4-5-23 roundup: Pro basketball, soccer and baseball, High school baseball and softball, Middle school baseball and soccer

By Richard Walker

The Gaston County Baseball Championship will hold its 35th tournament next week at Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park.

Defending champion East Gaston is the host and four games are slated to be played next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

South Point is the winningest team in tourney history with 61 overall victories and eight championships.

North Gaston (57 victories, 6 championships) and East Gaston (56 victories, 6 championships) are close behind.

Here’s a list of previous tournament championship games:
1987 – North Gaston 6, East Gaston 3 (10 innings)
1988 – East Gaston 5, North Gaston 4
1989 – South Point 6, Kings Mountain 1
1990 – Kings Mountain 14, Hunter Huss 3
1991 – South Point 10, Hunter Huss 7
1992 – Kings Mountain 5, Hunter Huss 3
1993 – South Point 9, Bessemer City 3
1994 – Ashbrook 5, Cherryville 1
1995 – Kings Mountain 5, Cherryville 2
1996 – East Gaston 9, Ashbrook 6
1997 – North Gaston 1, East Gaston 0
1998 – North Gaston 4, East Gaston 3 (9 innings)
1999 – North Gaston 4, East Gaston 2
2000 – South Point 14, North Gaston 4
2001 – Cherryville 4, East Gaston 1
2002 – Forestview 9, Cherryville 1
2003 – East Gaston 6, South Point 4
2004 – Ashbrook 6, East Gaston 0
2005 – Ashbrook 13, Bessemer City 2
2006 – South Point 3, East Gaston 0
2007 – Cherryville 12, Bessemer City 5
2008 – East Gaston 5, South Point 4
2009 – Forestview 2, Cherryville 0
2010 – South Point 8, Forestview 1
2011 – North Gaston 3, Ashbrook 2
2012 – South Point 6, Forestview 0
2013 – Forestview 4, South Point 2
2014 – South Point 12, Highland Tech 6
2015 – Ashbrook 4, Forestview 3
2016 – East Gaston 4, Ashbrook 3
2017 – Cherryville 3, North Gaston 2 (9 innings)
2018 – North Gaston 3, South Point 1
2019 – Forestview 2, Ashbrook 1
2020 – no tournament (season stopped by coronavirus)
2021 – no tournament (season shortened by coronavirus)
2022 – East Gaston 7, North Gaston 0

Here’s the 2023 tournament pairings in addition to other tournament pairings involving area teams:

Gaston County Baseball Tournament (at Sims Legion Park, Gastonia)
Host: East Gaston
(Monday, April 10 – first round)
Highland Tech vs. North Gaston, 10 a.m.
Bessemer City vs. South Point, 1 p.m.
Forestview vs. Ashbrook, 4 p.m.
Cramer vs. East Gaston, 7 p.m.
(Tuesday, April 11 – consolation)
10 a.m., 1 p.m. April 10 losers, 10 a.m.
4 p.m, 7 p.m. April 10 losers, 1 p.m.
(Tuesday, April 11 – semifinals)
10 a.m., 1 p.m. April 10 winners, 4 p.m.
4 p.m, 7 p.m. April 10 winner, 7 p.m.
(Thursday, April 13 – consolations, final)
7th place, 10 a.m.
5th place, 1 p.m.
3rd place, 4 p.m.
Final, 7 p.m.

Shelby Easter Tournament (at Shelby HS)
(Monday, April 10 – first round)
Brevard vs. Kings Mountain, 4 p.m.
South Caldwell vs. Shelby, 7 p.m.
(Tuesday, April 11)
Piedmont vs. Burns, 4 p.m.
Bandys vs. Crest, 7 p.m.
(Wednesday, April 12)
Monday losers, 11 a.m.
Tuesday losers, 1:30 p.m.
Monday winners, 4 p.m.
Tuesday winners, 7 p.m.
(Thursday, April 13)
7th place, 11 a.m.
5th place, 1:30 p.m.
3rd place, 4 p.m.
Final, 7 p.m.

Beach Diamond Invitational (at West Brunswick HS)
(Monday, April 10 – first round)
West Columbus vs. Pine Lake Prep, 11 a.m.
Cox Mill vs. Southwest Guilford, 1:30 p.m.
Cherryville vs. West Stanly, 4 p.m.
West Brunswick vs. Cornerstone Charter, 6:30 p.m.

Catawba County Easter Tournament (at Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds)
(Monday, April 10 – first round)
Foard vs. West Lincoln, 11 a.m.
St. Stephens vs. Bunker Hill, 1:30 p.m.
Alexander Central vs. Newton-Conover, 4 p.m.
Hibriten vs. Hickory, 6:30 p.m.
(Tuesday, April 11)
Consolations and semifinals
(Wednesday, April 12)
Third place, 4 p.m.
Final, 6:30 p.m.

Myrtle Beach Invitational (at Ripken Complex)
(Tuesday, April 11)
East Lincoln vs. Maury, Va., 4 p.m.
(Wednesday, April 12)
East Lincoln vs. Highland Regional, N.J., 9 p.m.
North Lincoln vs. Sumter, S.C., Wilson Hall, 6:30 p.m.
(Thursday, April 13)
North Lincoln vs. Leonardtown, Md., St. Mary’s Ryken, 8:30 a.m.
East Lincoln vs. Bowling Green, Ohio, 11 a.m.
(Friday, April 14)
North Lincoln vs. Bay Village, Ohio, 11 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

(Wednesday, April 5)
North Gaston 6, Ashbrook 0: Caleb Cloninger (6 innings, 8 strikeouts), Wyatt McSwain (3 hits, double, triple) and Ashton Pope (home run) led North Gaston.

Cramer 14, Huss 4 (5 innings)

Hickory 7, East Lincoln 5: Isaac Armstrong (2 hits, 3-run home run), Matt Phuntek (1 hit, 1 RBI), Aiden Perkins (1 hit, 1 run) and Landon Burns (1 hit, 1 run) led East Lincoln.

Bandys 7, Lincolnton 4: Garett Hedgepeth had 2 hits and Karson Cloninger, Jacob Driggers, Caden Smith, Will Blackburn and Cole Kiser had 1 hit each for Lincolnton.

Pine Lake Prep 9, Mountain Island Charter 1

(Thursday, April 6)
South Point at Crest
Bessemer City at Thomas Jefferson
Cherryville at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Burns
North Lincoln at Statesville
Kings Mountain at Shelby
Gaston Christian at Gaston Day

(Friday, April 7)
West Lincoln at Bunker Hill
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

(Wednesday, April 5)
East Lincoln 12, Hickory 0 (5 innings): Leah Correll (4-hitter, 12 strikeouts), Taniyah Thomas (2 singles, triple, RBI, 2 runs), Betsy Eatmon (home run, 2 RBIs), Macie Robinson (single, RBI, stolen base), Lacy Graham (single, 3 runs) and Lyla Haywood (single, double, 2 RBIs) led East Lincoln.

Chase 16, Shelby 2

Piedmont Community Charter 29, Sugar Creek 10 (3 innings): A Harris (4 hits, double, 5 RBIs), G East (3 hits, double, home run, 5 RBIs) and J East (3 hits, 2 home runs, 7 RBIs) led Piedmont Community Charter.

Pine Lake Prep 5, Mountain Island Charter 4

West Lincoln 6, Patton 3

(Thursday, April 6)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Cramer at North Gaston
Huss at Crest
Bessemer City at Thomas Jefferson
Cherryville at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Burns
North Lincoln at Statesville
Bandys at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at Bunker Hill
Lincoln Charter at Providence

(Friday, April 7)
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school girls soccer

(Wednesday’s game)
South Point 7, Forestview 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school baseball

Standings through games of April 5:
Belmont 6-0
Chavis 5-0
Stanley 5-1
Cramerton 4-1
Mount Holly 3-1
W.C. Friday 3-2
Holbrook 1-4
Bessemer City 1-5
Grier 0-4
Southwest 0-5
York Chester 0-5

(Wednesday’s game)
Bessemer City 15, Grier 0

Stanley 14, Holbrook 0: Jack Scholz threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and Scholz, Bryson Summey, Caleb Smith, Blake Wilkinson, Devin Phillips, Cam Stillwell and Case Nixon all had hits for Stanley.

Belmont 7, W.C. Friday 6: Jackson Penley and Lane Lineberger combined for the pitching win to Belmont and Carter Rowe and Jacob Somers had 3 hits and Lineberger 2 hits for the Wildcats’ offense.

(Thursday’s games)
Southwest at Mount Holly, Stanley at Holbrook, York Chester at Grier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school girls soccer

Standings through games of April 5:
Belmont 5-0-x
W.C. Friday 4-0-x
Stanley 5-1
Cramerton 4-1
Mount Holly 3-1
Chavis 3-2
Holbrook 2-3
Grier 1-3
Southwest 0-5
York Chester 0-5
Bessemer City 0-6
x-missing Wednesday result

(Wednesday’s game)
Grier 2, Bessemer City 1

Stanley 4, Holbrook 0: Kayla Maiers and Alexa Cloniger had 2 goals each for Stanley.

Belmont at W.C. Friday, no report

(Thursday’s games)
Southwest at Mount Holly, York Chester at Grier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(26-54 record)
October
19 at San Antonio (W 129-102)
21 New Orleans (L 112-124)
23 at Atlanta (W 126-109)
26 at New York (L 131-134, OT)
28 at Orlando (L 93-113)
29 Golden State (W 120-113, OT)
31 Sacramento (L 108-115)
November
2 at Chicago (L 88-106)
4 at Memphis (L 99-130)
5 Brooklyn (L 94-98)
7 Washington (L 100-108)
9 Portland (L 95-105)
10 at Miami (L 112-117, OT)
12 at Miami (L 115-132)
14 at Orlando (W 112-105)
16 Indiana (L 113-125)
18 at Cleveland (L 122-132, 2 OT)
20 at Washington (L 102-106)
23 Philadelphia (W 107-101)
25 Minnesota (W 110-108)
28 at Boston (L 105-140)
December
2 Washington (W 117-116)
3 Milwaukee (L 96-105)
5 L.A. Clippers (L 117-119)
7 at Brooklyn (L 116-122)
9 New York (L 102-121)
11 at Philadelphia (L 113-131)
14 Detroit (L 134-141, OT)
16 Atlanta (L 106-125)
18 at Denver (L 115-119)
19 at Sacramento (W 125-119)
21 at L.A. Clippers (L 105-126)
23 at L.A. Lakers (W 134-130)
26 at Portland (L 113-124)
27 at Golden State (L 105-110)
29 Oklahoma City (W 121-113)
31 Brooklyn (L 106-123)
January
2 L.A. Lakers (L 115-121)
4 Memphis (L 107-131)
6 at Milwaukee (W 138-109)
8 at Indiana (L 111-116)
10 at Toronto (L 120-132)
12 at Toronto (L 114-124)
14 Boston (L 106-122)
16 Boston (L 118-130)
18 at Houston (W 122-117)
21 at Atlanta (W 122-118)
23 at Utah (L 102-120)
24 at Phoenix (L 97-128)
26 Chicago (W 111-96)
29 Miami (W 122-117)
31 at Milwaukee (L 115-124)
February
2 at Chicago (L 98-114)
3 at Detroit (L 112-118)
5 Orlando (L 113-119)
8 at Washington (L 104-118)
10 at Boston (L 116-127)
11 Denver (L 105-119)
13 Atlanta (W 144-138)
15 San Antonio (W 120-110)
24 at Minnesota (W 121-113)
25 Miami (W 108-103)
27 Detroit (W 117-106)
March
1 Phoenix (L 91-105)
3 Orlando (L 106-117)
5 at Brooklyn (L 86-102)
7 at New York (W 112-105)
9 at Detroit (W 113-103)
11 Utah (L 111-119)
12 Cleveland (L 114-118)
14 Cleveland (L 104-120)
17 Philadelphia (L 82-121)
20 Indiana (W 115-109)
23 at New Orleans (L 96-115)
24 at Dallas (W 117-109)
26 Dallas (W 110-104)
28 at Oklahoma City (W 137-134)
31 Chicago (L 91-121)
April
2 Toronto (L 108-128)
4 Toronto (L 100-120)
7 Houston, 7 p.m.
9 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Wednesday’s Charlotte Knights at Columbus Clippers game was postponed due to inclement weather. The six-game series continues on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. with the two teams playing a doubleheader on Friday at 4:35 p.m. to makeup the Wedensday contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule:

(1-3-2 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, 9:30 p.m.
April 15 Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
April 22 Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, 7 p.m. on FOX
Apr 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville VA, 3 p.m. on FS1
Apr 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 3 p.m. on FOX
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

The 2023 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame will hold induction ceremonies on May 22 at the Gastonia Conference Center.

University of North Carolina head football coach Mack Brown will be the featured speaker for the 5 p.m. event.

GCSHOF inductees for the 2023 class are Dallas’ Chastity Friday, Gastonia’s Bill Eccles and Chuck Niemeyer, Stanley’s Doyt Morris and John Rudisill. (Stories on each inductee will be posted on www.CarolinasSportsHub.com in the coming months.)

Additionally, the GCSHOF will host a golf fundraiser on Friday, May 19 at Lincoln Country Club.

Tickets are $40 each for the banquet and can be bought at the following locations – Medical Center Pharmacy and Essic Sport Shop in Gastonia, Penley & Associates in Dallas and South State Bank in Stanley.

The golf outing will feature a 9 a.m. shotgun start and admission to enter is $100 per person or $400 per foursome. For information, call Phil Cherry at 704-860-4967.

Proceeds from the banquet, silent auction and golf tournament will help support the Autism Society of Gaston County, Hope 4 Gaston, and Gaston County Schools/Caromont Health Athletic Trainers.