5-23-23 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer, High school baseball, softball and soccer, Hall of Fame, Legion baseball, College baseball and softball, NASCAR

By Richard Walker

The featured speaker for the 2023 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame banquet on Monday was University of North Carolina head football coach Mack Brown.

But Brown spent much of his speech discussing the talent, work ethic and resilience of former Ashbrook High standout British Brooks.

Brooks, a 2018 Ashbrook High graduate, introduced Brown as the event’s feature speaker.

And Brown, who has been a head coach at Tulane, North Carolina, Texas and North Carolina again, admitted he didn’t know anything about Brooks when he returned to coach the Tar Heels in the 2019 season.

But Brooks, who began his career at UNC as a recruited walk-on in 2018, quickly made an impression on his head coach.

“I think about the journey that British Brooks is on,” Brown told the audience at the Gastonia Conference Center. “He had scholarships out of high school but he wanted to play at North Carolina.
“I didn’t know who he was. Then, all of a sudden, he’s starting on four special teams and he’s one of the hardest working guys on the team and he’s a special teams captain.
“Then we gave him a scholarship and he ends up being a team captain and was to be our starting running back last year as a senior.”

However, Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury during a preseason practice session and didn’t play in the 2022 season.

“I’m crushed because of everything he had accomplished and I knew how much he meant to our team,” Brown said. “But for all the bad things COVID gave us, colleges giving all of the players an extra year of eligibility because of COVID was a good thing.
“And British is coming back because os it. And I’m delighted he’s back.”

Then Brown motioned to Brooks and said, “Thank you for who are and what you do. British, you area in our Hall of Fame.”

Brooks, who picked up 2,834 yards rushing in two years at Ashbrook in 2016 and 2017, has picked up 461 yards with five touchdowns with 17 tackles and one blocked kick in 40 games so far in his Tar Heels’ career.

After Brown’s speech, a five-person class was officially introduced as the 33th induction class.

– Former major leaguer

Doyt Morris died on July 4, 1984 but his memory has lived on as the first major leaguer from old Stanley High School to play in the major leagues.

Morris, who played for old Philadelphia Athletics in 1937, first gained local fame locally as a member of Gastonia American Legion Post 23’s state championship-winning baseball teams in 1932 and 1933. And later gained statewide fame playing basketball and baseball at Wake Forest College in the 1930s and playing five minor league seasons in the old Coastal Plain League before returning home to Stanley and playing and managing in the old Gaston County textile leagues.

“My dad was a pretty private guy,” said Ted Morris, a former Stanley High multi-sport athlete who accepted his father’s induction. “The things we learned about him came mostly from clippings my mother had saved.”

– Coach’s coach

Bill Eccles has spent most of his life in his native Gastonia.

He’s also become a giant in the football, wrestling, tennis and softball coaching profession at Gastonia’s Ashbrook High School.

“He’s a man who has impacted so many things in my life and in the lives so many athletes he coached,” said Orstell Barnett, a former Ashbrook High and Gardner-Webb football standout who inducted Eccles.

A 1966 graduate of Gastonia’s old Ashley High School, Eccles coached two years at Gaston Day School early in that school’s history before spending more than 30 years at Ashbrook where the football stadium field is named in his honor.

“I’ve lived in Gastonia for 70 years,” said Eccles, who guided Ashbrook to 89 victories as a head football coach, was an assistant for two football state championship teams and led the Green Wave to 287 dual team wrestling victories. “So I know many of the people who have been in the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame. I’m humbled to be a part of this.”

– Family ties

Chastity Friday opened her speech saying she wouldn’t be able to look at the table in front of her that was filled with family members for fear she’d get too emotional after her older brother Antonia Friday inducted her.

It’s because she credits her family with pushing her to athletic success in junior high, high school, college and professionally on the basketball court. A 1991 North Gaston High graduate who is that school’s three-year all-time scoring leader, Chastity Friday would help Louisburg College to two national championship games (winning one title), a two-year career at Mississippi State of the SEC and a season in the European Women’s Basketball League.

“There were six of us and we all played athletics,” Chastity Friday said while motioning to her family. “This award wouldn’t have happened without all of you guys.”

Her father also helped her raise her son Mykel Davis as she pursued her dream of playing professionally.

It also came during a post-athletic career that includes Chastity Friday coaching middle school and high school athletics in addition to becoming Gaston County’s first African-American Deputy Clerk of Court (Civil Division) and the first African-American female magistrate.

– Swim training carries on

Chuck Niemeyer admits he’s life a bit of a charmed life with all the experiences he’s had.

But he also shared how the arduous training regimen his preferred sport of swimming demands had helped prepare him for everything he’s ever encountered.

“Chuck is a Patriot who remains a leader for the N.C. State swimming program,” said his inductor R. Kelly Barnhill, Jr., who was Neimeyer roommate and teamamte at N.C. State.

A 1985 Ashbrook High graduate where he was the school’s swimming MVP, Niemeyer would become a 4-time All-ACC selection and 2-time team captain at N.C. State while also qualifying him for NCAA national championships and U.S. Olympic team trials. Later Niemeyer became involved with sports medicine and also was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq for the U.S. Naval Reserve Medical Service Corps.

“How did swimming help me?” Niemeyer said. “Training at 5 in the morning and studying late at night taught the kind of discipline that helped in all I’ve ever been involved with, especially as a military officer.”

Niemeyer said it all started in Gastonia, first at Gastonia’s Southampton Racquet Club and later at the old Gastonia YMCA swimming pool where he was once coached by 2020 GCSHOF inductee Charlotte Whitesides.

– Lifelong direction

John Rudisill says he has felt the influence of the Almighty in his career paths ever since he was 4 years old.

A standout athlete and coach, Rudisill is a 1966 Stanley High graduate who was inducted by his son J.R. Rudisill and daughter Lee Ellen Rudisill Oeser.

“Our entire childhood was watching him lead his teams to national titles,” J.R. said of his father’s many youth football coaching championships.

Added Lee Ellen: “My brother and I have hear all those stories about how important he was as an influence on the lives of his players.”

John Rudisill was a three-sport star at Stanley who played college baseball at the University of North Carolina, recreation softball for teams in Belmont, Charlotte, Denver, Gastonia, Kings Mountain and Shelby before coaching youth football in Gastonia and Stanley.

“I was placed where I’ve needed to be placed my whole life,” he said.

– Notes

With Brown as speaker and John Rudisill as one of the inductees, there was a large contingent of North Carolina Tar Heels at Monday’s banquet. They included current North Carolina player Cedric Gray, former Tar Heels football players Ken Craven and Lewis Jolley, former North Carolina baseball-football player Paul Miller, former Tar Heels baseball players Eddie Hill, Dave Lemonds, Ron Lemonds, Skip Hull, Harry Bryant, Bruce Bolick, Danny Denton and Terry Ratchford and former North Carolina basketball players Phil Ford and Al Wood….

Former Catawba athletic standout Jerry Maye was another standout to attend Monday’s ceremony. Maye’s son Mark was a quarterback at North Carolina and Mark’s sons Luke is a former Tar Heels basketball player, Beau is a current North Carolina baseball player, Cole is a former Florida baseball player and Drake is the Tar Heels’ current quarterback and considered a 2023 Heisman Trophy favorite in addition to a top NFL draft prospect….

The GCSHOF remembered the passing of two of its inductees who died this season – 2008 inductee Gayle Waldrop Fulbright (March 11, 2023) and 2016 inductee Wilbur Howard (Dec. 17, 2022)….

The GCSHOF announced five other award winners on Monday night – Bessemer City’s Michael Meeks, Sr., won the Bennie Cunningham Fan of the Year Award, Richard Walker won the David Poole Service Award, Regina Moody of Belmont’s Holy Angels won the Marshall Rauch Humanitarian Service Award, North Gaston High’s Caroline Allred won the Dr. Buddy Whitesides FCA Student-Athlete Award and Cherryville’s Lee Roy Montgomery won the For The Love Of The Game Award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

(Tuesday’s games)
Cleveland 9, Gastonia 0: Caleb Summey threw a no-hitter with 4 strikeouts for Cleveland County and Parker Ramsey (3 hits, double, 1 RBI) and Steven Spaes (triple) led the Post 82-155 offense.

Lincoln at Hickory, no report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College softball

The full first round NJCAA Division I World Series pairings (with seeding, district title won followed by team and record):

(Tuesday, May 23)
Game 1: No. 1 Southwest A- Odessa, Tex. (51-4) vs. No. 16 Southeast- Gordon State, Ga. (23-22) – Odessa 3-1
Game 2: No. 8 Plains- Butler, Kansas (45-10) vs. Rocky Mountain- No. 9 Southern Idaho (45-16) – Butler 4-1
Game 3: No. 5 South Atlantic B- Northwest Florida State (52-9) vs. West- No. 12 Eastern Arizona (44-11)
Game 4: No. 4 Appalachian- Walters State, Tenn. (52-2) vs. Mid-South A- No. 13 Angelina, Tex. (27-21)

(Wednesday, May 24
Game 5: No. 3 South- Wallace State, Ala. (51-5) vs. Central- No. 14 Kaskaskia, Ill. (47-16), 1 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 6: No. 6 Southwest B- Grayson, Tex. (46-7) vs. Mid-South B- No. 11 Bossier Parrish, La. (45-15), 1 p.m. ET Field 2
Game 7: No. 7 South Central- Seminole State, Okla. (42-6) vs. Midwest- No. 10 Indian Hills, Iowa (45-8), 1 p.m. ET Field 4
Game 8: No. 2 South Atlantic A- Florida SouthWestern (49-5) vs. Mid-Atlantic- No. 15 Gaston College (43-8), 3 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 9: Gordon State, Ga. vs. Southern Idaho, 5 p.m. ET Field 2
Game 10: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 5 p.m. ET Field 4
Game 11: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 5 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 12: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 7 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 13: Odessa, Tex. vs. Butler, Kansas, 3 p.m. ET Field 2
Game 14: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3 p.m. ET Field 4
Game 15: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m. ET Field 2
Game 16: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m. ET Field 4

(Thursday, May 25)
Game 17: Game 14 loser vs. Game 11 winner, 11 a.m. ET Field 2
Game 18: Game 13 loser vs. Game 12 winner, 11 a.m. ET Field 4
Game 19: Game 16 loser vs. Game 9 winner, 1 p.m. ET Field 4
Game 20: Game 15 loser vs. Game 10 winner, 1 p.m. ET Field 2
Game 21: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 11 a.m. ET Signature Field
Game 22: Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 1 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 23: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 3 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 24: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 3 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 25: Game 21 loser vs. Game 23 winner, 7 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 26: Game 22 loser vs. Game 24 winner, 7 p.m. ET Signature Field

(Friday, May 26)
Game 27: Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner, 1 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 28: Game 25 winner vs. Game 26 winner, 3 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 29: Game 28 winner vs. Game 27 loser, 6 p.m. ET Signature Field

(Saturday, May 27)
Game 30: Game 27 winner vs. Game 29 winner, 1 p.m. ET Signature Field
Game 31 (if necessary): If Game 27 winner loses Game 30, approximately 3 p.m. Signature Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College baseball

This week’s Big South Conference pairings for the postseason league tournament at High Point’s Truist Point:

(Thursday, May 25)
Game 1: No. 1 Campbell (41-13, 22-5) vs. No. 4 Gardner-Webb (31-23, 15-12), 1:00 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 USC Upstate (36-20, 21-6) vs. No. 3 Winthrop (17-12, 15-12), 5:00 p.m.

(Friday, May 26)
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11:00 a.m. (elimination game)
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:00 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 7:00 p.m. (elimination game)

(Saturday, May 27)
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, noon – ESPNU
Game 7: If Necessary: 4:00pm

This week’s ACC tournament at Durham Bulls Athletic Park:

Pool A teams: 1-seed Wake Forest, 8-seed Notre Dame, 12-seed Pittsburgh
Pool B teams: 2-seed Virginia, 7-seed North Carolina, 11-seed Georgia Tech
Pool C teams: 3-seed Clemson, 6-seed Boston College, 10-seed Virginia Tech
Pool D teams: 4-seed Miami, 5-seed Duke, 9-seed NC State

(Tuesday, May 23)
Game 1: Virginia Tech vs. Boston College – Boston College 11-7
Game 2: Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina – North Carolina 11-5
Game 3: N.C. State vs. Duke, 7 p.m. on ACC Network
(Wednesday, May 24)
Game 4: Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m. on ACC Network
Game 5: Virginia vs. Georgia Tech, 3 p.m. on ACC Network
Game 6: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. on ACC Network
(Thursday, May 25)
Game 7: Wake Forest vs. Pittsburgh, 11 a.m. on ACC Network
Game 8: North Carolina vs. Virginia, 3 p.m. on ACC Network
Game 9: Miami vs. N.C. State, 7 p.m. on ACC Network
(Friday, May 26)
Game 10: Boston College vs. Clemson, 11 a.m. on ACC Network
Game 11: Duke vs. Miami, 3 p.m. on ACC Network
Game 12: Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest, 7 p.m. on ACC Network
le (Saturday, May 27)
Semifinal No. 1: Pool group winner vs. Pool group winner, 1 p.m. on ACC Network
Semifinal No. 2: Pool group winner vs. Pool group winner, 5 p.m. on ACC Network
(Sunday, May 28)
Championship Game: Semifinal No. 1 winner vs. Semifinal No. 2 winner, Noon on ESPN2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

May 9 1st round playoff results:

1A
No. 1 Cherryville 6, No. 32 Mountain Island Charter 1
No. 13 Highland Tech 6, Mountain Heritage 1
Christ the King 10, No. 26 Piedmont Community Charter 0 (6 innings)
South Stokes 11, No. 29 Bessemer City 1 (5 innings)

2A
No. 1 Burns 10, Southwestern Randolph 8
No. 8 Lincoln Charter 18, North Surry 8
No. 17 East Gaston 6, Trinity 3
No. 23 Shelby 1, North Stanly 0
West Stanley 14, No. 28 West Lincoln 0 (5 innings)

3A
No. 5 South Point 6, Greensboro Dudley 5
No. 11 Kings Mountain 7, Cramer 2
Foard 7, No. 12 Crest 2
Tuscola 4, No. 16 North Gaston 3
No. 19 North Lincoln 1, Hickory 0
Oak Grove 8, No. 20 East Lincoln 0

NCISAA 2A
Unseeded Gaston Day 9, Hickory Christian Academy 1

NCISAA 3A
No. 7 Gaston Christian 17, Asheville School 1

May 12 2nd round pairings:

1A
No. 1 Cherryville 6, South Stanly 1
No. 13 Highland Tech 1, South Stokes 0

2A
No. 1 Burns 2, East Gaston 1
No. 8 Lincoln Charter 15, McMichael 6
East Davidson 5, No. 23 Shelby 1

3A
Foard 12, No. 5 South Point 2
No. 11 Kings Mountain 2, Carson 1
West Henderson 8, No. 19 North Lincoln 0

NCISAA 2A
(May 11) Westchester Country Day 7, Gaston Day 2

NCSIAA 3A
(May 11) No. 7 Gaston Christian 4, Calvary Day 0
(May 13) No. 7 Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian

May 16 3rd round pairings:

1A
Union Academy 5, No. 1 Cherryville 1
Eastern Randolph 3, No. 13 Highland Tech 1

2A
No. 1 Burns 4, No. 8 Lincoln Charter 3

3A
West Henderson 9, No. 11 Kings Mountain 7

May 19 regional semifinal pairings:

2A
No. 1 Burns 4, West Stokes 3

May 23, 25, 27 regional finals:

2A
No. 1 Burns vs. Eden Morehead
Game 1 at Burns – Burns 7-0: Ethan Guy (2-run double, RBI single), Ben Mauney (2-run home run), Colby Putnam (2 hits, 2-run home run) led Burns at the plate and Putnam (4 innings) and Josh Taylor (3 innings) combined on a 5-hitter.
Game 2 at Eden Morehead
Game 3 (if necessary) at Burns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

May 9 1st round playoff results:

1A
No. 5 Cherryville 10, Mount Airy 0
North Stokes 6, No. 7 Mountain Island Charter 1
No. 10 Piedmont Community Charter 7
Uwharrie Charter 33, No. 18 Highland Tech 0 (5 innings)
South Davidson 6, No. 24 Bessemer City 1

2A
No. 7 Burns 5, East Burke 2
Anson County 2, No. 8 Lincoln Charter 1
No. 17 West Lincoln 2, Forbush 1
McMichael 16, No. 32 East Gaston 1

3A
No. 5 East Lincoln 6, Montgomery Central 0
No. 6 Crest 7, No. 27 North Lincoln 4
East Rowan 10, No. 16 Cramer 0
Southern Guilford 4, No. 18 Kings Mountain 3
West Henderson 14, No. 19 North Gaston 4
West Rowan 12, No. 29 Forestview 0

May 12 2nd round pairings:

1A
East Wilkes 12, No. 5 Cherryville 2
North Stokes 12, No. 10 Piedmont Community Charter 1

2A
Mount Pleasant 4, No. 7 Burns 0
McMichael 14, No. 17 West Lincoln 1 (5 innings)

3A
No. 5 East Lincoln 5, Pisgah 1
Carson 8, No. 6 Crest 0

NCISAA 3A
High Point Christian Academy 12, No. 8 Gaston Christian 2

May 16 3rd round pairings:

3A
No. 5 East Lincoln 5, West Rowan 3

May 19 regional semifinals:

3A
No. 5 East Lincoln 2, Enka 0

May 23, 25, 27 regional finals:

3A
No. 5 East Lincoln vs. No. 7 Rockingham County
Game 1 at East Lincoln – East Lincoln 1-0 in 8: Leah Correll (4-hitter, 1 strikeout), Taniyah Thomas (single, double), Tatum Martin (3 singles, run, stolen base), Betsy Eatmon (single, double), Jaelyn Freeston (double) and Lyla Haywood (RBI sacrifice fly) led East Lincoln.
Game 2 at Rockingham County
Game 3 (if necessary) at East Lincoln

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school girls soccer

Here are the full state playoff pairings for area schools:

(May 15 1st round)
1A
No. 10 Mountain Island Charter 9, Avery County 0
Bradford Prep 2, No. 17 Highland Tech 1
N.C. Leadership Academy 5, No. 21 Piedmont Community Charter 0

2A
No. 5 East Gaston 3, Randleman 1
East Davidson 2, No. 21 Lincolnton 1
No. 23 Lincoln Charter 3, Bandys 2
Wheatmore 9, No. 31 Shelby 0

3A
No. 1 South Point 18, West Charlotte 0
No. 10 East Lincoln 5, Foard 0
No. 14 Crest 6, Rockingham County 0
Ashe County 3, No. 15 Forestview 0
St. Stephens 4, No. 20 Cramer 1
Lake Norman Charter 9, No. 30 Ashbrook 0
West Henderson 2, No. 31 North Lincoln 0

(May 18 2nd round)
1A
No. 10 Mountain Island Charter 9, Draughn 0

2A
No. 5 East Gaston 2, East Davidson 1
Wilkes Central 4, No. 23 Lincoln Charter 2

3A
No. 1 South Point 3, North Henderson 0 (May 17)
No. 10 East Lincoln 3, W-S Atkins 1, OT
Lake Norman Charter 5, No. 14 Crest 1

(May 22 3rd round)
1A
Christ the King 3, No. 10 Mountain Island Charter 1

2A
Hendersonville 4, No. 5 East Gaston 1

3A
No. 1 South Point 5, Enka 1
West Henderson 4, No. 10 East Lincoln 1

(May 25 regional semifinals)
3A
No. 1 South Point hosts St. Stephens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule with results:

(5-6-3 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 (L 1-3)
April 15 Colorado Rapids (T 2-2)
April 22 Columbus Crew (W 1-0)
April 29 at D.C. United (L 0-3)
May 6 New York City FC (W 3-2)
May 13 at Atlanta United FC (W 3-1)
May 17 Chicago Fire FC (W 2-1)
May 20 Nashville SC (L 1-2)
May 27 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
May 31 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The NBA play-in tournament games:

(April 11)
Game 1- East No. 8 Atlanta at East No. 7 Miami – Atlanta 116-105
Game 2- West No. 8 Minnesota at West No. 7 L.A. Lakers – L.A. Lakers 108-102 (OT)

(April 12)
Game 3- East No. 10 Chicago at East No. 9 Toronto – Chicago 109-105
Game 4- West No. 10 Oklahoma City at West No. 9 New Orleans – Oklahoma City 123-118

(April 14)
East No. 10 Chicago at East No. 7 Miami – Miami 102-91
West No. 10 Oklahoma City at West No. 8 Minnesota – Minnesota 120-95

The first round NBA playoffs schedule:

East No. 1 Milwaukee vs. East No. 8 Miami
Game 1: April 16 at Milwaukee – Miami 130-117
Game 2: April 19 at Milwaukee – Milwaukee 127-106
Game 3: April 22 at Miami – Miami 121-99
Game 4: April 24 at Miami – Miami 119-114
Game 5: April 26 at Milwaukee – Miami 128-126, OT (Miami wins series 4-1)

East No. 2 Boston vs. East No. 7 Atlanta
Game 1: April 15 at Boston – Boston 112-99
Game 2: April 18 at Boston – Boston 119-106
Game 3: April 21 at Atlanta – Atlanta 130-122
Game 4: April 23 at Atlanta – Boston 129-121
Game 5: April 25 at Boston – Atlanta 119-117
Game 6: April 27 at Atlanta – Boston 128-120 (Boston wins series 4-2)

East No. 3 Philadelphia vs. East No. 6 Brooklyn
Game 1: April 15 at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 121-101
Game 2: April 17 at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 96-84
Game 3: April 20 at Brooklyn – Philadelphia 102-97
Game 4: April 22 at Brooklyn – Philadelphia 96-88 (Philadelphia wins series 4-0)

East No. 4 Cleveland vs. East No. 5 New York
Game 1: April 15 at Cleveland – New York 101-97
Game 2: April 18 at Cleveland – Cleveland 107-90
Game 3: April 21 at New York – New York 99-79
Game 4: April 23 at New York – New York 102-99
Game 5: April 26 at Cleveland – New York 106-95 (New York wins series 4-1)

West No. 1 Denver vs. West No. 8 Minnesota
Game 1: April 16 at Denver – Denver 109-80
Game 2: April 19 at Denver – Denver 122-113
Game 3: April 21 at Minnesota – Denver 120-111
Game 4: April 23 at Minnesota – Minnesota 114-108
Game 5: April 25 at Denver – Denver 112-109 (Denver wins series 4-1)

West No. 2 Memphis vs. West No. 7 L.A. Lakers
Game 1: April 16 at Memphis – L.A. Lakers 128-112
Game 2: April 19 at Memphis – Memphis 103-93
Game 3: April 22 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 111-101
Game 4: April 24 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 117-111, OT
Game 5: April 26 at Memphis – Memphis 116-99
Game 6: April 28 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 125-85 (L.A. Lakers win series 4-2)

West No. 3 Sacramento vs. West No. 6 Golden State
Game 1: April 15 at Sacramento – Sacramento 126-123
Game 2: April 17 at Sacramento – Sacramento 114-106
Game 3: April 20 at Golden State – Golden State 114-97
Game 4: April 23 at Golden State – Golden State 126-125
Game 5: April 26 at Sacramento – Golden State 123-116
Game 6: April 28 at Golden State – Sacramento 118-99
Game 7: April 30 at Sacramento – Golden State 120-100 (Golden State wins series 4-3)

West No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. West No. 5 L.A. Clippers
Game 1: April 16 at Phoenix – L.A. Clippers 115-110
Game 2: April 18 at Phoenix – Phoenix 123-109
Game 3: April 20 at Los Angeles – Phoenix 129-124
Game 4: April 22 at Los Angeles – Phoenix 112-100
Game 5: April 25 at Phoenix – Phoenix 136-130 (Phoenix wins series 4-1)

The second round NBA playoffs schedule (x-if necessary):

East No. 8 Miami vs. East No. 5 New York
Game 1: April 30 at New York – Miami 108-101
Game 2: May 2 at New York – New York 111-105
Game 3: May 6 at Miami – Miami 105-86
Game 4: May 8 at Miami – Miami 109-101
Game 5: May 10 at New York – New York 112-103
Game 6: May 12 at Miami – Miami 96-92 (Miami wins series 4-2)

East No. 2 Boston vs. East No. 3 Philadelphia
Game 1: May 1 at Boston – Philadelphia 119-115
Game 2: May 3 at Boston – Boston 121-87
Game 3: May 5 at Philadelphia – Boston 114-102
Game 4: May 7 at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 116-115, OT
Game 5: May 9 at Boston – Philadelphia 115-103
Game 6: May 11 at Philadelphia – Boston 95-86
Game 7: May 14 at Boston – Boston 112-88 (Boston wins series 4-3)

West No. 1 Denver vs. West No. 4 Phoenix
Game 1: April 29 at Denver – Denver 125-107
Game 2: May 1 at Denver – Denver 97-87
Game 3: May 5 at Phoenix – Phoenix 121-114
Game 4: May 7 at Phoenix – Phoenix 129-124
Game 5: May 9 at Denver – Denver 118-102
Game 6: May 11 at Phoenix – Denver 125-100 (Denver wins series 4-2)

West No. 7 L.A. Lakers vs. West No. 6 Golden State
Game 1: May 2 at Golden State – L.A. Lakers 117-111
Game 2: May 4 at Golden State – Golden State 127-100
Game 3: May 6 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 127-97
Game 4: May 8 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 104-101
Game 5: May 10 at Golden State – Golden State 121-106
Game 6: May 12 at Los Angeles – L.A. Lakers 122-101 (L.A. Lakers win series 4-2)

Conference finals schedule (x-if necessary)
-Eastern
No. 8 Miami vs. No. 2 Boston
Game 1: May 17 at Boston – Miami 123-116
Game 2: May 19 at Boston – Miami 111-105
Game 3: May 21 at Miami – Miami 128-102
Game 4: May 23 at Miami – Boston 116-99
Game 5: May 25 at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6-x: May 27 at Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 7-x: May 29 at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

-Western
No. 1 Denver vs. No. 7 L.A. Lakers
Game 1: May 16 at Denver – Denver 132-126
Game 2: May 18 at Denver – Denver 108-103
Game 3: May 20 at Los Angeles – Denver 119-108
Game 4: May 22 at Los Angeles – Denver 113-111 (Denver wins series 4-0)

NBA finals schedule (x-if necessary)
Denver vs. Miami-Boston winner
Game 1: at Denver
Game 2: at Denver
Game 3: at Miami/Boston
Game 4: at Miami/Boston
Game 5-x: at Denver
Game 6-x: at Miami/Boston
Game 7-x: at Denver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro hockey

The Carolina Hurricanes’ NHL playoffs schedule (x-if necessary):

(First round)
Carolina vs. New York Islanders
Game 1: April 17 at Carolina – Carolina 2-1
Game 2: April 19 at Carolina – Carolina 4-3 in OT
Game 3: April 21 at N.Y. Islanders – N.Y. 5-1
Game 4: April 23 at N.Y. Islanders – Carolina 5-2 (TNT)
Game 5: April 25 at Carolina – N.Y. 3-2
Game 6: April 28 at N.Y. Islanders – Carolina 2-1 in OT (Carolina wins series 4-2)

(Second round)
Carolina vs. New Jersey
Game 1: May 3 at Carolina – Carolina 5-1
Game 2: May 5 at Carolina – Carolina 6-1
Game 3: May 7 at New Jersey – New Jersey 8-4
Game 4: May 9 at New Jersey – Carolina 6-1
Game 5: May 11 at Carolina – Carolina 3-2, OT (Carolina wins series 4-2)

(Conference finals)
Carolina vs. Florida
Game 1: May 18 at Carolina – Florida 3-2, 4 OT
Game 2: May 20 at Carolina – Florida 2-1, OT
Game 3: May 22 at Florida – Florida 1-0
Game 4: May 24 at Florida, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 5-x: May 26 at Carolina, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6-x: May 38 at Florida, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 7-x: at Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Charlotte 9, Jacksonville 5: The Knights scored seven runs in the first 3 innings and won the opener of a 6-game series at 121 Financial Ballpark. Charlotte seeks its 4th straight win in Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. road game.

Gastonia 6, Frederick 0: Alex Sanabia and two relievers combined on a 4-hit shutout as Carlos Franco (4 hits, double, home run) and Zach Jarrett (3 hits) led the Honey Hunters’ offense.

Here is the full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2023 schedule:

Overall record: 16-6
April (3-0)
28 Frederick (W 10-4)
29 Frederick (W 8-6)
30 Frederick (W 7-4)

May (12-6)
2 at So. Maryland (W 8-6)
3 at So. Maryland (W 11-6)
4 at So. Maryland (L 2-4)
5 at Long Island (W 3-2)
6 at Long Island (L 1-3)
7 at Long Island (L 4-6)
9 Frederick (W 2-1 in 10)
10 Frederick (W 10-0)
11 Frederick (W 9-7)
12 at High Point (L 5-8)
13 at High Point (W 12-5)
14 at High Point (L 3-4)
16 Charleston, W.Va. (W 13-4)
17 Charleston, W.Va. (W 4-2)
18 Charleston, W.Va. (L 4-6)
19 at Lexington (W 15-2)
20 at Lexington (W 8-0)
21 at Lexington (W 5-3)
23 at Frederick (W 6-0)
24 at Frederick
25 at Frederick
26 Lancaster
27 Lancaster
28 Lancaster
29 Lancaster
30 High Point
31 High Point

June
1 High Point
2 Lexington
3 Lexington
4 Lexington
6 at Charleston, W.Va.
7 at Charleston, W.Va.
8 at Charleston, W.Va.
9 at Frederick
10 at Frederick
11 at Frederick
13 So. Maryland
14 So. Maryland
15 So. Maryland
16 Staten Island
17 Staten Island
18 Staten Island
20 at Lancaster
21 at Lancaster
22 at Lancaster
23 at Staten Island
24 at Staten Island
25 at Staten Island
27 High Point
28 High Point
29 High Point
30 So. Maryland

July
1 So. Maryland
2 So. Maryland
4 at Frederick
5 at Frederick
6 at Frederick
7 at High Point
8 at High Point
9 at High Point
11 at Charleston, W.Va.
12 at Charleston, W.Va.
13 at Charleston, W.Va.
14 Staten Island
15 Staten Island
16 Staten Island
18 High Point
19 High Point
20 High Point
21 at So. Maryland
22 at So. Maryland
23 at So. Maryland
25 at Staten Island
26 at Staten Island
27 at Staten Island
28 at Long Island
29 at Long Island
30 at Long Island

August
1 High Point
2 High Point
3 High Point
4 Lexington
5 Lexington
6 Lexington
8 Frederick
9 Frederick
10 Frederick
11 at Long Island
12 at Long Island
13 at Long Island
15 York
16 York
17 York
18 Lexington
19 Lexington
20 Lexington
22 at Long Island
23 at Long Island
24 at Long Island
25 at Lancaster
26 at Lancaster
27 at Lancaster
29 Frederick
30 Frederick
31 Frederick

September
1 So. Maryland
2 So. Maryland
3 So. Maryland
4 So. Maryland
5 at High Point
6 at High Point
7 at High Point
8 Charleston, W.Va.
9 Charleston, W.Va.
10 Charleston, W.Va.
12 So. Maryland
13 So. Maryland
14 So. Maryland
15 at Lexington
16 at Lexington
17 at Lexington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 (Christopher Bell)
Apr 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville VA (Kyle Larson-2)
Apr 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL (Kyle Busch-2)
May 1 NASCAR Cup Series at Dover, Dover DE (Martin Truex, Jr.-2)
May 7 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS (Denny Hamlin)
May 14 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC (William Byron-3)
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open Race, North Wilkesboro NC (Josh Berry)
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro NC (Kyle Larson-3)
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