4-22-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker

After ending its seven-year playoff drought with a NFC South Division title this past season, the Carolina Panthers have approached the 2026 offseason as a chance to get reinforcements to make another playoff run.

Among their biggest moves were to sign edge rusher (Jaelen Phillips) and backup quarterback (Kenny Pickett) through free agency and by re-signing long snapper J.J. Jansen and wide receivers Jalen Coker and Bryce Tremayne.

While they lost center Cade Mays, running back Rico Dowdle and defensive end D.J. Wonnum through free agent signings with other teams, they enter this weekend’s draft with priorities of pursuing help on both lines in addition to giving quarterback Bryce Young more offensive weapons.

General manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales currently own seven picks in the first six rounds with two selections in the fifth round.

And, according to The Charlotte Observer’s mock draft, a College Football Playoff championship-winning wide receiver Omar Cooper will be their initial pick at No. 19 overall on Thursday.

Cooper is considered the kind of receiver who can get tough yards on screens and crossing routes and caught 115 passes for 1,798 yards and 22 TDs the past three seasons.

The Observer’s other projected picks at LSU safety A.J. Haulcy (2nd round No. 51), Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim (3rd round No. 83), Memphis offensive tackle Travis Burke (4th round No. 119), Kentucky offensive lineman Jager Burton (5th round No. 158), Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer (5th round No. 159) and Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder (6th round No. 200).

Certainly, selections and trades before and even after Panthers picks could alter any if not all of those projections but the cross-section of positions gives a clear indication what Carolina fans should expect the team to pursue when the NFL convenes in Pittsburgh Thursday (1st round starting at 8 p.m.), Friday (2nd and 3rd rounds starting at 7 p.m.) and Saturday (4th through 7th rounds starting at noon).

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

Here are the area’s results/schedule:

(Monday, April 13)
SouthLake Christian 13, Gaston Day 3 (6 innings)
Mountain Island Charter 18, Queen’s Grant 3 (5 innings)
Bessemer City 11, Piedmont Community Charter 10

(Tuesday, April 14)
North Gaston 13, Forestview 3 (6 innings)
Ashbrook 10, Huss 0 (5 innings)
Crest 3, Kings Mountain 0
Burns 7, Cherryville 0
Cramer 12, Lincolnton 1 (6 innings)
East Gaston 9, Shelby 1
Highland Tech 4, West Lincoln 3
East Lincoln 5, North Lincoln 1
Lincoln Charter 7, Christ the King 2
Mountain Island Charter 12, Thomas Jefferson 0 (5 innings)
Concord Academy 10, Gaston Day 6
Gaston Christian 10, Metrolina Christian 9

(Wednesday, April 15)
Ashbrook 11, Misenheimer Gray Stone Day 10
North Gaston 7, Cramer 6
Forestview 13, Bessemer City 2 (9 innings)
Kell 11, Lincoln Charter 6
Newton-Conover 14, West Lincoln 9
South Point 8, North Lincoln 4
Corvian Community 10, Piedmont Community 4

(Thursday, April 16)
Gaston Christian 16, Gaston Day 1 (3 innings)
North Gaston 17, Huss 0 (3 innings)
Burns 10, Cherryville 3
Lincoln Charter 14, Christ the King 0 (5 innings)
Cramer 10, Lincolnton 2
Crest 7, Chase 3

(Friday, April 17)
South Point 12, Ashbrook 2 (6 innings)
Kings Mountain 17, Forestview 2 (5 innings)
East Gaston 11, Shelby 3
West Lincoln 4, Highland Tech 0
East Lincoln 16, West Iredell 6 (5 innings)
North Lincoln 11, Newton-Conover 0 (5 innings)
Piedmont Community Charter 26, Sugar Creek Charter 3
Gaston Christian 10, Covenant Day 2

(Monday, April 20)
Ashbrook 14, Huss 12
Burns 11, Highland Tech 3
Cherryville 13, East Gaston 0 (5 innings)
North Lincoln 15, Bandys 2
South Point 7, Palisades 3
Piedmont Community Charter 12, Bessemer City Community Christian 4

(Tuesday, April 21)
North Gaston 13, Ashbrook 3 (5 innings)
Crest 15, Forestview 1 (5 innings)
South Point 21, Huss 3
West Lincoln 10, East Gaston 7
Shelby 13, Bessemer City 1 (5 innings)
East Lincoln 10, Foard 0 (6 innings)
Lake Norman Charter 2, Lincoln Charter 0
Mountain Island Charter 5, Queen’s Grant 0
SouthLake Christian 9, Gaston Day 2
Gaston Christian 20, Hickory Christian Academy 1 (3 innings)

(Wednesday, April 22)
Burns at Polk County
Charlotte Stampede 10, Mountain Island Charter 2
Lincolnton 9, Forestview 0
North Lincoln 5, Lincoln Charter 0
Piedmont Community Charter 1, Highland Tech 0

East Lincoln 6, North Gaston 1: Mason Clark (6-hitter, 3 strikeouts) and Connor Presley (2 hits) led East Lincoln and Carter Mason (3 hits, double) led North Gaston.

(Thursday, April 23)
Crest at South Point
Cherryville at Cramer
Highland Tech at Burns
Lake Norman Charter at Lincoln Charter
Gaston Christian at SouthLake Christian
Gaston Day at Metrolina Christian

(Friday, April 24)
Ashbrook at Chambers
Huss at Forestview
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cramer at Cherryville
West Lincoln at East Gaston
East Lincoln at Hickory
Carolina International at Piedmont Community Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Jackson Day
Pinnacle Classical at Gaston Day

(Monday, April 27)
East Gaston at Cramer
Concord Academy at Gaston Christian
Highland Tech at Pinnacle Classical

(Tuesday, April 28)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Crest at Huss
North Gaston at South Point
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Shelby at Burns
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Bunker Hill at North Lincoln
East Lincoln at Maiden
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day

(Wednesday, April 29)
Highland Tech at East Gaston
Burns at Crest
Cramer at Forestview
East Lincoln at Cherryville

(Thursday, April 30)
Crest at North Gaston
North Lincoln at Foard
Gaston Christian at Metrolina Christian
Gaston Day at Concord Academy

(Friday, May 1)
Forestview at Ashbrook
South Point at Kings Mountain
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Cramer at East Gaston
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Pinnacle Classical at Highland Tech

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

(Tuesday, April 21)
Foard 3, East Lincoln 2 (8 innings): Jordyn Aungst (9-hitter, 8 strikeouts as pitcher, single, walk as batter), Maliya Fletcher-McLean (2 singles, run), Lyla Haywood (single, ground out RBI) and Ava Cook (single, walk) led East Lincoln.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Orlando City SC 4, Charlotte FC 1: Charlotte FC tied host Orlando City at 1 but yielded three straight goals in its largest loss of the year.

The 2026 Charlotte FC schedule:

(4-3-2 record)
Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Louis (T 1-1)
Saturday, Feb. 28 at L.A. Galaxy (L 0-3)
Saturday, March 7 Austin (W 3-1)
Saturday, March 14 Miami (T 0-0)
Saturday, March 21 New York Red Bulls (W 6-1)
Saturday, Apr. 4 Philadelphia (W 2-1)
Saturday, Apr. 11 Nashville (L 1-2)
Saturday, Apr. 18 at New York (W 2-1)
Wednesday, Apr. 22 at Orlando (L 1-4)
Saturday, Apr. 25 at Nashville, 8:30 PM
Saturday, May 2 at New England, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 9 Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 13 New York, 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 16 Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 23 New England, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, July 22 Atlanta, 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 1 at Chicago, 8:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 15 Columbus, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 22 DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 29 at Atlanta, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5 Houston, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 19 at DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 26 Chicago, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 10 Dallas, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Columbus, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Philadelphia, 2:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Portland, 10:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31 Orlando, 1:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Miami, 4:00 PM

(U.S. Open Cup)
Wednesday, Apr. 15 Charlotte Independence (W 6-0)
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
Tuesday, Apr. 28 Atlanta United FC, 7 p.m.
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

(Eastern Conference play-in tournament)

Tuesday, April 14: Miami at Charlotte – Charlotte 127-126 in OT

Wednesday, April 15: Orlando at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 109-97

Friday, April 17: Charlotte at Orlando – Orlando 121-90

(Eastern Conference quarterfinals)
*-if necessary

No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 8 Orlando
Game 1: Orlando at Detroit- Sunday April 19 – Orlando 112-101
Game 2: Orlando at Detroit- Wednesday, April 22 – Detroit 98-83
Game 3: Detroit at Orlando- Saturday, April 25 (1 ET, Peacock)
Game 4: Detroit at Orlando- Monday, April 27 (8 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Orlando at Detroit- Wednesday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
Game 6: Detroit at Orlando*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Orlando at Detroit*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Philadelphia
Game 1: Philadelphia at Boston- Sunday April 19 – Boston 123-91
Game 2: Philadelphia at Boston- Tuesday, April 21 – Philadelphia 101-97
Game 3: Boston at Philadelphia- Friday, April 24 (7 ET, Prime)
Game 4: Boston at Philadelphia- Sunday, April 26 (7 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Philadelphia at Boston- Tuesday, April 28 (7 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: Boston at Philadelphia*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Philadelphia at Boston*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)

No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Atlanta
Game 1: Atlanta at New York- Saturday April 18 – New York 113-102
Game 2: Atlanta at New York- Monday, April 20 – Atlanta 107-106
Game 3: New York at Atlanta- Thursday, April 23 (7 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: New York at Atlanta- Saturday, April 25 (6 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Atlanta at New York- Tuesday, April 28 (8 ET, NBC)
Game 6: New York at Atlanta*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Atlanta at New York*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)

No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Toronto
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland- Saturday April 18 – Cleveland 126-113
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland- Monday, April 20 – Cleveland 115-105
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto- Thursday, April 23 (8 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto- Sunday, April 26 (1 ET, ESPN)
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland*- Wednesday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)

(Eastern Conference semifinals)
No. 1-8 winner vs. No. 4-5 winner
No. 2-7 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner

(Eastern Conference finals)
TBD

(Western Conference play-in tournament)

Tuesday, April 14: Portland at Phoenix – Portland 114-110

Wednesday, April 15: Golden State at L.A. Clippers – Golden State 126-121

Friday, April 17: Golden State at Phoenix – Phoenix 111-96

(Western Conference quarterfinals)
*-if necessary

No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 Phoenix
Game 1: Phoenix at Oklahoma City- Sunday April 19 – Oklahoma City 119-84
Game 2: Phoenix at Oklahoma City- Wednesday, April 22 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Phoenix- Saturday, April 25 (3:30 ET, NBC)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Phoenix- Monday, April 27 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 5: Phoenix at Oklahoma City*- Wednesday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Phoenix*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Phoenix at Oklahoma City*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)

No. 2 San Antonio vs. No. 7 Portland
Game 1: Portland at San Antonio- Sunday April 19 – San Antonio 111-98
Game 2: Portland at San Antonio- Tuesday, April 21 – Portland 106-103
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland- Friday, April 24 (10:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland- Sunday, April 26 (3:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 5: Portland at San Antonio- Tuesday, April 28 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: San Antonio at Portland*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Portland at San Antonio*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)

No. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Minnesota
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver- Saturday April 18 – Denver 116-105
Game 2: Minnesota at Denver- Monday, April 20 – Minnesota 119-114
Game 3: Denver at Minnesota- Thursday, April 23 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota- Saturday, April 25 (8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 5: Minnesota at Denver- Monday, April 27 (10:30 ET, NBC)
Game 6: Denver at Minnesota*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Minnesota at Denver*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)

No. 4 L.A. Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles- Saturday April 18 – L.A. Lakers 107-98
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles- Tuesday, April 21 – L.A. Lakers 101-94
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston- Friday, April 24 (8 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston- Sunday, April 26 (9:30 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles*- Wednesday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)

(Western Conference semifinals)
No. 1-8 winner vs. No. 4-5 winner
No. 2-7 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner

(Western Conference finals)
TBD

(NBA finals)
TBD

 

 

 

 

 

Pro hockey

NHL playoff results/schedule for Carolina Hurricanes and Stanley Cup playoff pairings (*-if necessary):

(Eastern Conference Round 1)
-No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Wild Card No. 2 Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Saturday, April 18- at Carolina – Carolina 2-0
Game 2: Monday, April 20- at Carolina – Carolina 3-2 in 2 OT
Game 3: Thursday, April 23- at Ottawa (7:30 p.m., TBS)
Game 4: Saturday, April 25- at Ottawa (3 p.m., TBS/truTV)
*Game 5: Monday, April 27- at Carolina (TBD, TBD)
*Game 6: Thursday, April 30- at Ottawa (TBD, TBD)
*Game 7: Saturday, May 2- at Carolina (TBD, TBD)

-No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Flyers
-No. 1 Buffalo Sabres vs. Wild Card No. 1 Boston Bruins
-No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 3 Montreal Canadiens

(Western Conference Round 1)
-No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. Wild Card No. 2 Los Angeles Kings
-No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
– -No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. Wild Card No. 1 Utah Mammoth
-No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Anaheim Ducks

Calder Cup playoff results/schedule for Charlotte Checkers (*-if necessary):

(Atlantic Division First Round)
-No. 3 Charlotte vs. No. 6 Springfield
Game 1: Wednesday, April 22- at Charlotte – Charlotte 8-1
Game 2: Friday, April 24- at Charlotte (7 p.m.)
*Game 3: Saturday, April 25- at Charlotte (7 p.m.)

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school baseball

Gaston County Conference standings through April 20:

Stanley 8-0
Mount Holly 7-1
Belmont 7-2
Chavis 6-2
Cramerton 5-3
W.C. Friday 4-4
Bessemer City 4-5
Holbrook 2-6
York Chester 2-6
Grier 0-8
Southwest 0-8

The Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Monday, April 20)
Cramerton 8, Bessemer City 4
Belmont 5, W.C. Friday 2
York Chester 14, Grier 2
Stanley 15, Holbrook 0 (4 innings)
Mount Holly 21, Southwest 0 (3 innings)
BYE – Chavis

(Thursday, April 23)
Belmont at Chavis
York Chester at Cramerton
Stanley at W.C. Friday
Southwest at Grier
Mount Holly at Holbrook
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, April 27)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, April 30)
Semifinals: No. 4 at No. 1, No. 3 at No. 2
(Wednesday, May 6)
Baseball finals: Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed

Tri-County Conference regular season standings (missing 3 regular season games)
(Eastern Division)
North Lincoln 8-1
Burns 7-1
East Lincoln 5-5
West Lincoln 5-5
Kings Mountain 3-6
Lincolnton 0-10
(Western Division)
R-S Central 10-0
Crest 7-2
Thomas Jefferson 6-4
East Rutherford 4-6
Chase 2-7
Shelby 0-10

…missing Chase at Crest, North Lincoln at Burns, Burns at Kings Mountain

(Tuesday, April 28)
Semifinal- East No. 2 at R-S Central
Semifinal- Crest at East No. 1

(Thursday, April 30)
Championship

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school girls soccer

Gaston County Conference standings through April 23:

Belmont 9-0
Cramerton 7-1
Mount Holly 6-2
W.C. Friday 6-2
Stanley 5-3
Chavis 4-4
Holbrook 3-5
York Chester 3-5
Bessemer City 2-7
Grier 0-8
Southwest 0-8

The Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Monday, April 20)
Cramerton 7, Bessemer City 0
Belmont 7, W.C. Friday 0
York Chester 6, Grier 1
Stanley 5, Holbrook 1
Mount Holly 3, Southwest 0
BYE – Chavis

(Thursday, April 23)
Belmont at Chavis
York Chester at Cramerton
Stanley at W.C. Friday
Southwest at Grier
Mount Holly at Holbrook
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, April 27)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, April 30)
Semifinals: No. 4 at No. 1, No. 3 at No. 2
(Wednesday, May 6)
Baseball finals: Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed

Tri-County Conference regular season standings (missing 3 regular season games)
(Eastern Division)
East Lincoln 9-0
North Lincoln 8-2
Kings Mountain 5-3
Burns 3-6
Lincolnton 3-7
West Lincoln 0-10
(Western Division)
Thomas Jefferson 10-0
R-S Central 7-3
Shelby 5-5
Crest 4-5
Chase 3-6
East Rutherford 0-10

…missing Chase at Crest, East Lincoln at Kings Mountain, Burns at Kings Mountain

(Tuesday, April 28)
Semifinal- North Lincoln at Thomas Jefferson
Semifinal- R-S Central at East Lincoln

(Thursday, April 30)
Championship

 

 

 

 

Middle school track

The Gaston County schedule

(Wednesday, March 18)
Bessemer City, Chavis, York Chester, Stanley at Stanley, ppd., no date
Grier, Belmont, Holbrook, Cramerton at Belmont

(Monday, March 23)
Cramerton, Grier, Chavis at Stuart Cramer

(Wednesday, March 25)
Stanley, Bessemer City, Holbrook, Southwest at Stanley: Stanley won both meets as the boys had 75 points and the girls 70. The boys finished ahead of Holbrook (58 1/2), Southwest (43 1/2) and Bessemer City (7) with the girls finishing ahead of Holbrook (69), Southwest (40) and Bessemer City (5).

Belmont, Mount Holly, W.C. Friday, York Chester at Belmont: Belmont won both meets as the boys had 111 points and the girls 76.7. The boys finished ahead of Mount Holly (40), W.C. Friday (22) and York Chester (11) with the girls finishing ahead of Mount Holly (73.8), W.C. Friday (31 1/2) and York Chester (2).

(Tuesday, March 31)
W.C. Friday, Mount Holly, Southwest at North Gaston

(Wednesday, April 1)
Holbrook, Stanley, Chavis, W.C. Friday at Bessemer City HS: Holbrook won both meets as the boys had 88 points and girls 72. The boys finished ahead of Stanley (72), W.C. Friday (15) and Chavis (9) with the girls finishing ahead of Stanley (62), W.C. Friday (31) and Chavis (16).

Mount Holly, York Chester, Southwest, Cramerton at Stanley

Belmont, Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont: Belmont won both meets as the boys had 98 points and the girls 77. The boys finished ahead of Grier (20) and Bessemer City (8) with the girls finishing ahead of Grier (40) and Bessemer City (9).

(Tuesday, April 14)
York Chester, Holbrook, Cramerton at Bessemer City HS: Cramerton won both meets as the boys had 68 points and the girls 65. The boys finished ahead of Holbrook (53) and York Chester (5) with the girls finishing ahead of Holbrook (61).

(Wednesday, April 15)
Southwest, Belmont, Grier, W.C. Friday at Belmont
Chavis, Mount Holly, Stanley, Bessemer City at Stanley

(Wednesday, April 22)
Division 1 Meet – Host: Southwest at Bessemer City HS
Division 2 Meet – Host: Stanley at Bessemer City HS

(Wednesday, April 29)
County Championship – Host: Cramerton at Stuart Cramer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school tennis

Tri-County Conference regular season standings:

Shelby 6-0
Kings Mountain 5-1
East Rutherford 4-2
Crest 2-4
R-S Central 2-4
Thomas Jefferson 2-4
Burns 0-6

(Tuesday, April 21)
Semifinal- Shelby BYE
Semifinal- East Rutherford at Kings Mountain – KM

(Thursday, April 23)
Championship- Kings Mountain at Shelby

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Charlotte 9, Nashville 4: LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Jarred Kelenic hit first and second inning grand slams, respectively, as the Knights won the second game of the seven-game series. The third game is 7:04 p.m. on Thursday.

Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2026 schedule:

(10-12 record 1st half)
March 27-29 Durham 3-0 (W 19-2, W 2-1 in 11, W 4-3)
March 31-April 5 at Nashville 1-4 (L 3-7, W 9-3, L 0-4, L 6-7, ppd, L 5-7)
April 7-12 Memphis 3-3 (L 4-9, W 7-3, L 1-4, W 9-8 in 10, L 4-6, W 13-4)
April 14-19 at Jacksonville 2-4 (L 0-3, L 2-3, L 3-5, L 1-4, W 2-0, W 9-4)
April 21-26 Nashville 1-1 (L 1-5, W 9-4)
April 28-May 3 Gwinnett
May 5-10 at Jacksonville
May 12-17 Norfolk
May 19-24 at Gwinnett
May 26-31 Jacksonville
June 2-7 at Durham
June 9-14 Oklahoma City
June 16-21 at Buffalo
June 23-28 Rochester
June 30-July 5 at Memphis
July 7-12 Nashville
July 17-19 at Durham
July 21-26 Norfolk
July 28-August 2 at Nashville
August 4-9 Durham
August 11-16 at Rochester
August 18-23 at Scranton-WB
August 25-30 Memphis
September 1-6 at Gwinnett
September 8-13 Buffalo
September 15-20 at Norfolk

Here is the full Gastonia Ghost Peppers’ 2026 schedule:

(1-1 record, 1-1 1st half, 0-0 2nd half)

-1st half
April 21-23 at High Point 1-1 (W 3-1, L 5-6)
April 24-26 High Point
April 28-May 3 at York
May 5-10 Southern Maryland
May 12-17 at Long Island
May 19-20 Charleston, W.Va.
May 22-24 at Charleston, W.Va.
May 26-28 at Lexington
May 29-31 Charleston, W.Va.
June 2-7 Lancaster
June 9-14 at Lexington
June 16-21 Staten Island
June 23-28 at Lexington
June 30-July 2 Lexington
-2nd half
July 3-5 Charleston, W.Va.
July 7-12 at Hagerstown
July 14-19 Lexington
July 21-26 at Charleston, W.Va.
July 28, 30-31-Aug. 2 Hagerstown
Aug. 4-6 Southern Maryland
Aug. 7-9 at Lexington
Aug. 11-16 at High Point
Aug. 18-23 Charleston, W.Va.
Aug. 25-30 at Southern Maryland
Sept. 1-6 High Point
Sept. 8-10 Lexington
Sept. 11-13 at High Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

Here is the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule with race winners in parentheses:

Feb. 4 — Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Ryan Preece)
Feb. 15 — Daytona 500 (Tyler Reddick)
Feb. 22 — Atlanta (Reddick-2)
March 1 — Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (Reddick-3)
March 8 — Phoenix (Ryan Blaney)
March 15 — Las Vegas (Denny Hamlin)
March 22 — Darlington, South Carolina (Reddick-4)
March 29 — Martinsville, Virginia (Chase Elliott)
April 5 — off weekend
April 12 — Bristol, Tennessee (Ty Gibbs)
April 19 — Kansas (Reddick-5)
April 26 — Talladega, Alabama
May 3 — Texas
May 10 — Watkins Glen, New York
May 17 — All-Star Race (Dover)
May 24 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
May 31 — Nashville, Tennessee
June 7 — Michigan
June 14 — Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
June 21 — San Diego
June 28 — Sonoma, California
July 5 — Chicagoland
July 12 — Atlanta
July 19 — North Wilkesboro
July 26 — Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
Aug. 2 — off weekend
Aug. 9 — Iowa
Aug. 15 — Richmond, Virginia
Aug. 23 — New Hampshire
Aug. 29 — Daytona, Florida
Sept. 6 — Darlington
Sept. 13 — Gateway in Madison, Illinois
Sept. 19 — Bristol
Sept. 27 — Kansas
Oct. 4 — Las Vegas
Oct. 11 — Charlotte Roval
Oct. 18 — Phoenix
Oct. 25 — Talladega
Nov. 1 — Martinsville
Nov. 8 — Homestead, Florida

 

 

 

 

Rodeo

Professional Bull Riding Unleash the Beast tour schedule for Greensboro-based Carolina Cowboys:

Feb. 1 – Golden 1 Center Sacramento- Austin Gamblers (L 173.90-256.90)
Feb. 21 – Progressive PBR Jacksonville- Florida Freedom (L 158.70-169.25)
March 22 – Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis- Nashville Stampede (W 88.70- 0.00)
(DNQ for playoffs)

Team Challenge playoff results
March 29 at Albuquerque: Semifinal- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder def. No. 4 Florida Freedom 83.65-0.00)
April 17 at Billings: Semifinal- (No. 2 Austin Gamblers def. No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws 87.10-84.50)
April 26 at Tacoma: Championship- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder vs. No. 2 Austin Gamblers)

Upcoming events:
April 26 – Cooper Tires PBR Tacoma
May 10 – PBR World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum
Sept. 18-20 – Greensboro First Horizon Coliseum Complex

 

 

 

 

Golf

The Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame (RCSHOF), presented by Hardin’s Drug, in conjunction with Golf Sponsors Forest City Honda and Chick-fil-A of Forest City, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 T. Max Champion Memorial Golf Tournament.

The tournament will be held on Friday, July 31 at the Apple Vally Golf Course in Lake Luke, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $100.00 per player or $400.00 for a team of four and covers the green fee, cart usage and lunch.

First prize for Gross and Net Winners is $600.00 per team. Other prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. Proceeds from the event go to support the RCSHOF Scholarship Fund and registration deadline is July 21.

For information or to register, please visit the RCSHOF website: https://www.rcshof.org/ or call Randy Page at 828-429-7773.