
Christ the King 8-1, 11-5
Comm Sch of Davidson 7-3, 9-9
Pine Lake Prep 4-5, 7-13
Langtree Charter 2-7, 4-13
Mtn Island Charter 2-8, 3-11
Bradford Prep 0-8, 0-14
Others
Gaston Christian 7-8
Gaston Day 5-9
Piedmont CC 8-6
-This week’s games
(Monday, April 24)
Covenant Day at at Gaston Christian
Gaston Day at Hickory Grove
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
(Tuesday, April 25)
Crest at Forestview
Kings Mountain at Cramer
North Gaston at Huss
South Point at Ashbrook
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Burns at Shelby
East Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at North Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at East Burke
Bradford Prep at Mountain Island Charter
Christ the King at Lincoln Charter
Corvian Community at Piedmont CC
Gaston Christian at Concord Academy
(Wednesday, April 26)
Thomas Jefferson at Highland Tech
Charlotte Stampede at Mountain Island Charter
Draughn at Burns
East Gaston at North Gaston
Huss at West Meck
Piedmont CC at Bessemer City
R-S Central at Lincolnton
South Iredell at Lincoln Charter
(Thursday, April 27)
Ashbrook at Cherryville
Gaston Day at Metrolina
Hickory Grove at Gaston Christian
Pinnacle at Piedmont CC
(Friday, April 28)
Ashbrook at South Point
Cramer at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Crest
Huss at North Gaston
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Shelby at Burns
North Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep
R-S Central at East Gaston
High school softball
Here are the area standings with conference record, overall record through games of April 21:
Big South 3A
Crest 10-0, 14-3
Kings Mountain 8-2, 11-5
North Gaston 6-4, 10-5
Cramer 6-4, 11-7
Forestview 5-4, 11-7
South Point 3-7, 5-14
Ashbrook 1-9, 2-12
Huss 0-9, 0-11
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Burns 9-0, 13-6
Cherryville 8-2, 14-5
Highland Tech 6-4, 9-6
East Gaston 6-5, 7-9
Shelby 3-7, 6-10
Bessemer City 3-7, 5-11
Thomas Jefferson 0-10, 0-14
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 9-1, 13-1
Foard 9-1, 11-3
North Lincoln 7-3, 10-10
North Iredell 6-4, 10-7
St. Stephens 5-5, 9-10
West Iredell 3-7, 4-8
Hickory 1-9, 1-15
Statesville 0-10, 0-10
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys 11-1, 17-2
Maiden 11-1, 15-2
West Lincoln 8-4, 13-7
West Caldwell 7-5, 16-6
East Burke 6-6, 11-8
Lincolnton 3-9, 6-12
Bunker Hill 2-10, 3-12
Newton-Conover 0-12, 0-12
Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Lincoln Charter 7-0, 10-4
Pine Lake Prep 7-3, 8-8
Mtn Isl Charter 5-3, 8-7
Bradford Prep 3-3, 3-5
Christ the King 1-5, 1-7
Langtree Charter 0-9, 0-15
Others
Gaston Christian 3-9
Piedmont CC 7-6
-This week’s games:
(Monday, April 24)
Burns at East Gaston
Central Cabarrus at East Lincoln
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
Piedmont CC at Hickory Grove
(Tuesday, April 25)
Cramer at Huss
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Point at Crest
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Burns at Shelby
East Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at North Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at East Burke
Gaston Christian at Concord Academy
Christ the King at Lincoln Charter
Bradford Prep at Mountain Island Charter
(Wednesday, April 26)
Ashbrook at Forestview
Thomas Jefferson at Highland Tech
South Point at Bessemer City
East Gaston at North Gaston
Cherryville at Lincoln Charter
Crest at R-S Central
West Mecklenburg at Ashbrook
Pinnacle at Piedmont CC
(Thursday, April 27)
Ashbrook at Cramer
Lincolnton at Draughn
Apprentice Academy at Piedmont CC
Hickory Grove at Gaston Christian
(Friday, April 28)
Crest at North Gaston
Huss at Forestview, DH
South Point at Kings Mountain
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Shelby at Burns
North Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep
High school baseball fundraiser
The North Gaston High Alumni baseball game to benefit the Houston Patterson Memorial Scholarship will be played May 13 at 11 a.m. at the school’s baseball field.
North Gaston will be selling T-shirts and concessions during team. All North Gaston graduates are eligible to play in the game.
Middle school baseball
Standings through games of April 20:
Stanley 7-1
Belmont 6-1
Chavis 6-1
Cramerton 6-1
Mount Holly 5-2
W.C. Friday 4-3
Bessemer City 2-5
Holbrook 2-5
Southwest 1-7
York Chester 1-7
Grier 0-7
(Monday’s games)
Grier at W.C. Friday, Holbrook at Cramerton, Mount Holly at Chavis, Southwest at Bessemer City, Stanley at Belmont
Middle school girls soccer
Standings through games of April 20:
Belmont 7-0
Stanley 7-1
Cramerton 6-1
Mount Holly 6-1
W.C. Friday 4-3
Chavis 3-4
Grier 3-4
Holbrook 3-4
York Chester 1-7
Bessemer City 0-7
Southwest 0-8
(Monday’s games)
Grier at W.C. Friday, Holbrook at Cramerton, Mount Holly at Chavis, Southwest at Bessemer City, Stanley at Belmont
Pro soccer
Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule:
(2-4-3 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 (W 1-0)
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 – Milwaukee 127-106
Game 3: April 22 at Miami – Miami 121-99
Game 4: April 24 at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 26 at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBATV)
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 – Boston 119-106
Game 3: April 21 at Atlanta – Atlanta 130-122
Game 4: April 23 at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 25 at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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 – Philadelphia 102-97
Game 4: April 22 at Brooklyn – Philadelphia 96-88 (Philadelphia wins series 4-0)
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 – Cleveland 107-90
Game 3: April 21 at New York – New York 99-79
Game 4: April 23 at New York, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: April 26 at Cleveland, 7 p.m. ET (NBATV)
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 – Denver 122-113
Game 3: April 21 at Minnesota – Denver 120-111
Game 4: April 23 at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: April 25 at Denver, 9 p.m. ET (NBATV)
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 – Memphis 103-93
Game 3: April 22 at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: April 24 at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5: April 26 at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
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 – Sacramento 114-106
Game 3: April 20 at Golden State – Golden State 114-97
Game 4: April 23 at Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5: April 26 at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
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 – Phoenix 123-109
Game 3: April 20 at LA – Phoenix 129-124
Game 4: April 22 at LA – Phoenix 112-100
Game 5: April 25 at Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6-x: April 27 at LA
Game 7-x: April 29 at Phoenix (TNT)
Pro baseball
Charlotte 2-8, Louisville 4-5: Catcher Sebastián Rivero and first baseman Nate Mondou drove home three runs each to lead the Charlotte Knights to an 8-5 win over the Louisville Bats in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader from Louisville Slugger Field. The Knights dropped the first game of the twin bill by a score of 4-2. The finale of the 6-game series is Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Pro hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes’ NHL playoffs schedule (x-if necessary):
(First round)
Carolina vs. New York Islanders
Game 1: April 17 at Carolina – Carolina 2-1
Game 2: April 19, at Carolina – Carolina 4-3 in OT
Game 3: April 21, at N.Y. Islanders – N.Y. 5-1
Game 4: April 23, 1 p.m. at N.Y. Islanders (TNT)
Game 5: April 25, 7 p.m. at Carolina (ESPN)
Game 6-x: April 28, TBD at N.Y. Islanders (TBD)
Game 7-x: April 30, TBD at Carolina (TBD)
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