6-6-22 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball and soccer, Hall of Fame

By Richard Walker

The Bessemer City Sports Hall of Fame will induct its second class on July 30 at the First Wesleyan Church of Bessemer City.

The induction class will be comprised of baseball player Chris Mason, the 1986 Bessemer City High School baseball team, coach Calvin Albright, coach Marty Hatchell and football player Phillip Crosby. The keynote speaker will be 1990 Daytona 500 winner and current professional stock car driver and team owner Derrike Cope.

The event, held at the church located on 510 East Alabama Avenue in Bessemer City, will start with a 5 p.m. meet and greet and include a 6 p.m. dinner before formal inductions. Tickets are $25 apiece and can be purchased at the City Hall Annex and Allan Farris Community Center in Bessemer City. Business casual is the preferred attire. For information, call 704-629-5111.

Mason is a 2002 Bessemer City High graduate, Mason is the highest major league draft pick in Gaston County history (2nd round in 2005 by Tampa Bay) after starring at Bessemer City High, for Cherryville American Legion Post 100 and at UNC-Greensboro. After winning 18 games and setting the school’s strikeout record (375 career) at Bessemer City, he set Legion records that may never be broken in a 15-1 season (with 6 saves) and led his team to a 2003 American Legion World Series finish. He is the area’s career leader in Legion wins (30) and strikeouts (426). Mason, who pitched in Class AAA for Tampa Bay and the New York Mets, set a Legion all time record with 69 strikeouts in national competition in 2003; Second-place Sid Fernandez of Honolulu, Hawaii, is second with 55 in 1980 and only one other pitcher since 2003 has exceeded 40.

The 1986 Bessemer City High School baseball was coached by inaugural 2021 BCSHOF inductee Mike Mahaffey and finished 25-2 overall after a 25-0 start and the first unbeaten league record (14-0 in the Southern District 2A). It had a starting lineup of 10 .300 hitters led by Russell King’s .500 average and featured workhorse pitcher Mark Toney (15-1 record with 160 strikeouts). Rodney Jeffries (.473), Toney (.452), Bruce Capps (.433), Jody Kiser (.417), Todd Landers (.408), Brian Swift (.406), Bobby Mantooth (.364), Joey Cox (.363) and Billy James (.317) were the other top hitters for a team with a collective .392 average that also slugged 40 home runs.

Albright is a 1974 Bessemer City High graduate who was a multi-sport athlete for the Yellow Jackets who returned to the school as a coach and school ambassador for every Yellow Jackets’ sport. He is the school’s all time winner in girls basketball and softball and the school’s softball field is named in his honor. In girls’ basketball, he had 114 victories, his 2000-01 team won Bessemer City’s second league title and his 2001-02 team won a school-record 19 games. In softball, he guided the Yellow Jackets to 130 wins. In boys’ basketball, he had 56 victories. Coach Albright passed away on Jan. 29, 2021 at 64.

Hatchell retired in 2009 as Gaston County’s all-time winningest basketball coach with a 379-228 record at Bessemer City and Ashbrook high schools. At Bessemer City, he went 186-45 with nine state playoff berths, four conference titles and a 1991 N.C. 2A runner-up team that
included eventual major league pitcher and 2021 BCSHOF inductee Kevin Millwood. At Ashbrook, he went 193-83 with 10 state playoff berths and four conference titles and he also was a football assistant coach, including for the 2002 state championship team. At Bessemer City, he also was a football and baseball assistant coach, helping two of the top teams in school history – the 1986 2A state runner-up baseball team and a 10-3-1 3rd round 2A football playoff team in 1994

Crosby is a 1995 Bessemer City High graduate who was a two-way standout for the Yellow Jackets as a fullback and linebacker and became the school’s first and only Shrine Bowl player in 1994. After high school, he went to junior college power Coffeyville, Kansas before transferring to Tennessee. At Tennessee, he was the starting fullback on the Volunteers’ 1998 team that won the first FCS national title. After college, Crosby was a fullback and special teams player for the Buffalo Bills from 2000 to 2003. He also is a 2021 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets’ head coaching search is down to as many as three finalists entering this week, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski saying team owner Michael Jordan will hold in-person meetings with two candidates.

Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former longtime head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts are believed to be the three finalists, even as Sunday’s resignation by Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder could also make him a candidate to replace James Borrego; Borrego was fired by the Hornets in May.

Wojnarowski reports Atkinson will meet with Jordan on Tuesday – or one day before Atkinson and the Warriors play in the third game of the best-of-seven NBA Finals at Boston – and D’Antoni will meet with Jordan later in the week.

Both Atkinson and D’Antoni have already met twice with Hornets management, but Jordan wasn’t involved in either interview.

The Charlotte Hornets held a pre-draft workout on Monday with the following prospects:

Keon Ellis (Alabama)
Mike Foster (G League Ignite)
Kellan Grady (Kentucky)
Ron Harper Jr. (Rutgers)
Brandon Horvath (Utah State)
Žiga Samar (Fuenlabrada/Spain)

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 (Boston 120-108)
Game 2 at Golden State: June 5 (Golden State 107-88)
Game 3 at Boston: June 8
Game 4 at Boston: June 10
Game 5 at Golden State: June 13
Game 6 (if necessary) at Boston: June 16
Game 7 (if necessary) at Golden State: June 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

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 (3-2)
1 Long Island (L 9-10 in 11)
2 Long Island (L 0-5)
3 at High Point (W 5-4)
4 at High Point (W 8-3)
5 at High Point (W 8-3)
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.

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

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

 

 

 

 

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 (Joey Logano-2)
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