7-21-22 roundup: Pro baseball, football and soccer, Legion baseball and softball, Auto racing

By Richard Walker

Two former local football standouts got national television exposure on Thursday during the ACC Kickoff media day at The Westin Hotel in Charlotte.

North Carolina running back British Brooks, a former Ashbrook High standout, and Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield, a formsr Shelby High standout, were interviewed on the ACC Network during Thursday’s media session.

For Brooks, Thursday’s television appearance comes one day after he was named a preseason candidate for the 2022 Doak Walker Award that is handed out annually to the nation’s top college running back.

A fifth-year senior running back, Brooks is a 2018 Ashbrook High graduate who has worked his way from recruited walkon to projected Tar Heels’ starter this season. A two-time special teams MVP and special teams captain, Brooks has 65 carries for 461 yards and five touchdowns in his career that was highlighted by the final two games of 2021; Brooks had a career-high 124 yards rushing at N.C. State in a 34-31 loss and had 72 yards rushing and a 63-yard touchdown run in the 38-21 Duke’s Mayo Bowl loss to South Carolina.

The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

Hollifield, a 2018 Shelby High graduate who helped the Golden Lions to three state titles, also is a fifth-year senior who has 273 tackles in 49 games (37 starts) at linebacker during his career. He led the Hokies with 92 tackles last season.

 

 

 

Legion baseball

After wrapping up its 13th N.C. state tournament appearance, Cherryville Post 100 can determine its seeding on Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts the Area IV championship game against Queen City.

Coming off the first Gaston County comeback from a 2-0 deficit in a seven-game series since 1999, Cherryville will be pursuing its record 20th Area IV title, third in a row and fourth in five seasons.

Cherryville (24-12) beat the Gaston Braves four games to two after it had lost the first two games of the series; The last Gaston County team to rally from a 2-0 series deficit in the best-of-seven series came in 1999 when Cherryville edged Caldwell County 4-3 in the Area IV championship series.

Cherryville has previously won Area IV titles in 1953, 1960, 1961, 1981, 1982, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Post 100 has lost in the Area IV finals four times – in 1957, 1962, 1984 and 1989.

Queen City beat Rutherford County 8-4 at Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park on Thursday to win their semifinal series four games to three.

 

 

 

 

Junior Legion baseball

N.C. state tournament at High Point’s Finch Field and Truist Point:

Pool play (July 21-23)

July 21 at Finch Field
Wilmington vs. High Point-Thomasville (HPT 5-2)
July 21 at Truist Point
Western Forsyth vs. South Caldwell (SC 16-9)
Kinston vs. Pembroke (P 7-5 in 10)
Burns vs. Stokes County, late
July 22 at Finch Field
Wilmington vs. Burns, 9:30 a.m.
Stokes County vs. High Point-Thomasville, 12:15 p.m
July 22 at Truist Point
Kinston vs. Western Forsyth, 10 a.m.
Pembroke vs. South Caldwell, 12:45 p.m.
July 23 at Finch Field
Burns vs. High Point-Thomasville, 10:30 a.m.
Stokes County vs. Wilmington, 1:15 p.m.
July 23 at Truist Point
South Caldwell vs. Kinston, 9:30 a.m.
Western Forsyth vs. Pembroke, 12:15 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Lincolnton Combine Academy pitcher Connor Godwin signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Godwin is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander.

Earlier this week, Combine Academy had its first-ever major league draft selection with Shelby’s Isaiah Lowe was selected in the 11th round by the San Diego Padres. Lowe is a Wake Forest University signee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legion softball

N.C. Area IV championship:

(Quarterfinal – Tuesday July 19)
No. 5 Burke County at No. 4 Shelby (Shelby 8-1)
(Semifinal – Tuesday July 19)
No. 3 Wilkes County at No. 2 Alexander County (Wilkes 7-2)
(Semifinal – Wednesday July 20)
Shelby at No. 1 Rutherford County (Shelby 2-1)
(Finals – Monday July 25 through Wednesday July 27)
Best-of-3 series
Wilkes County vs. Shelby

… (Winner advances to N.C. state tournament at Big League Camp (Marion) Aug. 1-3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

The Gastonia Honey Hunters’ franchise-record 13-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday in a 6-2 loss at York, Pa.

Gastonia is 13-1 in the second half of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball schedule and 57-24 overall.

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: 13-1

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 (14-2)
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 (ppd.)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 4-1)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 5-3)
17 Lexington, Ky. (W 12-5)
19 at York, Pa. (W 19-5)
20 at York, Pa. (W 10-0)
21 at York, Pa. (L 2-6)
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):

(8-11-2 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 (L 2-3)
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 (Christopher Bell)
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