5-31-22 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey, High school baseball, softball and girls soccer, College baseball, Legion baseball

By Richard Walker

With Charlotte FC having its longest break of the franchise’s inaugural 2022 season, the team has decided Miguel Angel Ramirez has been been fired as head coach and assistant coach Christian Lattanzio will as interim head coach for the rest of the season with goalkeeper coach Andy Quy remaining on staff.

“This is a difficult decision, but one we feel is best for the team at this time,” team owner David Tepper said in a team news release. “I want to thank Miguel and his staff for their hard work during our first season and wish them the best in their future endeavors.”

In addition to Ramirez, the team announces assistant coach Mikel Antía, head fitness coach Cristobal Fuentes Nieto and First Team video analyst Luis Piedrahita also will depart the club with Ramirez.

“We appreciate the contributions of Miguel and his staff to our Club, and wish them well moving forward in their careers,” Charlotte FC Sporting Director Zoran Krneta said in a team news release. “We are excited about this opportunity for Christian. He is a very experienced coach who has made a tremendous impact on our squad this season.”

Interim head coach Lattanzio joined the Club last summer as an assistant coach. He was previously an assistant coach at OGC Nice, New York City FC and Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad under now Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira.

Ramírez, hired as the team’s inaugural head coach on July 7, 2021, led Charlotte FC to a 5-8-1 record in 14 league games while also advancing to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup.

Later on Monday, Charlotte FC Sporting Director Zoran Krneta declined to elaborate to media on Ramirez’s sudden firing today: “I wouldn’t like to go into details really. I mean, it’s not going to help anybody.”

Charlotte FC returns to action on June 11 at 3 p.m. against the New York Red Bulls. Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):

(5-8-1 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 (W 2-1)
May 29, at Seattle (L 1-2)
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

 

 

 

 

College baseball

Caldwell Tech split two games on Tuesday to finish third in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series at Pioneer Park in Greeneville, Tenn.

The Cobras, who finished with a 49-9 record, eliminated St. Cloud 4-0 Tuesday afternoon then were eliminated from the double-elimination tournament Tuesday night in an 11-1 loss in seven innings to Dallas College-Eastfield.

Dallas College-Eastfield (47-11-1) advanced to Wednesday’s championship game, where it will face Herkimer College. It will be a rematch of Monday’s winner bracket final, where Herkimer won 9-3. A win by Herkimer (40-7) would it the national championship and a loss would force a winner-take-all game on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

This week’s best-of-three N.C. finals pairings:

(Class 4A)
Providence (32-0) vs. Pinecrest (25-6)
June 3 – Game 1, 5 p.m. at Burlington
June 4 – Game 2, 11 a.m. at Burlington
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 p.m. at Burlington

(Class 3A)
South Rowan (28-5) vs. South Brunswick (24-3)
June 3 – Game 1, 5 p.m. at Holly Springs
June 4 – Game 2, 11 a.m. at Holly Springs
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 p.m. at Holly Springs

(Class 2A)
Randleman (31-1) vs. Whiteville (23-3)
June 3 – Game 1, 8 p.m. at Burlington
June 4 – Game 2, 2 p.m. at Burlington
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 or 8 p.m. at Burlington

(Class 1A)
Cherryville (21-10) vs. Perquimans County (29-1)
June 3 – Game 1, 8 p.m. at Holly Springs
June 4 – Game 2, 2 p.m. at Holly Springs
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 or 8 p.m. at Holly Springs

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

This week’s best-of-three N.C. finals pairings:

(Class 4A)
East Forsyth (26-1) vs. Conley (28-1)
June 3 – Game 1, 7 p.m. at Duke
June 4 – Game 2, noon at Duke
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 3 p.m. at Duke

(Class 3A)
North Buncombe (25-1) vs. Eastern Alamance (25-2)
June 3 – Game 1, 7:30 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro
June 4 – Game 2, 2 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 or 8 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro

(Class 2A)
West Stanly (27-4) vs. Washington (27-0)
June 3 – Game 1, 7 p.m. at UNC-Chapel Hill
June 4 – Game 2, noon at UNC-Chapel Hill
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3 at UNC-Greensboro

(Class 1A)
South Stanly (28-3) vs. Bear Grass Charter (24-4)
June 3 – Game 1, 5 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro
June 4 – Game 2, 11 a.m. at UNC-Greensboro
June 5 – (if necessary) Game 3, 5 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school girls soccer

Here is Tuesday’s area Western N.C. championship pairing:

(Class 3A)
Lake Norman Charter 5, South Point 1: The best season in South Point history ended at 23-1.

 

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

Cleveland County 10, Asheville 0 (5 innings)

Cherryville 14, Burke County 5

Gaston Braves 7, Caldwell County 5: Caleb Burr drove in two runs and Aaron Main picked up the win with three innings of relief.

Queen City 4, Gastonia 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Sacramento Kings have hired a replacement and the Los Angeles Lakers have announced their new head coach.

Since the Charlotte Hornets have the only remaining head coaching vacancy, when will they pick their new head coach?

According to Bleacher Report, Charlotte’s finalists are former Houston Rockets head coach and current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson. According to the publication, Hornets owner Michael Jordan hasn’t yet met with a coaching candidate, though that is expected to begin next week once Jordan returns from vacation.

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 (Boston wins series 4-3)

(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
3-Golden State vs. 4-Dallas (Golden State wins series 4-1)

(NBA Finals)
East-Boston vs. West-Golden State
Game 1 at Golden State: June 2
Game 2 at Golden State: June 5
Game 3 at Boston: June 8
Game 4 at Boston: June 10
Game 5 (if necessary) at Golden State: June 16
Game 6 (if necessary) at Boston: June 13
Game 7 (if necessary) at Golden State: June 19

 

 

Pro hockey

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated Boston Bruins 4-3 in the first round.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ second round playoff schedule in their series against the New York Rangers:
Game 1 at Carolina: May 18 (Carolina 2-1, OT)
Game 2 at Carolina: May 20 (Carolina 2-0)
Game 3 at New York: May 22 (New York 3-1)
Game 4 at New York: May 24 (New York 4-1)
Game 5 at Carolina: May 26 (Carolina 3-1)
Game 6 at New York: May 28 (New York 5-2)
Game 7 at Carolina: May 30 (New York 6-2, New York wins series 4-3)

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

A late rally wasn’t enough for the Gastonia Honey Hunters as they fell 8-7 to the visiting Long Island Ducks on Tuesday.

Gastonia (24-11) continues the three-game home series against Long Island on Wednesday.

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 (16-10)
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)
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 (L 4-5)
18 So. Maryland (L 6-8)
19 So. Maryland (W 13-1)
20 Charleston, W.Va.(W 12-10)
21 Charleston, W.Va.(W 6-4)
22 Charleston, W.Va.(L 1-8)
24 at Lancaster, Pa.(W 2-1)
25 at Lancaster, Pa.(L 3-13)
26 at Lancaster, Pa.(L 1-4)
27 at Long Island (W 5-3)
28 at Long Island (W 10-3)
29 at Long Island (W 3-2)
30 at Long Island (W 5-2)
31 Long Island (L 7-8)

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 (Daniel Suarez)
May 22 NASCAR All-Star (Ryan Blaney)
May 29 Coca-Cola 600 (Denny Hamlin-2)
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