4-30-22 roundup: Pro football, baseball, basketball and soccer, High school tennis, Middle school baseball and girls soccer, Legion baseball
By Richard Walker
Former South Point High standout Nick Muse became the fifth Gaston County product to be drafted by a NFL team.
A 2017 South Point High graduate who played for William and Mary and South Carolina in college, Muse was selected in the seventh round with the 227th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
A tight end who caught 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns for South Carolina last season, Muse also is the third South Point product to be drafted, joining Koren Robinson (1st round by Seattle Seahawks in 2001) and his older brother Tanner Muse (3rd round by Las Vegas Raiders in 2020).
Other Gaston County products to be drafted by NFL teams were Ashbrook’s Sean Boyd (5th round by Minnesota Vikings in 1996) and Huss’ Lamar Holmes (3rd round by Atlanta Falcons in 2012).
Pro football
The Carolina Panthers made more trades and added more players in the 2022 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday.
The team traded away its two fifth-round picks to Washington for fourth- and sixth-round selections.
With the fourth round pick, Carolina chose Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith. A 6-foot-3, 241-pounder, Smith is from Louisa, VA., and started 21 of 34 games for the Nittany Lions in his three-year career and was named third team All-Big Ten in 2021.
With the sixth round pick, the Panthers selected Virginia Tech defensive lineman Amare Barno. A 6-6, 245-pounder, Barno is from Blythewood, S.C., played one season at Butler Community College before playing for the Hokies in 2019, 2020 and 2021 where he started 17 of 25 career games.
With the sixth round pick the team retained, it chose Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays. A 6-6, 325-pounder, Mays is from Knoxville, Tenn., who played at Georgia for two years before transferring to Tennessee. As a senior, he was second team All-SEC and invited to the prestigious 2022 Senior Bowl.
And with the seventh pick the team retained, it chose Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes. Recruited to Baylor by current Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, Barnes is a 6-foot, 186-pounder from Silsbee, Tex., started 15 of 41 games after switching from wide receiver to defensive during his collegiate career.
Carolina Panthers 2022 NFL Draft
Round 1 (6th selection) Ikem Okwunu – N.C. State OT
Round 3 (94th selection) Matt Corral – Mississippi QB
Round 4 (120th selection) Brandon Smith – Penn State LB
Round 6 (189th selection) Amare Barno – Virginia Tech DL
Round 6 (199th selection) Cade Mays – Tennessee OL
Round 7 (242nd selection) Kalon Barnes – Baylor CB
2022 schedule (Official schedule release date May 12)
Home games (9): Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, San Francisco, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver
Road games (8): Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Baltimore, Cincinnati, N.Y. Giants
Middle school baseball
Gaston County Conference standings through April 28:
Belmont 8-0
Stanley 7-1
Mount Holly 7-2
Chavis 6-2
Cramerton 4-3
W.C. Friday 4-4
Bessemer City 2-6
Holbrook 2-6
Southwest 2-6
York Chester 2-6
Grier 0-8
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday, May 2)
Bessemer City at W.C. Friday
Chavis at Cramerton
Grier at Belmont
Stanley at Mount Holly
York Chester at Holbrook
(Tuesday, May 3)
Cramerton at Southwest
(Thursday, May 5)
Chavis at Bessemer City
Cramerton at Belmont
Grier at Stanley
Holbrook at Southwest
W.C. Friday at York Chester
END REGULAR SEASON
Middle school girls soccer
The Gaston County Conference standings through April 28:
Belmont 8-0
Cramerton 7-0
Mount Holly 7-2
W.C. Friday 5-3
Stanley 5-3
Chavis 3-5
Holbrook 3-5
Southwest 3-5
Bessemer City 1-7
Grier 1-7
York Chester 1-7
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday, May 2)
Bessemer City at W.C. Friday
Chavis at Cramerton
Grier at Belmont
Stanley at Mount Holly
York Chester at Holbrook
(Tuesday, May 3)
Cramerton at Southwest
(Thursday, May 5)
Chavis at Bessemer City
Cramerton at Belmont
Grier at Stanley
Holbrook at Southwest
W.C. Friday at York Chester
END REGULAR SEASON
Legion baseball
Gastonia Post 23 will have sign-ups for senior legion baseball Saturday, May 7 from 10-11 a.m. at Ashbrook High School bus parking lot. Players born in 2002 or earlier are not eligible. Contact [email protected] for any questions.
High school tennis
Six teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties will be competing in the N.C. High School Athletic Association boys tennis dual team playoffs that begin on Wednesday.
Here are the April 27 first round results:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (11-0) hosts No. 13 Rockingham County (9-2) – South Point 9-0
Class 3A No. 11 Crest (10-1) at No. 6 West Henderson (12-1) – Crest 7-1
Class 2A No. 1 Lincolnton (7-0) hosts No. 16 East Surry (11-6) – East Surry 5-4
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (8-1) hosts No. 11 West Stanly (8-6) – Lincoln Charter 6-0
Class 2A No. 8 Burns (9-4) hosts No. 9 Swannanoa Owen (8-5) – Burns 7-2
Class 1A No. 13 Cherryville (4-9) at No. 4 Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (12-3) – Bishop McGuinness 9-0
Here are the May 3 second round pairings:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (12-0) hosts No. 5 Winston-Salem Atkins (11-0)
Class 3A No. 11 Crest (11-1) at No. 3 Hickory (11-0)
Class 2A No. 8 Burns (10-4) hosts No. 16 East Surry (12-6)
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (9-1) visits No. 3 West Stokes (12-0)
Winners of second round matchups advance to third round on May 9. The regional finals are on May 11 and state championships are on May 14 at the Burlington Tennis Center.
Pro basketball
Here’s the schedule for the NBA playoffs:
(Eastern Conference)
FIRST ROUND
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 (Philadelphia 132-97, Philadelphia wins series 4-2)
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)
SEMIFINALS
1-Miami vs. 4-Philadelphia
Game 1 at Miami: May 2
Game 2 at Miami: May 4
Game 3 at Philadelphia: May 6
Game 4 at Philadelphia: May 8
Game 5 at Miami (if necessary): May 10
Game 6 at Philadelphia (if necessary): May 12
Game 7 at Miami (if necessary): May 15
2-Milwaukee vs. 3-Boston
Game 1 at Milwaukee: May 1
Game 2 at Milwaukee: May 3
Game 3 at Boston: May 7
Game 4 at Boston: May 9
Game 5 (if necessary) at Milwaukee: May 11
Game 6 (if necessary) at Boston: May 13
Game 7 (if necessary) at Milwaukee: May 15
(Western Conference)
FIRST ROUND
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 at New Orleans: April 28 (Phoenix 115-109, Phoenix wins series 4-2)
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 (Dallas 98-96, Dallas wins series 4-2)
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 (Memphis 114-106, Memphis wins series 4-2)
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 4-1)
SEMIFINALS
1-Phoenix vs. 4-Dallas/5-Utah
Game 1 at Phoenix: May 2
Game 2 at Phoenix: May 4
Game 3 at Dallas: May 6
Game 4 at Dallas: May 8
Game 5 at Phoenix (if necessary): May 10
Game 6 at Dallas (if necessary): May 12
Game 7 at Phoenix (if necessary): May 15
2-Memphis vs. 3-Golden State
Game 1 at Memphis: May 1
Game 2 at Memphis: May 3
Game 3 at Golden State: May 7
Game 4 at Golden State: May 9
Game 5 at Memphis (if necessary): May 11
Game 6 at Golden State (if necessary): May 13
Game 7 at Memphis (if necessary): May 16
Pro soccer
Charlotte FC fell to 3-6-1 overall and 0-5-1 on the road in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Orlando.
Here’s the full Charlotte FC schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(3-6-1 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 (L 1-2)
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 eighth straight game in a 6-5 victory over the Staten Island Ferry Hawks on Saturday.
Gastonia closes its season-opening 10-game homestand with a game against Staten Island at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
April (8-1)
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. (W 6-4)
29 Staten Island (W 5-4)
30 Staten Island (W 6-5)
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 So. Maryland
11 at So. Maryland
12 at So. Maryland
13 at Staten Island
14 at Staten Island
15 at Staten Island
17 So. Maryland
18 So. Maryland
19 So. 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 So. Maryland
25 at So. Maryland
26 at So. 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 So. Maryland
17 So. Maryland
18 So. 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.