7-22-22 roundup: Pro baseball, football and soccer, Legion baseball and softball, High school basketball, Auto racing

By Richard Walker

Cherryville wrapped up its record 20th N.C. Area IV championship on Friday night with come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Queen City Mustangs at Fraley Field.

Post 100, which improved 25-12 with the win, next plays next week in the N.C. state tournament at Campbell University. Queen City (21-7) also advances to the state tournament.

Cherryville’s Area IV championship was its third straight and fourth in five years. Previous Post 100 Area IV championships came in 1953, 1960, 1961, 1981, 1982, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Queen City, formerly Charlotte Post 262, was in its first Area IV championship since 1985. The Mustangs won the Area IV title in 1983 and finished as runner-up in 1982 and 1985.

Gastonia is second in all-time Area IV titles with 14, followed by Cleveland County (formerly Shelby) with 10, Caldwell County and Hickory with seven, Mint Hill (formerly Charlotte Post 9 and Newell) with five, Paw Creek and Stanley (now combined with Belmont to form the Gaston Braves) with three, Burke County, Queen City, Rutherford County, Taylorsville, Haywood County and Union County with one.

Cherryville trailed 4-1 after 3 1-2 innings before scoring twice in the fourth and once apiece in the fifth and sixth innings.

Landon Jenkins sixth-inning RBI single was the difference for Post 100, which also got a RBI single from Reid Stroupe in the second inning for an early 1-0 Cherryville lead. Landon Hahn led the Cherryville offense with two hits.

Reliever Zane Brockman went four innings with seven strikeouts for the pitching victory for Cherryville.

 

 

 

 

 

Junior Legion baseball

Burns won two games in less than 14 hours and clinched a berth in the N.C. state tournament semifinals in High Point.

After its scheduled 4 p.m. Thurday opener at Finch Field was moved to Truist Point due to thunderstorms, Burns’ opener against Stokes County didn’t begin until 10:35 p.m.; Burns won 7-2 behind Jacob Whiteside (2 hits), Nick Williams (2 RBIs) and Josh Taylor (4 1-3 innings, 4 strikeouts).

Then in its 9:30 a.m. Friday game against Wilmington at Finch Field, Burns won 4-1 behind Gabe Holiday (3 hits, 4 1-3 innings, 1 strikeout), Whiteside (2 hits), Camden Mackall (2 hits, 3 RBIs), Jaxon Dubesko (1 2-3 innings) and Hagan Hoyle (1 inning, 1 strikeout).

Burns faces host High Point-Thomasville at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday to determine seeding for Sunday’s semifinals.

N.C. state tournament pairings and results 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 (B 7-2)
July 22 at Finch Field
Wilmington vs. Burns (B 4-1)
Stokes County vs. High Point-Thomasville (HPT 9-8 in 11)
July 22 at Truist Point
Kinston vs. Western Forsyth (WF 8-1)
Pembroke vs. South Caldwell (SC 6-3)
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.
July 24 semifinals
July 25 championship game

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

A pair of local high schools have hired new boys basketball coaches – and both most recently coached at East Lincoln.

Lincolnton announced earlier this week it was hiring Jalen Littlejohn as its new head coach; Littlejohn, a 2012 Lincolnton High graduate who played football and basketball for the Wolves, has previously coached girls and boys basketball at East Lincoln.

And, on Friday, Kings Mountain announced it had hired Andrew Fann as its new head coach: Fann, a 2011 South Caldwell High graduate, has previously been an assistant coach at Mallard Creek (2016-18) and East Lincoln (2018-22).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 lost 2-1 at High Point on Friday.

The loss dropped Gastonia to 13-2 in the second half of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball schedule and 57-25 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: 13-2

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 (14-3)
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 (L 1-2)
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