5-1-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, High school baseball, softball and tennis, College lacrosse, tennis and baseball, Middle school baseball and girls soccer, Legion baseball
By Richard Walker
The high school baseball and softball seasons are winding to a close as the regular season has ended for four of the six conferences with teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.
Championships have already been won by Burns (Southern Piedmont 1A/2A baseball and softball), Lincoln Charter (Catawba Shores 1A/2A baseball) and West Lincoln (Catawba Valley 2A softball) and have already been clinched by East Lincoln (Western Foothills 3A softball) and North Lincoln (Western Foothills 3A baseball).
Local teams will win two more titles and have a chance for a third.
In the Big South 3A, Kings Mountain clinches the baseball title with a win in either of its two games with Crest and Crest clinches the softball title with a win in any of its last three league games.
In the Western Foothills 3A, East Lincoln can force a three-way tie by defeating North Lincoln with North Lincoln and the winner of Monday’s Foard-St. Stephens game.
Here are the standings for baseball and softball teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties and this week’s schedule:
(Baseball)
Big South 3A
Kings Mountain 11-1, 16-4
Crest 10-2, 15-6
South Point 8-4, 12-7
North Gaston 8-4, 11-8
Forestview 6-6, 10-10
Cramer 4-8, 10-11
Ashbrook 1-11, 8-14
Huss 0-12, 1-17
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Burns 11-1, 19-3
East Gaston 10-2, 18-5
Cherryville 8-4, 13-3
Shelby 7-5, 13-9
Highland Tech 3-9, 7-14
Bessemer City 3-9, 4-15
Thomas Jefferson 0-12, 1-14
Western Foothills 3A
North Lincoln 11-2, 16-4
East Lincoln 10-3, 164
Foard 10-3, 14-5
St. Stephens 9-4, 18-5
Hickory 6-7, 9-10
North Iredell 4-9, 9-11
West Iredell 2-11, 3-15
Statesville 0-13, 0-18
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys 12-2, 17-7
Lincolnton 11-3, 13-7
Bunker Hill 9-5, 10-10
West Lincoln 9-5, 10-13
Maiden 7-7, 8-13
East Burke 5-9, 5-14
Newton-Conover 3-11, 5-15
West Caldwell 0-14, 2-21
Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Lincoln Charter 9-1, 17-4
Pine Lake Prep 7-3, 15-7
Comm. Davidson 6-4, 11-6
Christ the King 3-7, 7-8
Langtree Charter 3-7, 10-12
Mtn Isl Charter 2-8, 6-11
Metro 1A
Queen’s Grant 8-2, 9-6
Bradford Prep 8-2, 10-10
Corvian Comm 7-3, 7-11
Piedmont CC 5-5, 8-8
Carolina Intl 2-8, 4-13
Sugar Creek 0-10 ,0-10
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday)
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
(Tuesday)
Forestview at Cramer
Huss at Ashbrook
Kings Mountain at Crest
North Gaston at South Point
(Wednesday)
East Rutherford at South Point
(Friday)
Ashbrook at Huss
Cramer at Forestview
Crest at Kings Mountain
South Point at North Gaston
Southern Piedmont tournament
(Tuesday)
Thomas Jefferson at East Gaston
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Shelby
(Wednesday)
BC-Cville winner vs. TJ-EG winner
HT-Shelby winner at Burns
(Friday)
Championship
Catawba Valley tournament
(Monday)
West Caldwell at Bandys
Maiden at West Lincoln/Bunker Hill
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton
East Burke at West Lincoln/Bunker Hill
(Wednesday)
Semifinals
(Friday)
Championship
(Softball)
Big South 3A
Crest 11-0, 18-2
Cramer 10-2, 17-3
North Gaston 9-3, 12-9
Kings Mountain 7-5, 9-10
Forestview 5-6, 12-8
South Point 3-8, 4-13
Ashbrook 1-10, 1-12
Huss 0-12, 0-14
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Burns 11-1, 18-3
Cherryville 10-2, 13-7
East Gaston 9-3, 10-11
Highland Tech 5-6, 8-7
Shelby 4-8, 5-12
Bessemer City 1-11, 3-13
Thomas Jefferson 1-10, 1-12
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 13-0, 18-0
North Lincoln 11-2, 17-6
St. Stephens 8-4, 12-7
Foard 9-4, 9-9
North Iredell 4-9, 6-13
Hickory 3-10, 5-17
West Iredell 3-10, 3-13
Statesville 0-12, 0-13
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys 13-1, 18-4
West Lincoln 13-1, 17-5
Maiden 9-4, 12-7
East Burke 8-6, 10-11
West Caldwell 5-7, 9-12
Lincolnton 5-9, 7-14
Bunker Hill 2-12, 2-15
Newton-Conover 0-13, 0-13
Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Lincoln Charter 7-1, 12-4
Mtn Isl Charter 7-1, 11-5
Pine Lake Prep 4-4, 10-7
Comm. Davidson 2-6, 2-8
Langtree Charter 0-8, 1-16
Metro 1A
Queen’s Grant 6-1, 12-10
Piedmont CC 5-1, 10-4
Sugar Creek 0-4, 0-4
Bradford 0-5, 0-7
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday)
Forestview at Crest
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
(Tuesday)
Cramer at North Gaston
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
(Friday)
Crest at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Cramer
Huss at Ashbrook
North Gaston at South Point
Southern Piedmont tournament
(Tuesday’s quarterfinals)
Thomas Jefferson at Cherryville
Bessemer City at East Gaston
Shelby at Highland Tech
(Wednesday’s semifinals)
TJ-Cherryville vs. BC-EG winner
Shelby-HT winner at Burns
(Friday)
Championship
Catawba Valley tournament
(Monday’s quarterfinals)
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
West Caldwell at East Burke
Bunker Hill at Bandys
Lincolnton at Maiden
(Tuesday at Lenoir-Rhyne)
Semifinals
(Thursday at Lenoir-Rhyne)
Championship
College athletics
Belmont Abbey won two Conference Carolinas championships on Sunday, as the Crusaders won their second straight men’s lacrosse title while the men’s tennis team won the title for the first time in school history.
In lacrosse, the Crusaders topped Mount Olive 12-6 in Wilson as league Offensive Player of the Year Austin Hasen posted a game-high five points on one goal and four assists while Noah Haas, who joined Hasen on the all-tournament team, added three points on two goals and an assist and Noah Sexton matched him. Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Thomas Sullivan, made 14 saves in goal for the Crusaders and limited the Trojans to just two second half tallies. Pat Doering also made all-tournament for the Abbey.
In tennis, a program that has been league runner-up three times since 2017, knocked off Mount Olive 4-2 to win its historic title in Sumter, S.C., behind Andres Golindano, who was named the league most outstanding player at the 2022 championships. Joining Golindano on the all-tournament team for the Crusaders were Nelson Stafford and Zachary Blythe. The victory also gives the Abbey its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2001.
College baseball
On a day the first-year Gaston College baseball program honored 10 pioneer players, not even a 10-4 loss to Region 10 Division I champion Florence-Darlington Tech could dampen the spirits of the nationally-ranked Division II Rhinos. Before Sunday’s game, 10 sophomores playing their only season for the Rhinos were honored – third baseman Chandler Riley, first baseman Ahmir Cournier, catcher Patrick Hogan, infielder Logan Rose and pitchers Christian Baker, Alex Hall, Gus Hughes, Marlowe Iorio, Hayden Myrick and Zach Zedalis.
“I’m really proud of the sophomores we recognized and all that they’ve achieved,” said Gaston College coach Shohn Doty, whose team closes its season on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at home against USC Sumter. “We’ve played a great schedule and whether we finish 41-9 or 40-10, we’ve had a helluva year. And those 10 guys made it happen.”
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 (Milwaukee 101-89)
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
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 (Golden State 117-116)
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 hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes’ first round playoff schedule in their series against the Boston Bruins:
Game 1 at Carolina: May 2
Game 2 at Carolina: May 4
Game 3 at Boston: May 6
Game 4 at Boston: May 8
Game 5 at Carolina (if necessary): May 10
Game 6 at Boston (if necessary): May 12
Game 7 at Carolina (if necessary): May 14
Pro soccer
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 completed a 9-1 homestand with their ninth straight victory, 10-5 over the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, on a Sunday in which history was set at CaroMont Health Park.
Staten Island started Kelsie Whitmore in left field, which made her the first female player to play in an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball contest.
For the Honey Hunters, former Forestview High standout Reilly Hovis started and went four innings with six strikeouts while yielding two hits.
Gastonia begins a 12-game road trip on Tuesday at York, Pa.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
April (9-1)
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.