6-27-26 roundup: Pro football, basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, Legion baseball, College basketball, High school baseball

By Richard Walker

Charlotte 49ers director of athletics Kevin White announced that Charlotte’s 1977 Men’s Basketball Final Four team will be inducted into the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame. Charlotte will celebrate the team during the 50th anniversary of its historic season with a Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony during the 2026-27 basketball season.

“Great teams leave a legacy that transcends generations, and the 1976-77 Charlotte Men’s Basketball team is one of those teams,” White said in a news released. “Although I wasn’t here to experience their remarkable Final Four run, their impact is still felt throughout our program nearly five decades later. They elevated Charlotte onto the national stage, inspired countless student-athletes who followed, and helped shape the proud tradition we celebrate today. We are honored to recognize their lasting contributions as the first team inducted into the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame.”

The team will become the first time a team has been inducted in the school’s six-class history.

Those who be honored include Charlotte Hall of Famers Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell and head coach Lee Rose along with players Melvin Watkins, Lew Massey, Chad Kinch, Kevin King, Jeff Gruber, Mike Hester, Phil Scott, Todd Crowley, Ken Angel, Lee Whitfield, Henry Caldwell, Greg Spain, Jerry Winston, Bruce Stapleton, and Dave Maas, assistant coaches Everett Bass and Mike Pratt, trainer Michael Stikeleather, sports information director Dave Taylor and radio announcer John Kilgo.

The ’77 49ers won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title before recording wins over Central Michigan (91-86 OT), Syracuse (81-59) and No. 1 seed Michigan (75-68) to reach the Final Four for the first time in program history.

Charlotte had a prolific offense that ranked 10th in the country in scoring at 87.1 points per game, finished the season 28-5 overall and ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll.

Four of the Niners’ five losses came to ranked opponents including three games decided by just two points. Maxwell hit a twisting 10-foot shot with three seconds remaining to tie the game at 49-49 in the Final Four matchup with eventual champion Marquette before a buzzer-beating basket by Golden Eagles ended Charlotte’s national title hopes at The Omni in Atlanta, Ga.

Additional details on the induction ceremony date for the 2026-27 Hall of Fame class will be announced once the men’s basketball schedule has been finalized.

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

Two former South Point High baseball standouts have new head coaching jobs.

Devon Lowery, a 2001 South Point graduate, has left Gaston Christian with a 56-12 in three years to become head coach at brand new Lake Wylie High School in South Carolina.

To replace Lowery, Gaston Christian has hired 2010 South Point graduate Weston Lawing.

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

Area schedule/results:
x-non division games

Wednesday, June 17
Cherryville at Gastonia – Cherryville 13-1 in 5
x-Greenville, S.C. at Shelby – Shelby 11-1 in 6
Hickory vs. Gaston Braves (at East Gaston) – GBraves 8-7

Thursday, June 18
Cherryville at Caldwell County – suspended with Cville leading 6-3 in bottom 5th
Gaston Braves at Gastonia – GBraves 7-1

Friday, June 19
Burke County at Cherryville – Cherryville 8-0
(North-South tournament at Shelby)
x-Asheville vs. Greenwood, S.C. – Greenwood 5-3
x-Greenwood, S.C. at Shelby – Shelby 7-6

Saturday, June 20
Caldwell County vs. Gaston Braves (at East Gaston) – Caldwell 7-3
(North-South tournament at Shelby)
x-Cherryville vs. Fort Mill, S.C. – Fort Mill 15-10
x-Asheville vs. Richland, S.C. – Asheville 6-3
x-Asheville vs. Florence, S.C. – Florence 2-1
x-Richland, S.C. at Shelby – Richland 7-6 in 9

Sunday, June 21
(North-South tournament at Shelby)
x-Cherryville vs. Richland, S.C. – Richland 5-3
x-Cherryville vs. Florence, S.C. – Florence 9-7
x-Florence, S.C. at Shelby – Florence 6-4

Monday, June 22
Shelby vs. Gaston Braves (at East Gaston) – Shelby 17-16

Tuesday, June 23
Asheville at Gastonia – Asheville 13-1 in 5, Gastonia 6-4
Cherryville at Rutherford County – Cherryville 11-0 in 5
Shelby at Caldwell County – Shelby 15-11

Wednesday, June 24
Gastonia at Cherryville – Cherryville 11-3
Shelby at Asheville – Asheville 10-5

Thursday, June 25
Gaston Braves at Asheville – GBraves 11-2
Rutherford County at Shelby – Shelby 2-1

Friday, June 26
Burke County at Shelby – Shelby 10-0 in 5
Gaston Braves at Cherryville – Cherryville 7-1
Gastonia at Hickory – Hickory 4-2

Saturday, June 27
Cherryville at Burke County – Cherryville 10-0 in 6: Starter and winner Aaron Heavner (3 innings), Karson Cloninger (2 innings) and Camden Williams (1 inning) combined on the shutout for Cherryville, whose offense got two home runs from Tyler Sigmon.

Sunday, June 28
Asheville at Cherryville
Gaston Braves at Burke County
Gastonia at Caldwell County
Hickory at Shelby

Monday, June 29
Shelby at Cherryville

Tuesday, June 30
Asheville vs. Gaston Braves (at East Gaston)
Cherryville at Shelby
Gastonia at Burke County

Wednesday July 1
x-Anderson, S.C. at Shelby
Caldwell County at Burke County
Shelby at Rutherford County

Thursday, July 2
Caldwell County at Asheville
Hickory at Cherryville
Shelby at Gastonia
-END REGULAR SEASON

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets released their 2026 Las Vegas Summer League schedule:

July 9 Orlando Magic (7:30 PM ET, Prime)
July 11 New Orleans (4 PM ET, ESPN)
July 12 Boston Celtics (5 PM ET, ESPN2)
July 15 Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 PM ET, Prime)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

The 2026 Charlotte FC schedule:

(6-6-3 record)
Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Louis (T 1-1)
Saturday, Feb. 28 at L.A. Galaxy (L 0-3)
Saturday, March 7 Austin (W 3-1)
Saturday, March 14 Miami (T 0-0)
Saturday, March 21 New York Red Bulls (W 6-1)
Saturday, Apr. 4 Philadelphia (W 2-1)
Saturday, Apr. 11 Nashville (L 1-2)
Saturday, Apr. 18 at New York (W 2-1)
Wednesday, Apr. 22 at Orlando (L 1-4)
Saturday, Apr. 25 at Nashville (L 2-4)
Saturday, May 2 at New England (L 0-1)
Saturday, May 9 Cincinnati (T 2-2)
Wednesday, May 13 New York (L 0-1)
Saturday, May 16 Toronto (W 3-1)
Saturday, May 23 New England (W 1-0)
Wednesday, July 22 Atlanta, 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 1 at Chicago, 8:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 15 Columbus, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 22 DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 29 at Atlanta, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5 Houston, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 19 at DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 26 Chicago, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 10 Dallas, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Columbus, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Philadelphia, 2:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Portland, 10:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31 Orlando, 1:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Miami, 4:00 PM

(U.S. Open Cup)
Wednesday, Apr. 15 Charlotte Independence (W 6-0)
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
Tuesday, Apr. 28 Atlanta United FC (L 0-2)
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

Here is the Panthers’ full 2026 schedule:

(preseason)
Aug. 6 – Arizona (at Canton, Ohio), 8 p.m.
Aug. 15 – at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Aug. 21 – at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 – Houston, 7 p.m.
(regular season)
Sept. 13 – Chicago, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 – at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 – at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 – Detroit, 8:20 p.m.
Oct. 8-12 – BYE week
Oct. 18 – at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 – Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 – at Green Bay, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 8 – Denver, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 – at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Nov. 22 – Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Nov. 30 – at Tampa Bay, 8:15 p.m.
Dec. 6 – at Minnesota, 4:25 p.m.
Dec. 13 – New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 – Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Dec. 24-28 TBA – at Pittsburgh, TBA
Jan. 3 – Seattle, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9-10 TBA – Atlanta, TBA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Rochester 3, Charlotte 1: Dru Baker’s three doubles weren’t enough for the Knights as they lose the fifth game of the six-game home series. The finale is 5:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2026 schedule:

(44-36 record, 42-33 1st half, 2-3 2nd half)
-1st half
March 27-29 Durham 3-0 (W 19-2, W 2-1 in 11, W 4-3)
March 31-April 5 at Nashville 1-4 (L 3-7, W 9-3, L 0-4, L 6-7, ppd, L 5-7)
April 7-12 Memphis 3-3 (L 4-9, W 7-3, L 1-4, W 9-8 in 10, L 4-6, W 13-4)
April 14-19 at Jacksonville 2-4 (L 0-3, L 2-3, L 3-5, L 1-4, W 2-0, W 9-4)
April 21-26 Nashville 4-3 (L 1-5, W 9-4, W 3-2 in 10, W 11-9, L 5-12, W 16-6, L 1-5)
April 28-May 3 Gwinnett 3-3 (L 7-10, W 10-9, L 5-9, L 3-4, W 21-1, W 10-9)
May 5-10 at Jacksonville 3-3 (W 5-3, L 6-8, W 16-1, W 8-5, L 5-6, L 1-6)
May 12-17 Norfolk 3-3 (L 6-9, L 8-9, W 4-1, W 4-1, L 10-11, W 15-3)
May 19-24 at Gwinnett 4-2 (W 5-4, W 4-3, L 3-7, W 4-3 in 10, L 1-5, W 3-2)
May 26-31 Jacksonville 3-3 (W 4-0, susp, L 3-6, W 12-5, W 12-4, L 6-15, L 5-6)
June 2-7 at Durham 6-0 (W 6-1, W 18-7, W 11-6, W 4-3, W 7-5, W 12-5)
June 9-14 Oklahoma City 3-3 (L 3-6, L 1-10, W 9-8, W 12-7, L 7-11, W 4-3)
June 16-21 at Buffalo 4-2 (L 5-9, W 5-1, W 4-0, W 10-5, L 2-4, W 5-0)
-2nd half
June 23-28 Rochester 2-3 (L 9-10, W 10-2, W 7-6 in 11, L 2-6, L 1-3)
June 30-July 5 at Memphis
July 7-12 Nashville
July 17-19 at Durham
July 21-26 Norfolk
July 28-August 2 at Nashville
August 4-9 Durham
August 11-16 at Rochester
August 18-23 at Scranton-WB
August 25-30 Memphis
September 1-6 at Gwinnett
September 8-13 Buffalo
September 15-20 at Norfolk

 

Lexington 12, Gastonia 5: The Ghost Peppers winning streak ends at 12 games.

Here is the full Gastonia Ghost Peppers’ 2026 schedule:

(39-20 record, 39-20 1st half, 0-0 2nd half)
-1st half
April 21-23 at High Point 1-2 (W 3-1, L 5-6, L 0-5)
April 24-26 High Point 3-0 (W 4-3, W 18-8, W 9-2)
April 28-May 3 at York 4-2 (W 14-2, ppd, W 2-1, W 5-4, L 4-5, W 10-2, L 3-9)
May 5-10 Southern Maryland 1-5 (L 2-3, L 11-18, L 2-12, L 4-5, W 7-3, L 1-14)
May 12-17 at Long Island 3-3 (L 3-6, L 3-11, W 10-0, L 4-6, W 8-6, W 6-5)
May 19-20 Charleston, W.Va. 3-0 (W 9-4, W 6-2, W 9-6)
May 22-24 at Charleston, W.Va. 3-0 (W 17-4, W 8-4, W 12-4)
May 26-28 at Lexington 3-0 (W 10-6, W 3-2, W 3-1)
May 29-31 Charleston, W.Va. 3-0 (W 6-3, W 10-7, W 9-2)
June 2-7 Lancaster 2-4 (W 11-2, L 1-3, W 14-3, L 3-4, L 8-9, L 5-17)
June 9-14 at Lexington 3-3 (L 13-15, L 6-8, W 7-5, L 9-10, W 7-1, W 12-8)
June 16-21 Staten Island 6-0 (W 10-4, W 9-6, W 26-3, W 11-4, W 12-3, W 13-8)
June 23-28 at Lexington 4-1 (W 4-3, W 6-3, W 7-4, W 8-6, L 5-12)
June 30-July 2 Lexington
-2nd half
July 3-5 Charleston, W.Va.
July 7-12 at Hagerstown
July 14-19 Lexington
July 21-26 at Charleston, W.Va.
July 28, 30-31-Aug. 2 Hagerstown
Aug. 4-6 Southern Maryland
Aug. 7-9 at Lexington
Aug. 11-16 at High Point
Aug. 18-23 Charleston, W.Va.
Aug. 25-30 at Southern Maryland
Sept. 1-6 High Point
Sept. 8-10 Lexington
Sept. 11-13 at High Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

Here is the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule with race winners in parentheses:

Feb. 4 — Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Ryan Preece)
Feb. 15 — Daytona 500 (Tyler Reddick)
Feb. 22 — Atlanta (Reddick-2)
March 1 — Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (Reddick-3)
March 8 — Phoenix (Ryan Blaney)
March 15 — Las Vegas (Denny Hamlin)
March 22 — Darlington, South Carolina (Reddick-4)
March 29 — Martinsville, Virginia (Chase Elliott)
April 5 — off weekend
April 12 — Bristol, Tennessee (Ty Gibbs)
April 19 — Kansas (Reddick-5)
April 26 — Talladega, Alabama (Carson Hocevar)
May 3 — Texas (Elliott-2)
May 10 — Watkins Glen, New York (Shane van Gisbergen)
May 17 — All-Star Race (Dover) (Hamlin-2)
May 24 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) (Daniel Suarez)
May 31 — Nashville, Tennessee (Hamlin-3)
June 7 — Michigan (Hamlin-4)
June 14 — Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania (Hamlin-5)
June 21 — San Diego (Corey Heim)
June 28 — Sonoma, California
July 5 — Chicagoland
July 12 — Atlanta
July 19 — North Wilkesboro
July 26 — Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
Aug. 2 — off weekend
Aug. 9 — Iowa
Aug. 15 — Richmond, Virginia
Aug. 23 — New Hampshire
Aug. 29 — Daytona, Florida
Sept. 6 — Darlington
Sept. 13 — Gateway in Madison, Illinois
Sept. 19 — Bristol
Sept. 27 — Kansas
Oct. 4 — Las Vegas
Oct. 11 — Charlotte Roval
Oct. 18 — Phoenix
Oct. 25 — Talladega
Nov. 1 — Martinsville
Nov. 8 — Homestead, Florida

 

 

 

 

Rodeo

Professional Bull Riding Unleash the Beast tour schedule for Greensboro-based Carolina Cowboys:

Feb. 1 – Golden 1 Center Sacramento- Austin Gamblers (L 173.90-256.90)
Feb. 21 – Progressive PBR Jacksonville- Florida Freedom (L 158.70-169.25)
March 22 – Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis- Nashville Stampede (W 88.70- 0.00)
(DNQ for playoffs)

Team Challenge playoff results
March 29 at Albuquerque: Semifinal- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder def. No. 4 Florida Freedom 83.65-0.00)
April 17 at Billings: Semifinal- (No. 2 Austin Gamblers def. No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws 87.10-84.50)
April 26 at Tacoma: Championship- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder def. No. 2 Austin Gamblers 254.75-171.35)

Upcoming events:
Sept. 18-20 – Greensboro First Horizon Coliseum Complex

 

 

 

 

Golf

The Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame (RCSHOF), presented by Hardin’s Drug, in conjunction with Golf Sponsors Forest City Honda and Chick-fil-A of Forest City, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 T. Max Champion Memorial Golf Tournament.

The tournament will be held on Friday, July 31 at the Apple Vally Golf Course in Lake Luke, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $100.00 per player or $400.00 for a team of four and covers the green fee, cart usage and lunch.

First prize for Gross and Net Winners is $600.00 per team. Other prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. Proceeds from the event go to support the RCSHOF Scholarship Fund and registration deadline is July 21.

For information or to register, please visit the RCSHOF website: https://www.rcshof.org/ or call Randy Page at 828-429-7773.