4-27-22 roundup: Pro football, baseball, basketball and soccer, High school baseball and softball, College baseball, Middle school baseball and girls soccer
By Richard Walker
Four local products have helped Wingate to a No. 1 NCAA Division II national baseball ranking, a top seed in the upcoming South Atlantic Conference tournament and a 40-win season – 2017 Crest High graduate Logan McNeely, 2018 North Gaston High graduate Austin Mitchell, 2020 Cherryville High graduate Brent Walls and 2021 Crest High graduate Ben Hodge.
McNeely is hitting .347 with four home runs and 35 RBIs in 34 games (30 starts), Mitchell has a 10-0 pitching record and 3.44 ERA in 11 starts, Walls has an 0-0 record and 6.60 ERA in six appearances (four starts) and Hodge is on the roster.
The Bulldogs, who won the NCAA Division II national title last season, is 42-6 overall and 21-2 in the SAC; opens their league tournament bid at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Kodak, Tenn.
Pro football
Carolina Panthers fans may be frustrated with back-to-back 5-win seasons under head coach Matt Rhule, but owner David Tepper told media he was supportive of the coach.
“Look, I believe in Matt and he has my full support,” Tepper said during a 30-minute videoconference with reporters on Wednesday.
Rhule has guided the Panthers to records of 5-11 and 5-12 the last two seasons and is entering the third year of a seven-year, $62 million contract. Only the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars have won fewer games than Carolina since Rhule’s arrival in 2020.
“I’ve said five years, five years, five years from the time coach Rhule was (hired) here, and maybe it will be six years, I don’t know, from the time he was hired,” Tepper said. “I think it is just building that foundation and having patience to build that foundation, and trying to get fans to have patience for that foundation, to have sustained winning.”
HS baseball
(Wednesday’s games)
Lincolnton 5, Maiden 0 (5 innings)
Queen’s Grant 5, Piedmont CC 4
North Lincoln 2, Foard 1
Ashbrook 14, Highland Tech 0 (5 innings): Winning pitcher Evan Valentine, Cooper York (3 hits, 3 RBIs) and Christian Augustin (double, triple, 3 RBIs, 5 stolen bases) led Ashbrook.
Enka 8, Kings Mountain (9 innings)
Cherryville 9, West Lincoln 3: Cherryville head coach Scott Heavner won the 300th game of his career with the non-conference victory.
East Lincoln 7, St. Stephens 1 (Tuesday): Starter and winner Carson Dahle (6 innings, 7 strikeouts) and reliever Isaac Armstrong (1 inning) led East Lincoln, who offense was led by Armstrong (2-run home run), Gavin Houser (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Evan Matile (1-3, 3 RBIs), Nate Borchardt (2-3, 2 RBIs) and Seth Haigler (1-2, 1 run).
Burns 8, Bandys 3
East Gaston 7, R-S Central 5 (Tuesday): Parker Agosta (winning pitcher, 2 hits), Dylan Howell (save) and Daniel McClellan (2 hits) led East Gaston.
(Thursday’s games)
Bradford Prep at Piedmont CC
Gaston Day at Charlotte Latin
(Friday’s games)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Forestview at South Point
Huss at Crest
North Gaston at Cramer
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Burns at Shelby
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
North Iredell at East Lincoln
West Iredell at North Lincoln
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Gaston Day at Northside Christian
Hickory Grove Christian at Gaston Christian
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
High school softball
(Wednesday’s games)
North Lincoln 10, Foard 0 (5 innings)
Crest 4, Burns 3: Aidan Ledbetter (6-hitter, 11 strikeouts), Sara Rose Warlick (3 hits, home run), Riley Parker (3 hits, 2 RBIs), Reese Gettys (2 hits), Mackenzie Luckenbaugh (1 hit), Alexis Shope (1 hit), Mackenzie Clark (1 hit) and Molly Beam (2 sacrifice bunts) led Crest. And Maura Pendleton (2-4, 2 stolen bases), Sayge Strange (1-3, double, RBI) and Hunter Morgan (1-2) led Burns.
North Gaston 13, East Gaston 4
Shelby 16, South Point 15
East Lincoln 1, St. Stephens 0 (9 innings on Tuesday): Leah Correll (2-hitter, 13 strikeouts), Taniyah Thomas (2 triples), Taliyah Thomas (single, stolen base), Betsy Eatmon (single), Bailey Hardin (single), Tatum Martin (double, 2 stolen bases) and Madison Currence (RBI sacrifice fly) led East Lincoln
Burns 13, Shelby 3 (Tuesday): Winning pitcher Sayge Strange, Maura Pendleton (4-4, 3 stolen bases, 4 RBIs), Jaycee Bivins (2-4, home run, 3 RBIs), Meah Ivie (2-3, 2 stolen bases) and Hunter Morgan (3-4, 3 RBIs) led Burns.
(Thursday’s games)
Cramer at Kings Mountain
Bandys at East Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Maiden
(Friday’s games)
North Gaston at Huss
South Point at Ashbrook
East Gaston at Forestview
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Burns at Shelby
Thomas Jefferson at Highland Tech
Bradford Prep at Piedmont CC
North Iredell at East Lincoln
West Iredell at North Lincoln
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Lincoln Charter at Myers Park
College baseball
Cleveland Community College 19-6, Gaston College 16-3: The host Yetis swept No. 3 Gaston College in a doubleheader that lasted 7 1/2 hours.
Middle school baseball
Gaston County Conference standings through Wednesday’s games:
Belmont 8-0
Stanley 7-1
Mount Holly 7-2
Chavis 5-2
Cramerton 4-2
W.C. Friday 3-4
Bessemer City 2-5
Southwest 2-5
Holbrook 1-6
York Chester 1-6
Grier 0-7
(Wednesday’s game)
Belmont 14, Mount Holly 0 (5 innings): Reid Wilson (4 innings, 8 strikeouts) and Andrew Walker (1 inning, 1 strikeout) handled the pitching chores and Zeke Pruitt (2-3, home run), Gavin Smith (2 hits), Carter Rowe (2 hits) and Jonathan Kalmbach (2 hits) led the offense for Belmont.
(Thursday’s games)
Grier at Chavis
W.C. Friday at Cramerton
Holbrook at Bessemer City
Southwest at York Chester
Middle school girls soccer
Gaston County Conference standings through Monday’s games:
Belmont 8-0
Cramerton 6-0
Mount Holly 7-2
W.C. Friday 5-2
Stanley 5-3
Chavis 2-5
Holbrook 2-5
Southwest 2-5
Bessemer City 1-6
Grier 1-6
York Chester 1-6
(Wednesday’s game)
Belmont 8, Mount Holly 0: Mackenzie Crill had six goals, Karsyn Lowman and Abi Bourque one goal apiece and Bella Goodwin and Kaitlyn Ledford had the goalkeeping shutout.
(Thursday’s games)
Grier at Chavis
W.C. Friday at Cramerton
Holbrook at Bessemer City
Southwest at York Chester
Pro basketball
Here’s the schedule for the NBA playoffs:
(Eastern Conference)
1-Miami vs. 8-Atlanta
Game 1 at Miami: April 17 (Miami 115-91)
Game 2 at Miami: April 19 (Miami 115-105)
Game 3 at Atlanta: April 22 (Atlanta 111-110)
Game 4 at Atlanta: April 24 (Miami 110-86)
Game 5 at Miami: April 26 (Miami 97-94, Miami wins series 4-1)
4-Philadelphia vs. 5-Toronto
Game 1 at Philadelphia: April 16 (Philadelphia 131-111)
Game 2 at Philadelphia: April 18 (Philadelphia 112-97)
Game 3 at Toronto: April 20 (Philadelphia 104-101)
Game 4 at Toronto: April 23 (Toronto 110-102)
Game 5 at Philadelphia: April 25 (Toronto 103-88)
Game 6 at Toronto: April 28
Game 7 (if necessary) at Philadelphia: April 30
2-Boston vs. 7-Brooklyn
Game 1 at Boston: April 17 (Boston 115-114)
Game 2 at Boston: April 20 (Boston 114-107)
Game 3 at Brooklyn: April 23 (Boston 109-103)
Game 4 at Brooklyn: April 25 (Boston 116-112, Boston wins series 4-0)
3-Milwaukee vs. 6-Chicago
Game 1 at Milwaukee: April 17 (Milwaukee 93-86)
Game 2 at Milwaukee: April 20 (Chicago 114-110)
Game 3 at Chicago: April 22 (Milwaukee 111-81)
Game 4 at Chicago: April 24 (Milwaukee 119-95)
Game 5 at Milwaukee: April 27 (Milwaukee 116-100, Milwaukee wins series 4-1)
(Western Conference)
1-Phoenix vs. 8-New Orleans
Game 1 at Phoenix: April 17 (Phoenix 110-99)
Game 2 at Phoenix: April 19 (New Orleans 125-114)
Game 3 at New Orleans: April 22 (Phoenix 114-111)
Game 4 at New Orleans: April 24 (New Orleans 118-103)
Game 5 at Phoenix: April 26 (Phoenix 112-97)
Game 6 (if necessary) at New Orleans: April 28
Game 7 (if necessary) at Phoenix: April 30
4-Dallas vs. 5-Utah
Game 1 at Dallas: April 16 (Utah 99-93)
Game 2 at Dallas: April 18 (Dallas 110-104)
Game 3 at Utah: April 21 (Dallas 126-118)
Game 4 at Utah: April 23 (Utah 100-99)
Game 5 at Dallas: April 25 (Dallas 102-77)
Game 6 at Utah: April 28
Game 7 (if necessary) at Dallas: April 30
2-Memphis vs. 7-Minnesota
Game 1 at Memphis: April 16 (Minnesota 130-117)
Game 2 at Memphis: April 19 (Memphis 124-96)
Game 3 at Minnesota: April 21 (Memphis 104-95)
Game 4 at Minnesota: April 23 (Minnesota 119-118)
Game 5 at Memphis: April 26 (Memphis 111-109)
Game 6 at Minnesota: April 29
Game 7 (if necessary) at Memphis: May 1
3-Golden State vs. 6-Denver
Game 1 at Golden State: April 16 (Golden State 123-107)
Game 2 at Golden State: April 18 (Golden State 126-106)
Game 3 at Denver: April 21 (Golden State 118-113)
Game 4 at Denver: April 24 (Denver 126-121)
Game 5 at Golden State: April 27 (Golden State 102-98, Golden State wins series 4-1)
Pro soccer
Here’s the full Charlotte FC schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(3-5-1 record)
Feb. 26 at D.C. (L 0-3)
March 5, L.A. (L 0-1)
March 13, at Atlanta (L 1-2)
March 19, New England (W 3-1)
March 26, Cincinnati (W 2-0)
April 2, at Philadelphia (L 0-2)
April 10, Atlanta (W 1-0)
April 16, at New England (L 1-2)
April 23, at Colorado (T 0-0)
April 30, at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
May 7, Miami, 3:30 p.m.
May 14, Montreal, 7 p.m.
May 22, Vancouver, 5 p.m.
May 29, at Seattle, 9:30 p.m.
June 11, New York, 3 p.m.
June 18, at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
June 25, at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
June 30, Austin, 7 p.m.
July 3, at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
July 9, Nashville, 7 p.m.
July 16, at Miami, 8 p.m.
July 23, at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 30, Columbus, 7 p.m.
August 3, D.C., 7 p.m.
August 6, Chicago, 7 p.m.
August 13, at LAFC, 10:30 p.m.
August 17, at New York City, TBD
August 21, Orlando, 7 p.m.
August 27, Toronto, 7 p.m.
September 3, at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
September 10, New York City, 7 p.m.
September 17, at Chicago, 8 p.m.
October 1, Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
October 9, at New York, TBD
Pro baseball
The Gastonia Honey Hunters won their fifth straight game with a fourth straight blowout win, this time by a 17-4 score over the Wild Health Genomes of Kentucky.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
April (5-1)
21 Lancaster, Pa. (L 2-5)
22 Lancaster, Pa. (W 4-3)
23 Lancaster, Pa. (W 8-1)
24 Lancaster, Pa. (W 13-4)
26 Wild Health, Ky. (W 12-1)
27 Wild Health, Ky. (W 17-4)
28 Wild Health, Ky.
29 Staten Island
30 Staten Island
May
1 Staten Island
3 at York, Pa.
4 at York, Pa.
5 at York, Pa.
6 at Staten Island
7 at Staten Island
8 at Staten Island
10 at Southern Maryland
11 at Southern Maryland
12 at Southern Maryland
13 at Staten Island
14 at Staten Island
15 at Staten Island
17 Southern Maryland
18 Southern Maryland
19 Southern Maryland
20 Charleston, W.Va.
21 Charleston, W.Va.
22 Charleston, W.Va.
24 at Lancaster, Pa.
25 at Lancaster, Pa.
26 at Lancaster, Pa.
27 at Long Island
28 at Long Island
29 at Long Island
30 at Long Island
31 Long Island
June
1 Long Island
2 Long Island
3 at High Point
4 at High Point
5 at High Point
7 at Charleston, W.Va.
8 at Charleston, W.Va.
9 at Charleston, W.Va.
10 High Point
11 High Point
12 High Point
14 Charleston, W.Va.
15 Charleston, W.Va.
16 Charleston, W.Va.
17 at Lexington, Ky.
18 at Lexington, Ky.
19 at Lexington, Ky.
21 Charleston, W.Va.
22 Charleston, W.Va.
23 Charleston, W.Va.
24 at Southern Maryland
25 at Southern Maryland
26 at Southern Maryland
28 Wild Health, Ky.
29 Wild Health, Ky.
30 Wild Health, Ky.
July
1 at Lexington, Ky.
2 at Lexington, Ky.
3 at Lexington, Ky.
4 High Point
5 High Point
6 at High Point
7 at High Point
8 High Point
9 High Point
10 High Point
12 at Wild Health, Ky.
13 at Wild Health, Ky.
14 at Wild Health, Ky.
15 Lexington, Ky.
16 Lexington, Ky.
17 Lexington, Ky.
19 at York, Pa.
20 at York, Pa.
21 at York, Pa.
22 at High Point
23 at High Point
24 at High Point
26 Lexington, Ky.
27 Lexington, Ky.
28 Lexington, Ky.
29 York, Pa.
30 York, Pa.
31 York, Pa.
August
2 at Lexington, Ky.
3 at Lexington, Ky.
4 at Lexington, Ky.
5 High Point
6 High Point
7 High Point
9 Staten Island
10 Staten Island
11 Staten Island
12 at High Point
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
16 Southern Maryland
17 Southern Maryland
18 Southern Maryland
19 High Point
20 High Point
21 High Point
23 at Charleston, W.Va.
24 at Charleston, W.Va.
25 at Charleston, W.Va.
26 at High Point
27 at High Point
28 at High Point
30 High Point
31 High Point
September
1 High Point
2 Wild Health, Ky.
3 Wild Health, Ky.
4 Wild Health, Ky.
6 at Wild Health, Ky.
7 at Wild Health, Ky.
8 at Wild Health, Ky.
9 Lexington, Ky.
10 Lexington, Ky.
11 Lexington, Ky.
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
15 at High Point
16 at Charleston, W.Va.
17 at Charleston, W.Va.
18 at Charleston, W.Va.