4-4-22 roundup: College football, baseball and basketball, Pro basketball, baseball and soccer, High school baseball and softball, Middle school baseball and girls soccer

By Richard Walker

The Charlotte Knights begin their 2022 season with a six-game road trip to Norfolk that begins Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.

The team held its annual media day and Gastonia’s Wes Helms, entering his second season as manager, is thrilled to have a traditional schedule and protocol after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled what was to be his first season in 2020 and altered last season’s schedule.

“It just feels more normal in every way,” said Helms, a 13-year major league player and 1994 Ashbrook High graduate. “We lost all of 2020 and last season got a late start so it feels good to get started in April like we’re supposed to.”

Helms’ roster may remain in flux for a few days as the Knights’ major league affiliate, the Chicago White Sox, continues to tinker their roster.

As of Monday, the 2022 Knights had 15 players who spend some of the 2021 season in Charlotte

A year ago, the Knights went 47-81 overall in a season in which injuries and roster moves led to more than 150 player transactions through one of the most unsettled years in minor league history.

Despite their on-field struggles, the Knights provided seasoning and rehabilitation stints for many of the major league White Sox, who finished 93-69 and won the American League Central division title.

Four of the top 30 White Sox prospects on MLB.com are currently on the Knights’ roster, among them Tuesday’s projected starting pitcher Kade McClure (No. 28); The other top-rated prospects are infielder Jake Burger (No. 7) and pitchers Jimmy Lambert (No. 16) and Emilio Vargas (No. 27).

After the six-game road seies at Norfolk, the Knights return to Charlotte for their home opener April 12 at 6:35 p.m. against Memphis.

 

 

 

Obituary

Former Cherryville High and Gardner-Webb multi-sport athlete Lawrence “Clay” Alexander died on Sunday at his residence in Cherryville.

Alexander, 61, was a 1979 graduate of Cherryville High School where he played football, basketball and baseball and then graduated from Gardner-Webb where he played football and baseball.

Alexander later coached baseball at W.C. Friday Junior High and at North Gaston High School before working for Lowe’s Home Improvement for many years.

At W.C. Friday, Alexander’s 1987 team went 13-2 overall and won the Cavaliers’ first of its seven county championships.

At North Gaston, Alexander guided the Wildcats to a 29-20 record in 1988 and 1989 that was highlighted by winning the 1988 Southwestern 3A Conference tournament title and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs.

Born on Feb. 25, 1961, Clay Alexander was the son to the late Ronald Lee and Selena Elizabeth Leonhardt Alexander and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ronald Kent Alexander.

He is survived by his wife, Myra Neill Alexander; sister, Leanne Alexander Brady and husband, David of Pinehurst; nephews, Alexander and Anderson Brady; and his furbaby, Bandit.

Memorial Services for Clay Alexander will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Carpenter-Porter Funeral and Cremation Services with former Gardner-Webb baseball coach Rev. Rusty Stroupe officiating.

Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery.

His family will receive friends from 1 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made in Clay Alexander’s honor to the Gardner Webb Bulldog Club at webbgive.gardner-webb.edu/g/athletics and condolences can be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net.

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

Kansas set NCAA history by rallying from a 15-point halftime deficit to come-from-behind and defeat North Carolina 72-69 in Monday’s championship game.

North Carolina, which led 40-25 at the break, had a chance to tie at the buzzer before Caleb Love’s 3-pointer was off the mark.

Here are the full pairings and results for the 2022 NCAA tournament:

FIRST FOUR (at Dayton, Ohio)

(March 15)
MIDWEST: No. 16 Texas Southern 76, No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67
EAST: No. 12 Indiana 66, No. 12 Wyoming 58

(March 16)
WEST: No. 11 Notre Dame 89, No. 11 Rutgers 87, 2 OT
SOUTH: No. 16 Wright State 93, No. 16 Bryant 82

FIRST ROUND

EAST REGION
(March 17 at Fort Worth, Tex.)
No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 16 Norfolk State 49
No. 8 North Carolina 95, No. 9 Marquette 63
(March 17 at Portland, Ore.)
No. 5 Saint Mary’s 82, No. 12 Indiana 53
No. 4 UCLA 57, No. 13 Akron 53
(March 18 at Milwaukee, Wisc.)
No. 6 Texas 81, No. 11 Virginia Tech 73
No. 3 Purdue 78, No. 14 Yale 56
(March 17 at Indianapolis, Ind.)
No. 7 Murray State 92, No. 10 San Francisco 87, OT
No. 15 Saint Peter’s 85, No. 2 Kentucky 79, OT
(March 19)
No. 8 North Carolina 93, No. 1 Baylor 86, OT
No. 4 UCLA 72, No. 5 St. Mary’s 56
No. 15 Saint Peter’s 70, No. 7 Murray State 60
(March 20)
No. 3 Purdue 81, No. 6 Texas 71

(March 25 at Philadelphia, Pa.)
No. 8 North Carolina 73, No. 4 UCLA 66
No. 15 Saint Peter’s 67, No. 3 Purdue 64
(March 27)
No. 8 North Carolina 69, No. 15 Saint Peter’s 49

SOUTH REGION
(March 18 at San Diego, Cal.)
No. 1 Arizona 87, No. 16 Wright State 70
No. 9 TCU 69, No. 8 Seton Hall 42
(March 18 at Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 5 Houston 82, No. 12 UAB 68
No. 4 Illinois 54, No. 13 Chattanooga 53
(March 17 at Indianapolis, Ind.)
No. 11 Michigan 75, No. 6 Colorado State 63
No. 3 Tennessee 88, No. 14 Longwood 56
(March 18)
No. 7 Ohio State 54, No. 10 Loyola, Chicago 41
No. 2 Villanova 80, No. 15 Delaware 60
(March 19)
No. 11 Michigan 76, No. 3 Tennessee 68
(March 20)
No. 1 Arizona 85, No. 9 TCU 80, OT
No. 5 Houston 68, No. 4 Illinois 53
No. 2 Villanova 71, No. 7 Ohio State 61

(March 24 at San Antonio, Tex.)
No. 5 Houston 72, No. 1 Arizona 60
No. 2 Villanova 63, No. 11 Michigan 55
(March 26)
No. 2 Villanova 50, No. 5 Houston 44

MIDWEST REGION
(March 17 at Fort Worth, Tex.)
No. 1 Kansas 83, No. 16 Texas Southern 56
No. 9 Creighton 72, No. 8 San Diego 69, OT
(March 17 at Buffalo, N.Y.)
No. 12 Richmond 67, No. 5 Iowa 63
No. 4 Providence 66, No. 5 South Dakota State 57
(March 18 at Milwaukee, Wisc.)
No. 11 Iowa State 59, No. 6 LSU 54
No. 3 Wisconsin 67, No. 14 Colgate 60
(March 18 at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 10 Miami, Fla. 68, No. 7 USC 66
No. 2 Auburn 80, No. 15 Jacksonville State 61
(March 19)
No. 1 Kansas 79, No. 9 Creighton 72
No. 4 Providence 79, No. 12 Richmond 51
(March 20)
No. 11 Iowa State 54, No. 3 Wisconsin 49
No. 10 Miami, Fla. 79, No. 2 Auburn 61

(March 25 at Chicago, Ill.)
No. 1 Kansas 66, No. 4 Providence 61
No. 10 Miami, Fla. 70, No. 11 Iowa State 56
(March 27)
No. 1 Kansas 76, No. 10 Miami, Fla. 50

WEST REGION
(March 17 at Portland, Ore.)
No. 1 Gonzaga 93, No. 16 Georgia State 72
No. 9 Memphis 64, No. 8 Boise State 53
(March 17 at Buffalo, N.Y.)
No. 12 New Mexico State 70, No. 5 UConn 63
No. 4 Arkansas 75, No. 13 Vermont 71
(March 18 at San Diego, Cal.)
No. 11 Notre Dame 78, No. 6 Alabama 64
No. 3 Texas Tech 97, No. 14 Montana State 62
(March 18 at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 7 Michigan State 74, No. 10 Davidson 73
No. 2 Duke 78, No. 15 Cal State Fullerton 61
(March 19)
No. 1 Gonzaga 82, No. 9 Memphis 78
No. 4 Arkansas 53, No. 12 New Mexico State 48
(March 20)
No. 3 Texas Tech 59, No. 11 Notre Dame 53
No. 2 Duke 85, No. 7 Michigan State 76

(March 24 at San Francisco, Cal.)
No. 4 Arkansas 74, No. 1 Gonzaga 68
No. 2 Duke 78, No. 3 Texas Tech 73
(March 26)
No. 2 Duke 78, No. 4 Arkansas 69

FINAL FOUR
(April 2 at New Orleans, La.)
Kansas 81, Villanova 65
North Carolina 81, Duke 77

(April 4)
Kansas 72, North Carolina 69

 

 

 

 

College baseball

South Point senior baseball player Jake Beaty announced on twitter Monday morning that he had committed to play baseball at Appalachian State.

Said Beaty: “Super excited and blessed to announce my commitment to Appalachian State University! I can’t thank God enough for giving me the ability to live out my dream! A big thanks to my family, friends, and coaches for the continued support and helping me with my decision! #RollNeers.”

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

(Monday’s results)
North Gaston 2, Crest 1: North Gaston stopped Crest’s conference winning streak at 35 games. The Chargers’ last league loss came on April 24, 2018 against Burns.

North Lincoln 14, Statesville 1

Lincolnton 5, Newton-Conover 1

Burns 6, Patton 4

Metrolina Christian 22, Gaston Day 0 (5 innings)

Upcoming schedule:
(Tuesday)
Ashbrook at Cramer
Huss at Forestview
South Point at Kings Mountain
Cherryville at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Burns
Hickory at East Lincoln
West Lincoln at Maiden
Mountain Island Charter at Pine Lake Prep
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
Gaston Day at Metrolina Christian

(Wednesday)
Bessemer City at Thomas Jefferson
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter
Bandys at East Lincoln
Berry at Huss
Shelby at Ashbrook

(Thursday)
Burns at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Cherryville
Gaston Christian at Metrolina Christian
Gaston Day at Concord Academy
Lincoln Charter at Bunker Hill

(Friday)
Cramer at Ashbrook
Forestview at Huss
Kings Mountain at South Point
North Gaston at Crest
Thomas Jefferson at Bessemer City
East Lincoln at Statesville
North Lincoln at Hickory
Bunker Hill at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Bandys
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter

 

 

 

 

High school softball

(Monday’s results)
Cramer 8, East Gaston 1

Piedmont CC 18, Langtree Charter 3 (3 innings): Grace East (2 hits, triple, 1 RBI), Abigale Harris (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Madison Clark (2 hits, 4 RBIs) and Julianna East (1-hitter) led Piedmont Community Charter.

Upcoming schedule:
(Tuesday)
Cramer at Forestview
Huss at Ashbrook
Kings Mountain at Crest
South Point at North Gaston
Bessemer City at Thomas Jefferson
Cherryville at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Burns
Hickory at East Lincoln
Statesville at North Lincoln
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton, DH
West Lincoln at Maiden
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Pine Lake Prep

(Wednesday)
Lincoln Charter at Maiden
Hopewell at East Lincoln
Shelby at Forestview
South Iredell at North Lincoln

(Thursday)
Burns at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Cherryville

(Friday)
Cramer at South Point
Crest at Ashbrook
Forestview at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Huss
Thomas Jefferson at Bessemer City
East Lincoln at Statesville
North Lincoln at Hickory
Bunker Hill at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Bandys
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter

 

 

 

Middle school baseball

(Monday’s games)
Belmont 14, Holbrook 0: Zeke Pruitt, Gavin Smith, Reid Wilson, Andrew Walker and Peyton McCarn combined on the one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and Reid Wilson (2-2) and Luke Oberman (2-3) led the Belmont offense.

Chavis 6, W.C. Friday 1: Parker Anderson was the winning pitcher and top hitter for Chavis.

Stanley 11, Southwest 0

(Thursday’s games)
Cramerton at Bessemer City
W.C. Friday at Belmont
Grier at York Chester
Holbrook at Stanley
Mount Holly at Southwest

 

 

Middle school girls soccer

(Monday’s games)
Belmont 9, Holbrook 0: Mackenzie Crill had four goals, Elle Louise Blee, Alice Bass, Lucy Rodenberger, Abigail Bourque and Nora Skarpalezos had one each and Bella Goodwin and Kaitlyn Ledford combined on the goalkeeping shutout for Belmont.

W.C. Friday 2, Chavis 0

Stanley 5, Southwest 0: Payton Lenox had two goals, Mattie Queen, Kayla Maiers and Ana Astudilli-Vasquez one each and Carsyn Simmons and Raegan Lilja combined on the goalkeeping shutout for Stanley.

(Thursday’s games)
Cramerton at Bessemer City
W.C. Friday at Belmont
Grier at York Chester
Holbrook at Stanley
Mount Holly at Southwest

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule (with results):

OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON (L 129-140, OT)
Wed. 27 at Orlando (W 120-111)
Fri. 29 at Miami (L 99-114)
Sun. 31 PORTLAND (W 125-113)
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND (L 110-113)
Wed. 3 at Golden State (L 92-114)
Fri. 5 at Sacramento (L 110-140)
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers (L 106-120)
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers (L 123-126, OT)
Wed. 10 at Memphis (W 118-108)
Fri. 12 NEW YORK (W 104-96)
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE (W 106-102)
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON (W 97-87)
Fri. 19 INDIANA (W 121-118)
Sat. 20 at Atlanta (L 105-115)
Mon. 22 at Washington (W 109-103)
Wed. 24 at Orlando (W 108-99)
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA (W 133-115)
Sat. 27 at Houston (L 143-146, OT)
Mon. 29 at Chicago (L 119-133)
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee (L 125-127)
Sun. 5 at Atlanta (W 130-127)
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA (L 124-127, OT)
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA (L 106-110)
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO (W 124-123)
Mon. 13 at Dallas (L 96-120)
Wed. 15 at San Antonio (W 131-115)
Fri. 17 at Portland (L 116-125)
Sun. 19 at Phoenix (L 106-137)
Mon. 20 at Utah (L 102-112)
Thu. 23 at Denver (W 115-107)
Mon. 27 HOUSTON (W 123-99)
Wed. 29 at Indiana (W 116-108)
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX (L 99-133)
Mon. 3 at Washington (L 121-124)
Wed. 5 DETROIT (W 140-111)
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE (W 114-106)
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE (W 103-99)
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia (W 109-98)
Fri. 14 ORLANDO (L 109-116)
Mon. 17 at New York (W 97-87)
Wed. 19 at Boston (W 111-102)
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY (W 121-98)
Sun. 23 ATLANTA (L 91-113)
Tue. 25 at Toronto (L 113-125)
Wed. 26 at Indiana (W 158-126)
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS (W 117-114)
Sun. 30 LA CLIPPERS (L 90-115)
FEBRUARY
Wed. 2 at Boston (L 107-113)
Fri. 4 CLEVELAND (L 101-102)
Sat. 5 MIAMI (L 86-104)
Mon. 7 TORONTO (L 101-116)
Wed. 9 CHICAGO (L 109-121)
Fri. 11 at Detroit (W 141-119)
Sat. 12 MEMPHIS (L 118-125)
Tue. 15 at Minnesota (L 120-126, OT)
Thu. 17 MIAMI (L 107-111, 2 OT)
Fri. 25 TORONTO (W 125-93)
Sun. 27 DETROIT (L 126-127, OT)
Mon. 28 at Milwaukee (L 106-130)
MARCH
Wed. 2 at Cleveland (W 119-98)
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO (W 123-117)
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN (L 121-132)
Wed. 9 BOSTON (L 101-115)
Fri. 11 at New Orleans (W 142-120)
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City (W 134-116)
Wed. 16 ATLANTA (W 116-106)
Sat. 19 DALLAS (W 129-108)
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS (W 106-103)
Wed. 23 NEW YORK (L 106-121)
Fri. 25 UTAH (W 107-101)
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn (W 118-110)
Mon. 28 DENVER (L 109-113)
Wed. 30 at New York (W 125-114)
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia (L 114-144)
Tue. 5 at Miami 7:30
Thu. 7 ORLANDO 7:00
Fri. 8 at Chicago 8:00
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON 3:30

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Here’s the full Charlotte FC schedule for the 2022 season (with results):

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, 1:30 p.m.
April 16, at New England, 7:30 p.m.
April 23, at Colorado, 9 p.m.
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