5-15-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, High school baseball, softball and girls soccer, College baseball, Legion baseball
By Richard Walker
All eight area teams – four baseball and four softball – left in the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs have history in being this far in the postseason.
Entering Tuesday’s third round games, each team has advanced this far and six have made it as far as the regional finals.
In baseball, Cherryville and North Lincoln have previously won state championships and East Lincoln and Lincoln Charter have been Western runner-up finishers.
It’s the 26th time Cherryville has advanced to the third round of the playoffs – and the Ironmen are 18-7 in previous third round matchups.
Other third round records are North Lincoln 2-0, East Lincoln 3-3 and Lincoln Charter 2-2.
In softball, Cherryville has won a state title and Crest has been a state runner-up while East Lincoln and Mountain Island Charter had each advanced to the fourth round.
Cherryville is making its 15th third round advance and is 3-10 in its previous third round matchups.
Other third round records are East Lincoln 2-2, Crest 2-5 and Mountain Island Charter 1-0.
Tuesday’s area N.C. High School Athletic Association third round baseball playoff pairings:
(Class 3A)
West Henderson at North Lincoln
Carson at East Lincoln
(Class 2A)
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
(Class 1A)
East Wilkes at Cherryville
Tuesday’s area N.C. High School Athletic Association third round softball playoff pairings:
(Class 3A)
Hibriten at East Lincoln
North Davidson at Crest
(Class 1A)
Cherryville at South Stanly
Mountain Island Charter at East Wilkes
High school girls soccer
Here are Monday’s area first round pairings:
(Class 3A)
Carson at South Point
Cramer at Freedom
Forestview at Hickory
St. Stephens at Crest
West Rowan at East Lincoln
(Class 2A)
Burns at Lincolnton
Shelby at North Davidson
West Wilkes at East Gaston
(Class 1A)
Highland Tech at McMichael
College baseball
Belmont Abbey was selected to the NCAA Division II baseball tournament on Sunday night as an at-large team in Southeast Regional No. 2 that will be hosted by defending national champion Wingate.
The Crusaders (34-17) are the No. 6 seed in the region and will meet No. 3 seed Columbus State (42-11) in their opening matchup on Friday. Host Wingate (46-8) is the No. 2 seed and hosts No. 7 Young Harris (37-17) in the other game on Friday.
The four-team regional winner advances to a best-of-three super regional.
The Abbey is making its ninth all-time national tournament appearance – and seventh in NCAA Division II. Previous Crusaders’ appearances came in the 1966 and 1967 NAIA District 26 tournaments and in the 1968, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2018 NCAA Division II tournaments.
Belmont Abbey’s best two finishes came in 2009 and 2018; In 2009, the Crusaders won the regional before finishing third in the Division II World Series and in 2018, they were regional runner-up.
Legion baseball
The Gaston Braves Post 144-266 will hold tryouts for the 2022 season on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at East Gaston High School. Prospects, who can’t turn 19 before Jan. 1, 2022, are asked to print off, fill out and notarize American Legion Form 2 and bring it to the tryouts.
Pro basketball
Here’s the schedule for the NBA playoffs:
(Eastern Conference)
FIRST ROUND
1-Miami vs. 8-Atlanta (Miami wins series 4-1)
4-Philadelphia vs. 5-Toronto (Philadelphia wins series 4-2)
2-Boston vs. 7-Brooklyn (Boston wins series 4-0)
3-Milwaukee vs. 6-Chicago (Milwaukee wins series 4-1)
SEMIFINALS
1-Miami vs. 4-Philadelphia
Game 1 at Miami: May 2 (Miami 106-92)
Game 2 at Miami: May 4 (Miami 119-103)
Game 3 at Philadelphia: May 6 (Philadelphia 99-79)
Game 4 at Philadelphia: May 8 (Philadelphia 116-108)
Game 5 at Miami: May 10 (Miami 120-85)
Game 6 at Philadelphia: May 12 (Miami 99-90, Miami wins series 4-2)
2-Boston vs. 3-Milwaukee
Game 1 at Boston: May 1 (Milwaukee 101-89)
Game 2 at Boston: May 3 (Boston 109-86)
Game 3 at Milwaukee: May 7 (Milwaukee 103-101)
Game 4 at Milwaukee: May 9 (Boston 116-108)
Game 5 at Boston: May 11 (Milwaukee 110-107)
Game 6 at Milwaukee: May 13 (Boston 108-95)
Game 7 at Boston: May 15 (Boston 109-81, Boston wins series 4-3)
FINALS
1-Miami vs. 2-Boston
Game 1 at Miami: May 17
Game 2 at Miami: May 19
Game 3 at Boston: May 21
Game 4 at Boston: May 23
Game 5 (if necessary) at Miami: May 25
Game 6 (if necessary) at Boston: May 27
Game 7 (if necessary) at Miami: May 29
(Western Conference)
FIRST ROUND
1-Phoenix vs. 8-New Orleans (Phoenix wins series 4-2)
4-Dallas vs. 5-Utah (Dallas wins series 4-2)
2-Memphis vs. 7-Minnesota (Memphis wins series 4-2)
3-Golden State vs. 6-Denver (Golden State wins series 4-1)
SEMIFINALS
1-Phoenix vs. 4-Dallas
Game 1 at Phoenix: May 2 (Phoenix 121-114)
Game 2 at Phoenix: May 4 (Phoenix 126-114)
Game 3 at Dallas: May 6 (Dallas 103-94)
Game 4 at Dallas: May 8 (Dallas 111-101)
Game 5 at Phoenix: May 10 (Phoenix 110-80)
Game 6 at Dallas: May 12 (Dallas 113-86)
Game 7 at Phoenix: May 15 (Dallas 123-90, Dallas wins series 4-3)
2-Memphis vs. 3-Golden State
Game 1 at Memphis: May 1 (Golden State 117-116)
Game 2 at Memphis: May 3 (Memphis 106-101)
Game 3 at Golden State: May 7 (Golden State 123-107)
Game 4 at Golden State: May 9 (Golden State 101-98)
Game 5 at Memphis: May 11 (Memphis 134-95)
Game 6 at Golden State: May 13 (Golden State 110-96, Golden State wins series 4-2)
FINALS
4-Dallas vs. 3-Golden State
Game 1 at Golden State: May 18
Game 2 at Golden State: May 20
Game 3 at Dallas: May 22
Game 4 at Dallas: May 24
Game 5 (if necessary) at Golden State: May 26
Game 6 (if necessary): at Dallas: May 28
Game 7 (if necessary): at Golden State: May 30
Pro hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes’ first round playoff schedule in their series against the Boston Bruins:
Game 1 at Carolina: May 2 (Carolina 5-1)
Game 2 at Carolina: May 4 (Carolina 5-2)
Game 3 at Boston: May 6 (Boston 4-2)
Game 4 at Boston: May 8 (Boston 5-2)
Game 5 at Carolina: May 10 (Carolina 5-1)
Game 6 at Boston: May 12 (Boston 5-2)
Game 7 at Carolina: May 14 (Carolina 3-2, Carolina wins series 4-3)
Pro soccer
Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(4-7-1 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 (W 1-0)
May 14, Montreal (L 0-2)
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 split a doubleheader on Sunday at Staten Island – losing 2-1 in the opener and winning 1-0 in the nightcap – in the first two games of a three-game road series.
Gastonia (15-5), which leads the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, faces the Ferry Hawks today at 10 a.m.
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 (7-4)
1 Staten Island (W 10-5)
3 at York, Pa. (W 3-1)
4 at York, Pa. (L 4-5 in 10)
5 at York, Pa. (W 12-7)
6 at Staten Island (ppd.)
7 at Staten Island (ppd.)
8 at Staten Island (W 4-1)
8 at Staten Island (W 7-2)s
10 at So. Maryland (W 2-0)
11 at So. Maryland (L 0-4)
12 at So. Maryland (L 2-4)
13 at Staten Island (ppd.)
14 at Staten Island (ppd.)
15 at Staten Island (L 1-2)
15 at Staten Island (W 1-0)
16 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.
Auto racing
The 2022 NASCAR cup schedule (with winners):
Feb. 6 Busch Light Clash (Joey Logano)
Feb. 17 Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 (Brad Keselowski)
Feb. 17 Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 (Chris Buescher)
Feb. 20 Daytona 500 (Austin Cindric)
Feb. 27 Wise Power 400 (Kyle Larson)
Mar. 6 Pennzoil 400 (Alex Bowman)
Mar. 13 Ruoff Mortgage (Chase Briscoe)
Mar. 20 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (William Byron)
Mar. 27 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Ross Chastain)
Apr. 3 Toyota Owners (Denny Hamlin)
Apr. 9 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 (William Byron-2)
Apr. 17 Food City Dirt Race (Kyle Busch)
Apr. 24 Geico 500 (Ross Chastain-2)
May 2 DuraMAX Drydene 400 (Chase Elliott)
May 8 Goodyear 400 (Joey Logano)
May 15 AdventHealth 400 (Kurt Busch)
May 22 NASCAR All-Star Open
May 29 Coca-Cola 600
June 5 Enjoy Illinois 300
June 12 Toyota/Save Mart 350
June 26 Ally 400
July 3 Kwik Trip 250
July 10 Quaker State 400
July 17 Ambetter 301
July 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono
July 31 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Aug. 7 FireKeepers Casino 400
Aug. 14 Federated Auto Parts 400
Aug. 21 Go Bowling at The Glen
Aug. 27 Coke Zero Sugar 400
Sept. 4 Cook Out Southern 500
Sept. 11 Hollywood Casino 400
Sept. 17 Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Sept. 24 AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Oct. 2 YellaWood 500
Oct. 9 Bank of America ROVAL 400
Oct. 16 South Point 400
Oct. 23 Dixie Vodka 400
Oct. 30 Xfinity 500
Nov. 6 NASCAR Cup S