4-28-23 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer, High school baseball and softball, Middle school baseball and soccer, NASCAR
By Richard Walker
With a crowd of 1,000 fans at a midday Friday pep rally, the Carolina Panthers officially introduced their newest franchise quarterback Bryce Young.
Young, picked No. 1 overall in Thursday’s NFL Draft, met with fans, Panthers staffers and local media after arriving on a flight from Kansas City, Mo., on Friday.
“It’s surreal for me,” Young told media in his first Panthers news conference at Bank of America Stadium. “So I just want to say thank you to (owners) Mr. and Mrs. (David) Tepper, to (general manager) Scott (Fitterer) and to coach (Frank Reich), and to everyone who believed in me. This is an opportunity I don’t take lightly; I don’t take it for granted. And I know it’s a huge blessing.
“I’m super excited to get to work. I’m super grateful my parents and everyone who made this possible for me. And I couldn’t be more excited to be here, to be a Panther, and I’m ready to get to work.”
Young admitted that he’s excited that his basketball idol Stephen Curry is a Panthers fan and noted “Steph right now, he’s got a lot on his plate right now, too,” in a reference to Curry’s ongoing NBA first round playoff series with Sacramento.
Young, a 5-foot-10 1/4, 207-pounder out of Alabama, says he’s ready to get to work as a NFL rookie quarterback.
“I want to do everything I can to earn the respect of my peers and the guys in the locker room in the building,” Young said. “I’m super grateful for what’s happened in my past and, you know, in for being selected where I was, but I know that doesn’t entitle me to anything. You know, it’s on me to prove myself to show up every day and work and earn the respect of the people around me. That’s something I’m looking forward to starting.”
On Friday night as the draft continued, the Panthers added wide receiver Jonathan Mingo of Mississippi in the second round (No. 39 overall) and linebacker D.J. Johnson of Oregon in the third round (No. 80 overall). Carolina traded a third round pick (No. 93 overall) and a fourth round pick (No. 132 overall) to move up in the third round to select Johnson.
Here’s a list of the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 NFL draft picks as the draft resumes Saturday at noon for the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds:
First round (No. 1 overall): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama)
Second round (No. 39 overall) Jonathan Mingo, WR (Mississippi)
Third round (No. 80 overall) D.J. Johnson, OLB (Oregon)
Fourth round (No. 114 ovearll)
Fifth round (No. 145 overall)
High school baseball
(Friday, April 28)
South Point 9, Ashbrook 3
Crest 6, Forestview 3: Vari Green, Ethan Hayes, Ryan Ropp, Clayton Brown, Tyler Smart, Jude Stilwell and Houston Cook all had hits and Tyler Smart got the pitching win and Parker Ramsey the save for Crest.
North Gaston 18, Huss 1 (5 innings): A Pope (3 innings, 8 strikeouts) and Z Sigmon (2 innings, 5 strikeouts) combined on a no-hitter for North Gaston. And Pope (3 hits, home run, 3 RBIs), H Rector (2 hits, 2 RBIs), C Ghantt (2 hits, 2 RBIs) and C Bates (2 hits, 1 RBI) led the Wildcats’ offense.
Burns 9, Shelby 2
Cherryville 15, Bessemer City 1 (5 innings): Brayden Reynolds went 3 innings for the win with Eli Newsome pitching the last 2 innings and Will Fowler lead the offense with 3 doubles for Cherryville.
North Lincoln 6, Foard 0
St. Stephens 1, East Lincoln 0
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King, postponed
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep
Piedmont CC 10, Carolina International 0
High school softball
(Friday, April 28)
Crest 2, North Gaston 1: Aidan Ledbetter (4-hitter, 12 strikeouts, 1 hit), Molly Beam (2 hits), Riley Parker (1 hit), Addie Beaver (1 hit),
Makenzie Clark (1 hit) and Madison Crocker (1 hit) led Crest.
South Point at Kings Mountain
Burns 7, Shelby 0: Sayge Strange (2-hitter, 11 strikeouts), Jaycee Bivins (2 hits, double, 1 RBI, 3 stolen bases), Kaylee Greene (2 hits, 1 RBI) and Esynce Howze (2 hits, 1 RBI) led Burns.
Foard 9, North Lincoln 8
East Lincoln 12, St. Stephens 2 (6 innings)
Gaston Christian at Piedmont CC
Middle school baseball
Gaston County Conference standings through games of April 25:
Chavis 8-1
Belmont 7-1
Cramerton 7-2
Stanley 7-2
W.C. Friday 6-3
Mount Holly 5-3
Bessemer City 3-5
Holbrook 2-6
York Chester 1-7
Southwest 1-8
Grier 0-9
(Saturday, April 29)
Belmont at Mount Holly
(Monday, May 1)
Cramerton at Chavis, W.C. Friday at Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont, Holbrook at York Chester, Mount Holly at Stanley
(Monday, May 2)
Bessemer City at Holbrook, York Chester at Southwest
END REGULAR SEASON
Tri-County Conference standings through games of April 26:
(East Division)
East Lincoln 8-2
North Lincoln 8-2
Burns 7-3
Kings Mouintain 4-6
West Lincoln 2-8
Lincolnton 1-9
(West Division)
Crest 10-0
R-S Central 7-3
East Rutherford 7-3
Chase 2-8
Shelby 2-8
Thomas Jefferson 2-8
Playoff results:
(Semifinals)
East Lincoln 11, R-S Central 4
North Lincoln 12, Crest 2
(May 2 championship)
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
Middle school girls soccer
Gaston County Confence standings through games of April 25:
Belmont 8-0
Cramerton 8-1
Mount Holly 7-1
Stanley 7-2
W.C. Friday 5-4
Chavis 4-5
Holbrook 3-5
Grier 3-6
York Chester 1-7
Southwest 1-8
Bessemer City 0-8
(Monday, May 1)
Cramerton at Chavis, W.C. Friday at Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont, Holbrook at York Chester, Mount Holly at Stanley
(Monday, May 2)
Bessemer City at Holbrook, Belmont at Mount Holly, York Chester at Southwest
END REGULAR SEASON
Final Tri-County Conference standings:
(East Division)
East Lincoln 10-0
North Lincoln 8-2
West Lincoln 6-4
Burns 3-7
Kings Mouintain 3-7
Lincolnton 0-10
(West Division)
East Rutherford 8-2
Thomas Jefferson 8-2
R-S Central 5-5
Shelby 5-5
Crest 4-6
Chase 0-10
Playoff results:
(Semifinals)
East Lincoln 5, Thomas Jefferson 0
North Lincoln 1, East Rutherford 0
(Championship)
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
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 – Miami 119-114
Game 5: April 26 at Milwaukee – Miami 128-126, OT (Miami wins series 4-1)
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 – Boston 129-121
Game 5: April 25 at Boston – Atlanta 119-117
Game 6: April 27 at Atlanta – Boston 128-120 (Boston wins series 4-2)
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 – New York 102-99
Game 5: April 26 at Cleveland – New York 106-95 (New York wins series 4-1)
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 – Minnesota 114-108
Game 5: April 25 at Denver – Denver 112-109 (Denver wins series 4-1)
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 – L.A. Lakers 111-101
Game 4: April 24 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 117-111, OT
Game 5: April 26 at Memphis – Memphis 116-99
Game 6: April 28 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
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 – Golden State 126-125
Game 5: April 26 at Sacramento – Golden State 123-116
Game 6: April 28 at Golden State – Sacramento 118-99
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 – Phoenix 136-130 (Phoenix wins series 4-1)
The second round NBA playoffs schedule (x-if necessary):
East No. 8 Miami vs. East No. 5 New York
Game 1: April 30 at New York, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: May 2 at New York, TBD (TNT)
Game 3: May 6 at Miami, TBD (ABC)
Game 4: May 8 at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: May 10 at New York, TBD (TNT)
Game 6-x: May 12 at Miami, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7-x: May 15 at New York, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
East No. 2 Boston vs. East No. 3 Philadelphia
Game 1: May 1 at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: May 3 at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: May 5 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: May 7 at Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 5-x: May 9 at Boston, TBD (TNT)
Game 6-x: May 11 at Philadelphia, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7-x: May 14 at Boston, TBD (TBD)
West No. 1 Denver vs. West No. 4 Phoenix
Game 1: April 29 at Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: May 1 at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 3: May 5 at Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: May 7 at Phoenix, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: May 9 at Denver, TBD (TNT)
Game 6-x: May 11 at Phoenix, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7-x: May 14 at Denver, TBD (TBD)
West No. 2 Memphis-West No. 7 L.A. Lakers winner vs. West No. 3 Sacramento-West No. 6 Golden State winner
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, at N.Y. Islanders – Carolina 5-2 (TNT)
Game 5: April 25, at Carolina – N.Y. 3-2
Game 6: April 28, at N.Y. Islanders – Carolina 2-1 in OT (Carolina wins series 4-2)
(Second round)
Carolina vs. New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils winner
Pro baseball
Charlotte 6-4, Norfolk 3-8: Outfielder Víctor Reyes had 5 RBIs for the Knights as they split a doubleheader with a 6-3 win in the opener and 8-4 loss in the nightcap. Charlotte (12-13) continues the 6-game home series on Saturday at 7:04 p.m.
Gastonia 10, Frederick 4: The Honey Hunters opened their 2023 season in front of 2,686 fans at home at CaroMont Health Park.
Here is the full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2023 schedule:
Overall record: 1-0
April (1-0)
28 Frederick (W 10-4)
29 Frederick
30 Frederick
May
2 at So. Maryland
3 at So. Maryland
4 at So. Maryland
5 at Long Island
6 at Long Island
7 at Long Island
9 Frederick
10 Frederick
11 Frederick
12 at High Point
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
16 Charleston, W.Va.
17 Charleston, W.Va.
18 Charleston, W.Va.
19 at Lexington
20 at Lexington
21 at Lexington
23 at Frederick
24 at Frederick
25 at Frederick
26 Lancaster
27 Lancaster
28 Lancaster
29 Lancaster
30 High Point
31 High Point
June
1 High Point
2 Lexington
3 Lexington
4 Lexington
6 at Charleston, W.Va.
7 at Charleston, W.Va.
8 at Charleston, W.Va.
9 at Frederick
10 at Frederick
11 at Frederick
13 So. Maryland
14 So. Maryland
15 So. Maryland
16 Staten Island
17 Staten Island
18 Staten Island
20 at Lancaster
21 at Lancaster
22 at Lancaster
23 at Staten Island
24 at Staten Island
25 at Staten Island
27 High Point
28 High Point
29 High Point
30 So. Maryland
July
1 So. Maryland
2 So. Maryland
4 at Frederick
5 at Frederick
6 at Frederick
7 at High Point
8 at High Point
9 at High Point
11 at Charleston, W.Va.
12 at Charleston, W.Va.
13 at Charleston, W.Va.
14 Staten Island
15 Staten Island
16 Staten Island
18 High Point
19 High Point
20 High Point
21 at So. Maryland
22 at So. Maryland
23 at So. Maryland
25 at Staten Island
26 at Staten Island
27 at Staten Island
28 at Long Island
29 at Long Island
30 at Long Island
August
1 High Point
2 High Point
3 High Point
4 Lexington
5 Lexington
6 Lexington
8 Frederick
9 Frederick
10 Frederick
11 at Long Island
12 at Long Island
13 at Long Island
15 York
16 York
17 York
18 Lexington
19 Lexington
20 Lexington
22 at Long Island
23 at Long Island
24 at Long Island
25 at Lancaster
26 at Lancaster
27 at Lancaster
29 Frederick
30 Frederick
31 Frederick
September
1 So. Maryland
2 So. Maryland
3 So. Maryland
4 So. Maryland
5 at High Point
6 at High Point
7 at High Point
8 Charleston, W.Va.
9 Charleston, W.Va.
10 Charleston, W.Va.
12 So. Maryland
13 So. Maryland
14 So. Maryland
15 at Lexington
16 at Lexington
17 at Lexington
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 (Kyle Busch)
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