7-14-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball, football and soccer, High school basketball, soccer and football, Legion baseball, Auto racing
By Richard Walker
Shelby’s Kate Hollifield added to her family’s long, successful athletic heritage earlier this week in the annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star games.
A 2022 Shelby High graduate, her 18 points helped lead the West to a 62-55 victory and earn her MVP honors.
It also added to the Hollifield’s talented athletic legacy; Grandfather Dale played football at Kings Mountain High and Western Carolina, father Ryan played football and basketball at Kings Mountain High and Appalachian State, uncle Aubrey played football and basketball at Kings Mountain High and football at Wake Forest, uncle Andy played football and Kings Mountain High and Appalachian State, cousins Dax and Jack played football and basketball at Shelby High and are currently playing football at Virginia Tech and sister Ally (basketball) and brother Drew (football and basketball) are currently standouts at Shelby High.
“I played with a great group of girls,” Kate Hollifield told www.highschoolot.com after Monday’s victory. “We all connected really fast and I think that’s because we all wanted to win. We all just had it in us.”
Kate Hollifield, who will plan at Belmont, Tenn., University, sparked a West comeback from an eight-point deficit with a 3-pointer.
In the East-West boys game, the West held on for a 92-90 victory behind KC Shaw (Mooresville), North Mecklenburg teammates Davion Cunningham and Jordan Crawford and Kyle Frazier (Weddington); Shaw had 16 points, Cunningham and Crawford 14 each and Frazier 13.
West Carteret’s Jaxon Ellingsworth scored a game-high 29 points to lead the East and was voted MVP.
On Tuesday, the East edged the West 1-0 in girls soccer and West and East played to a 3-all tie in boys soccer at MacPherson Stadium.
On Wednesday, the West rolled to a 33-14 football victory over the East at Greensboro Grimsley’s Jamieson Stadium.
Legion baseball
The Gaston Braves took the opener of their best-of-seven N.C. Area IV semifinal series 4-0 with a win at Cherryville.
Chase Stewart threw a four-hit shutout and Caleb Burr (2 hits), Julian Hall (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Liam Brady (2 hits) and Daniel McClellan (1 hit, 1 RBI) led the Braves’ offense.
The second game of the series is Friday at 7 p.m. at South Point’s Raider Field; The winner of the series advances to the July 26-30 N.C. state tournament at Campbell University.
Ashton Pope, Will Fowler, Will Blackburn and Collin Robinson each had a hit for Cherryville.
In the other Area IV semifinal series opener, Queen City edged Rutherford County 2-1 in Charlotte. The second of that series is Friday at 7 p.m. at East Rutherford High School.
Junior Legion baseball
Here’s the Area IV playoff schedule:
July 5-8 quarterfinals (best-of-3)
No. 1 East: Burns vs. No. 4 West: South Caldwell-2
Game 1 – July 5 at B (ppd., weather)
Game 1 – July 6 at B/moved to SC (B 2-0)
Game 2 – July 7 at B (B 10-1, B wins series 2-0)
No. 2 West: R-S Central vs. No. 3 East: Cherryville
Game 1 – July 5 at R-S (R-S 7-0)
Game 2 – July 6 at C (ppd., weather)
Game 2 – July 7 at C (C 3-0)
Game 3 – July 8 at R-S (ppd., weather)
Game 3 – July 9 at R-S (R-S 7-1, R-S wins series 2-1)
No. 1 West: South Caldwell-1 vs. No. 4 East: Shelby
Game 1 – July 5 at SC-1 (suspended with SC leading in 3rd)
Game 1 – July 6 at Shelby (SC 8-4)
Game 2 – July 6 at Shelby (SC 19-6, SC-1 wins series 2-0)
No. 2 East: Matthews vs. No. 3 West: Chase
Game 1 – July 5 at C (M leads 1-0 after 4 when suspended)
Game 1 – July 6 at M (ppd., weather)
Game 1 – July 7 at M (M 2-0)
Game 2 – July 7 at M (ppd., weather)
Game 2 – July 8 at M (M by forfeit, M wins series 2-0)
July 9-12 Area IV semifinals (best-of-3)
No. 1 East: Burns vs. No. 2 West: R-S Central
Game 1 – July 11 at B (B 4-3)
Game 2 – July 12 at R-S (B 4-1, B wins series 2-0)
No. 1 West: South Caldwell-1 vs. No. 2 East-Matthews
Game 1 – July 11 at SC (SC 3-1)
Game 2 – July 12 at M (M 15-5)
Game 3 – July 13 at SC (ppd., rain)
Game 3 – July 14 at SC (SC 6-3, SC wins series 2-1)
July 15 Area IV final (1 game)
No. 1 East: Burns vs. No. 1 West: South Caldwell-1 at site TBD
Both finalists advance to N.C. State tournament at High Point (July 21-25)
High school basketball
The third-winningest boys basketball coach in Kings Mountain High history has resigned as Mountaineers’ head coach.
Grayson Pierce, who guided Kings Mountain to a 170-115 record the last 11 seasons, announced his resignation on twitter on Wednesday.
Pierce trails only Kings Mountain High gymnasium namesake Don Parker (274 victories) and Larry Sipe (236) in school history.
Pierce’s successor inherits a nine-year streak of state playoff berths that is second-longest in school history; Kings Mountain’s record is 11 straight postseason berths from 1981 to 1991.
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets will have to wait and see if they qualify for further games in the NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas after losing 89-73 to the Chicago Bulls to complete their regular schedule with a 2-2 record.
Based on results of the league that ends on Friday, the Hornets could qualify for another game in the annual event.
In Thursday’s loss, Bryce McGowens (15 points) led Charlotte in scoring for the third time in the four games. Other top players for the Hornets were J.T. Thor (10 points, 9 rebounds), Kai Jones (9 points, 8 rebounds), Brady Manek (7 points, 5 rebounds), Mark Williams (6 points, 7 rebounds) and LiAngelo Ball (6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists).
Former Ashbrook High standout Isaiah Whaley hasn’t play in any of the Hornets’ four summer league games.
Here’s the Hornets’ NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022 Schedule:
Friday, July 8 at Thomas & Mack Center
Charlotte vs. Indiana (Lost 84-96)
Sunday, July 10 at Thomas & Mack Center
Charlotte vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Won 89-86, 2 OT)
Wednesday, July 13 at Cox Pavilion
Cleveland vs. Charlotte (Won 91-80)
Thursday, July 14 at Cox Pavilion
Chicago vs. Charlotte (Lost 73-89)
Pro baseball
On Wednesday, two Gastonia Honey Hunters were named to the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Mid-Summer All-Star team – starting pitcher Marcus Walden and second baseman Joseph Rosa.
On Thursday, Gastonia improved to 8-0 in the second half of the season with a 4-1 win at Wild Health of Kentucky.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
First half record: 44-21 (South Division winner)
Second half record: 8-0
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 (17-9)
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.(L 5-7)
8 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 6-0)
9 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 3-2)
10 High Point (W 7-6)
11 High Point (W 6-4)
12 High Point (W 9-5)
14 Charleston, W.Va. (L 4-6)
15 Charleston, W.Va. (W 14-7)
16 Charleston, W.Va. (W 2-0)
17 at Lexington, Ky. (W 6-1)
18 at Lexington, Ky. (L 2-3 in 10)
19 at Lexington, Ky. (W 4-0 in 11)
21 Charleston, W.Va. (W 8-7)
22 Charleston, W.Va. (L 1-4)
23 Charleston, W.Va. (W 5-4)
24 at So. Maryland (ppd.)
25 at So. Maryland (W 6-3)
25 at So. Maryland (W 3-0)
26 at So. Maryland (L 7-9)
28 Wild Health, Ky. (W 4-0)
29 Wild Health, Ky. (L 2-10)
30 Wild Health, Ky. (L 6-7)
July (9-1)
1 at Lexington, Ky. (W 12-11)
2 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-6)
3 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-5)
4 High Point (L 1-8)
–end of 1st half of season
5 High Point (W 8-5 in 5/weather)
6 at High Point (W 7-6)
7 at High Point (W 6-4)
8 High Point (ppd.)
9 High Point (W 4-0)
10 High Point (W 5-2)
10 High Point (ppd., no date)
12 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 8-6)
13 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 6-2)
14 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 4-1)
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 football
The Carolina Panthers’ annual Fan Fest will be at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 11.
The event, presented by Daimler Truck North America, begins at 5:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 11. Tickets are $5 and go on sale to the public beginning Wednesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. on Panthers.com and Ticketmaster.
During Fan Fest, fans can see the Panthers practice on the stadium field and enjoy performances by the TopCats, Sir Purr, PurrCussion and the Black & Blue Crew before the night culminates with a fireworks and laser show.
Pro soccer
Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(8-10-2 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 (W 2-0)
June 18, at Columbus (T 1-1)
June 25, at Montreal (L 1-2)
June 30, Austin (L 0-1)
July 3, at Houston (W 2-1)
July 9, Nashville (W 4-1)
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 (Daniel Suarez)
June 26 Ally 400 (Chase Elliott-2)
July 3 Kwik Trip 250 (Tyler Reddick)
July 10 Quaker State 400 (Chase Elliott-3)
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