4-6-23 roundup: Pro basketball, soccer, golf and baseball, High school baseball, softball, golf and soccer, College basketball, Middle school baseball, soccer and track
By Richard Walker
Cramer High School boys golfer Aiden Vargosko and his teammates set a N.C. High School Athletic Association record for single day individual and team excellence on Tuesday at Cramer Mountain Country Club.
Vargosko set records best 9-hole score (27) and best 18-hole score (61) for a round in non-NCHSAA championship play history that was highlighted by his hole-in-one on No. 12.
And led by Vargosko’s 61, the Storm set a an 18-hole team score record of 268.
In addition to Vargosko, Rich Wills shot a 66, Harrison Rowland a 69 and Luke Mingus a 72.
The team score broke a record set in 2013 by Forestview (270) by Will Long (66), Alex Taylor (66), Drew Jurs (67) and Will Blalock (71) at Crowders Mountain Golf Club.
College basketball
One of the winningest women’s basketball coaches in Gardner-Webb history, Alex Simmons, resigned on Thursday to accept the head coaching position at the University of Memphis.
Simmons recently completed her fifth season in charge of the Runnin’ Bulldogs and posted a 90-59 overall record (.604 winning percentage).
“We want to congratulate Alex on her appointment as the head coach at Memphis and wish her well,” Gardner-Webb Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich said in a school news release. “The contributions over five seasons were impactful and positive on campus and in the community. Gardner-Webb women’s basketball has a bright future and we are confident our next head coach will continue to raise this program to new heights.”
Gardner-Webb advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament for the second time in school history – and first since 2011 – this past season when it went 29-5 overall and completed the first unbeaten season (18-0 regular season and 3-0 in conference tournament) in Big South Conference history.
Pro golf
Former Forestview High standout Harold Varner III shot an even par 72 in the first round of The Masters in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday.
A 2008 Forestview High graduate, Varner tees off at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
It’s Varner’s second appearance in the PGA’s most prestigious tournament; He shot a three-over-par 291 to finish tied for 23rd in the 2022 event.
High school baseball
(Thursday, April 6)
Crest 5, South Point 3: Tyler Smart pitched a complete game, Vari Green and Zack Rayfield had 2 hits apiece with Ethan Hayes, Houston Cook, and Asher Smith adding 1 hit with Asher hitting a home run and a Cook a 2-run double.
Thomas Jefferson 11, Bessemer City 10
Cherryville 6, East Gaston 0: Eli Newsome was the winning pitcher for Cherryville.
Burns 10, Highland Tech 0 (5 innings)
North Lincoln 12, Statesville 0 (5 innings)
Gaston Christian 11, Gaston Day 1
West Lincoln 10, Bunker Hill 1
(Friday, April 7)
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Pine Lake Prep at Mountain Island Charter
High school softball
(Thursday, April 6)
Kings Mountain 15, Ashbrook 0
North Gaston 8, Cramer 7
Crest 12-15, Huss 0-0
Bessemer City 18, Thomas Jefferson 0
Cherryville 12, East Gaston 11: Winning pitcher Raylei Gidney, Emma Proctor (3 hits, 1 RBI), Laila Davis (3 hits, 1 RBI), Riley Bryant (3 hits, 1 RBI), Landyn McBride (2 hits, 3 RBIs) and Lexi McSwain (2 hits, 2 RBIs) led Cherryville.
Burns 10, Highland Tech 0 (6 innings): Sayge Strange (2-hitter, 9 strikeouts, 2 hits, double, 3 RBIs), Laylah Haynes (2 hits, 1 RBI), Hunter Morgan (2 hits), Peyton Cook (2 hits), Chloe Hull (2 hits, 3 RBIs) and Esynce Howze (2 hits, 1 RBI) led Burns.
North Lincoln 16, Statesville 1
Bandys 12, Lincolnton 0
Piedmont Community Charter 9, Gaston Christian 3: Grace East (3 hits, 1 RBI), Abigale Harris (3 hits, 2 RBIs) and winning pitcher Ashton Kenna led Piedmont Community Charter.
(Friday, April 7)
Lincoln Charter at Langtree Charter
High school girls soccer
(Thursday’s game)
Crest 7, Huss 1
Middle school baseball
Standings through games of April 6:
Belmont 6-0
Chavis 5-0
Stanley 5-1
Cramerton 4-1
Mount Holly 4-1
W.C. Friday 3-2
Holbrook 1-4
Bessemer City 1-5
Grier 0-4-x
York Chester 0-5-x
Southwest 0-6
(Wednesday’s games)
Bessemer City 15, Grier 0: Gavyn Manion threw a no-hitter with 9 strikeouts and Chris Ellis had 2 hits including a triple for Bessemer City.
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)
Mount Holly def. Southwest
York Chester at Grier, no report
(April 17 games)
Chavis at Belmont, Cramerton at York Chester, W.C. Friday at Stanley, Grier at Southwest, Holbrook at Mount Holly
Middle school girls soccer
Standings through games of April 6:
Belmont 6-0
Stanley 5-1
Cramerton 4-1
W.C. Friday 4-1
Mount Holly 4-1
Chavis 3-2
Holbrook 2-3
Grier 1-3-x
York Chester 0-5-x
Bessemer City 0-6
Southwest 0-6
x-missing Thursday 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 6, W.C. Friday 0
(Thursday’s games)
Mount Holly 9, Southwest 0: Mallory Hall and Chloe Robinson had 4 goals apiece, Anna Lutmer had 1 goal and Daniela Tejada had the shutout in goal.
York Chester at Grier, no report
(April 17 games)
Chavis at Belmont, Cramerton at York Chester, W.C. Friday at Stanley, Grier at Southwest, Holbrook at Mount Holly
Middle school track
(Wednesday meet)
Boys: Belmont 94, Southwest 37, Holbrook 33, Stanley 20
Girls: Belmont 79, Holbrook 60, Stanley 29, Southwest 16
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
Columbus 4, Charlotte 3 (10 innings): The Clippers scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to snap Charlotte’s three-game winning streak. Charlotte (3-2) continues the six-game road series against Columbus with a doubleheader on Friday that starts at 4:35 p.m.
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