5-16-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, High school baseball, softball, golf and girls soccer, College baseball, Legion baseball
By Richard Walker
Local players are on the rosters of three of the seven baseball teams in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals that begin play later this week.
North Greenville (45-8), the No. 1-ranked team in the country, is the No. 1 seed and host of the three-team Southeast Regional No. 1. Lenoir-Rhyne (44-11) is the No. 4 seed in that regional and plays UNC-Pembroke (38-15) on Thursday at noon. That winner advances to play North Greenville at 4 p.m. on Thursday. That double-elimination event could last until Saturday.
Wingate (46-8), the No. 5-ranked team in the country and the defending national champion, is the No. 2 seed and host of the four-team Southeast Regional No. 2. Wingate plays Young Harris (38-17) on Thursday at 3 p.m. while No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (34-17) meets No. 3 Columbus State (42-11) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The winning teams of each regional will advance to the NCAA Division II Southeast Super Regional on May 27-28, with that winner joining seven other super regional winners in the NCAA Division II World Series from June 4-11 at the USA Baseball National Training Center in Cary.
For North Greenville, Noah Ingle (Cherryville 2020 graduate) is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 10 appearances (two starts) and Cooper Sain (Cherryville 2019) also is on the Crusaders’ roster.
For Wingate, Logan McNeely (Crest 2017) is hitting .353 with four home runs and 42 RBIs in 41 games (37 starts), Austin Mitchell (North Gaston 2018) is 10-0 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts, Brent Walls (Cherryville 2020) is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in eight appearances (four starts) and Ben Hodge (Crest 2021) also is on the Bulldogs’ roster.
And for Belmont Abbey, Jackson Risk (South Point 2021) is hitting .269 with one home run and four RBIs in 10 games (six starts).
High school golf
Gaston Day School claimed its fifth team state championship this school year on Monday when the Spartans golf team won its first N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association title at Greensboro’s Bryan Park Champions Course.
Gaston Day was led by tournament medalist Seamus Bogan’s 70 and finished with a team score of 226 that was four strokes ahead of runner-up teams O’Neal School and Caldwell Academy.
Other Spartans’ scorers were Jack D’Amore (75) and Max Ginther (81).
High school baseball
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
High school softball
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 results:
(Class 3A)
South Point 9, Carson 0
Cramer 3, Freedom 1
Hickory 4, Forestview 0
St. Stephens 3, Crest 1
East Lincoln 7, West Rowan 0
(Class 2A)
Lincoln Charter 9, McMichael 0
Lincolnton 11, Burns 2
North Davidson 4, Shelby 0
East Gaston 7, West Wilkes 0
(Class 1A)
Mountain Island Charter 5, Highland Tech 0
Here are Thursday’s area second round pairings:
(Class 3A)
Cramer at South Point
Hickory at East Lincoln
(Class 2A)
Lincoln Charter at Wilkes Central
Madison at Lincolnton
Salisbury at East Gaston
(Class 1A)
Mountain Island Charter at Union Academy
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
Shelby’s Alvin Gentry has joined the Sacramento Kings in a full-time front office role as vice president and basketball engagement, according to NBA sources.
A 1973 Shelby High graduate, Gentry finished 2021-22 season as interim Kings head coach. He joined Sacramento general manager Monte McNair and other Kings’ front office staff at the NBA Draft Combine this week.
College baseball
Gaston College athletics had never been ranked in any National Junior College Athletic Association poll in any sport until this year. On Monday, the Rhinos’ baseball program learned they were ranked No. 12 in the final NJCAA Division II poll of the year. Previously, Gaston College had drawn final rankings of No. 5 in the PBR JUCO poll on May 2 and No. 5 in the www.thejbb.net poll on May 3.
The Rhinos finished 41-9 overall and 30-6 to win the NJCAA Division II West Division regular season title. As a first-year program, Gaston College was ineligible to compete in postseason competition.
ACC standings through May 15:
(Atlantic)
Notre Dame 15-9
Louisville 16-10-1
Florida State 15-12
N.C. State 14-12
Wake Forest 12-14-1
Clemson 10-16
Boston College 5-22
(Coastal)
Miami 18-9
Virginia Tech 16-9
Virginia 16-11
Pitt 13-13
Georgia Tech 12-15
North Carolina 12-15
Duke 10-17
This weekend’s 3-game series:
Boston College at Clemson
Duke at Virginia Tech
Florida State at North Carolina
Georgia Tech at Pitt
Notre Dame at Miami
Virginia at Louisville
Wake Forest at N.C. State
Off – Boston College, Georgia Tech
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 (Miami wins series 4-2)
2-Boston vs. 3-Milwaukee (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 (Dallas wins series 4-3)
2-Memphis vs. 3-Golden State (Golden State wins series 4-2)
FINALS
1-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)
The Carolina Hurricanes’ second round playoff schedule in their series against the New York Rangers:
Game 1 at Carolina: May 18
Game 2 at Carolina: May 20
Game 3 at New York: May 22
Game 4 at New York: May 24
Game 5 (if necessary) at Carolina: May 26
Game 6 (if necessary) at New York: May 28
Game 7 (if necessary) at Carolina: May 30
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 won the third game of their three-game series at the Staten Island Ferry Hawks with an 8-3 road win on Monday morning.
Gastonia (16-5), which leads the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, begins a six-game homestand on Tuesday against Southern Maryland.
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 (8-4)
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 (W 8-3)
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 Series Championship