7-25-23 roundup: Pro football, baseball and soccer, Legion baseball, College football, NASCAR

By Richard Walker

Cleveland County Post 82-155 started the day with a heartbreaking defeat and Cherryville Post 100 ended the day with a disappointing loss as both N.C. Area IV teams lost their opening games on Tuesday at the N.C. state American Legion baseball tournament at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium.

Both teams now will have to battle through the loser’s bracket of the 8-team, double-elimination tournament to stay alive.

That starts on Wednesday morning with Cleveland County’s 10 a.m. elimination game against defending champion Wilmington and continues at 1 p.m. with Cherryville’s 1 p.m. elimination game against Rowan County.

In Tuesday’s first round games, Pitt County Post 39 knocked off Cleveland County 2-1 on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh that also ended a no-hit pitching bid by Post 82-155’s Colby Putnam in the opener and Cherryville couldn’t hold an early 1-0 lead in a 3-1 loss to host Fuquay-Varina.

Post 82-155 scored first in the top of the 4th inning when a throwing error on Tyler Smart’s bunt single allowed Parker Dixon to score.

After a fielding error and passed ball allowed Pitt County to tie the score at 1 in the bottom of the 4th, neither team scored until Mason Hobbs’ home run to lead off the bottom of the 7th.

Putnam struck out 8, walked 1 and yielded only the home run in the loss in which he also led Cleveland County’s 7-hit offense with 3 singles. Aidan Taylor, Parker Dixon, Smart and Hagan Hoyle had hits for a Post 82-155 offense that led nine runners on base.

In Cherryville’s loss, Post 100 scored on Jacob Hamrick’s RBI single in the second inning but couldn’t push across any more runs while facing a pair of future local college pitchers.

Fuquay-Varina starter and winner Joseph Taylor went 5 innings allowing 5 hits, 4 walks and 1 run with 3 strikeouts and reliever Andrew Clifford picked up a save with 2 hitless innings with 2 strikeouts and 1 hit batter; Taylor is headed to play for the Charlotte 49ers and Clifford to the Gaston College Rhinos.

Hamrick’s 2 hits led Cherryville 5-hit offense while also got hits from Zane Brockman, Will Fowler and Reid Stroupe.

Full pairings for the N.C. state Legion tournament at Jim Perry Stadium, Campbell University:

(Tuesday, July 25)
Game 1 – Area 1 No. 1 (Pitt County Post 39 – 16-9) vs. Area 4 No. 2 (Cleveland County Post 82-155 – 24-9) – Pitt County 2-1
Game 2 – Area 3 No. 2 (High Point Post 87 – 17-4) vs. Area 2 No. 1 (Wilmington Post 10 – 16-2) – High Point 5-1
Game 3 – Area 1 No. 3 (Wayne County Post 11 – 30-6) vs. Area 3 No. 1 (Rowan County Post 342 – 37-5) – Wayne County 4-1
Game 4 – Host/Area No. 2 (Fuquay-Varina Post 116 – 23-3) vs. Area 4 No. 1 (Cherryville Post 100 – 22-12) – Fuquay-Varina 3-1

(Wednesday, July 26)
Game 5 – Cleveland County vs. Wilmington, 10 a.m.
Game 6 – Rowan County vs. Cherryville, 1 p.m.
Game 7 – Pitt County vs. High Point, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Wayne County vs. Fuquay-Varina, 7:30 p.m.

(Thursday, July 27)
Game 9 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 1 p.m.
Game 10 – Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 4:30 p.m.
Game 11 – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.

(Friday, July 28)
Game 12 – Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 4:30 p.m.
Game 13 – Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 10, 7:30 p.m.

(Saturday, July 29)
Game 14 – Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, Noon
Game 15 – if necessary, 3 p.m.

The full Area IV playoff schedule:

-First round (July 1-5, best of 5)
West No. 1 Cleveland County, West No. 2 Cherryville, East No. 1 Queen City – byes
East No. 4 Matthews vs. West No. 5 Burke (M wins series 3-0)
West No. 3 Asheville vs. East No. 6 Gastonia (A wins series 3-0)
East No. 2 Mint Hill vs. West No. 7 Hickory (H wins series 3-2)
West No. 4 Rutherford vs. East No. 5 Lincoln (R wins series 3-0)
East No. 3 Gaston Braves vs. West No. 6 Caldwell (C wins series 3-1)

-Quarterfinals (July 6-11, best of 5)
West No. 1 Cleveland vs. East No. 4 Matthews (C wins series 3-0)
West No. 3 Asheville vs. West No. 7 Hickory (A wins series 3-0)
East No. 1 Queen City vs. West No. 4 Rutherford (R wins series 3-0)
West No. 6 Caldwell vs. West No. 2 Cherryville (Cherryville wins series 3-0)

-Semifinals (July 12-19, best of 7)
West No. 1 Cleveland vs. West No. 3 Asheville (C wins series 4-0)
West No. 4 Rutherford vs. West No. 2 Cherryville (C wins series 4-1)

-Final (July 20-22, 1 game or best of 3)
West No. 1 Cleveland vs. West No. 2 Cherryville (Cherryville wins series 2-0)

Here are the pairings for the Aug. 2-6 Southeast Regionals that will be played at McCrary Park in Asheboro:

Southeast (Region 3 at Asheboro NC)
(Wednesday, Aug. 2)
Game 1 – Georgia (Evans) vs. Kentucky, 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 – Florida (Bellevue) vs. Virginia, 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 – South Carolina (Florence) vs. North Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Tennessee (Columbia) vs. Host (Randolph County NC), 7:30 p.m.
(Thursday, Aug. 3)
Game 5 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 9:30 a.m.
Game 6 – Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 p.m.
(Friday, Aug. 4)
Game 9 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 12:30 p.m.
Game 10 – Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 4:30 p.m.
Game 11 – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m.
(Saturday, Aug. 5)
Game 12 – Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 4:30 p.m.
Game 13 – Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7:30 p.m.
(Sunday, Aug. 6)
Game 14 – Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 1:30 p.m.
Game 15 – If necessary, 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Coming off its first Big South Conference title in 20 years, Gardner-Webb was picked to finish 2nd in its new conference at Media Day in Nashville, Tenn.

The 2023 season marks the 1st year of the Big South-Ohio Valley combination football league and Gardner-Webb is picked to finish 2nd behind longtime power Southeast Missouri.

Southeast Missouri is the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion after finishing league play last season with a 5-0. The Red Hawks finished 9-2 overall after losing 34-24 to Montana in the first round of the Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs.

Gardner-Webb last season went 5-0 in the Big South Conference last season and 7-6 overall after going 1-1 in the first appearance in the FCS playoffs.

The full preseason poll follows:

1. Southeast Missouri, 96 points (6 1st place votes)
2. Gardner-Webb, 86 (2)
3. UT Martin, 85 (1)
4. Tennessee Tech, 58 (1)
5. Tennessee St, 57
6. Bryant, 48
7. Lindenwood, 45
8. Eastern Illinois, 33
9. Charleston Southern, 30
10. Robert Morris, 12

Additionally, 11 Gardner-Webb players were placed on the league’s preseason “Watch List,” including 2021 Kings Mountain High graduate Jamie Wilson.

They are the following:
RB- Narii Gaither
WR- Brennan McGuire
OL- Gabe Thompson
DL- Ty French
LB- Ty Anderson
LB- William McRainey
DB- Jamari Brown
DB- Raequan Ousley
DB- A.J. Thomas
PK- Ian Sauter
LS- Jamie Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule with results:

(7-8-8 record)
Feb. 25 New England Revolution (L 0-1)
March 4 at St. Louis City SC (L 1-3)
March 11 Atlanta United FC (L 0-3)
March 18 at Orlando City SC (W 2-1)
March 25 New York Red Bulls (T 1-1)
April 1 at Toronto FC (T 2-2)
April 8 at Real Salt Lake (L 1-3)
April 15 Colorado Rapids (T 2-2)
April 22 Columbus Crew (W 1-0)
April 29 at D.C. United (L 0-3)
May 6 New York City FC (W 3-2)
May 13 at Atlanta United FC (W 3-1)
May 17 Chicago Fire FC (W 2-1)
May 20 Nashville SC (L 1-2)
May 27 at L.A. Galaxy (W 1-0)
May 31 at Philadelphia Union (L 0-1)
June 3 at Columbus Crew (W 4-2)
June 10 Seattle Sounders FC (T 3-3)
June 21 at New York Red Bulls (T 2-2)
June 24 CF Montreal (T 0-0)
July 5 at New York City FC (T 1-1)
July 8 FC Cincinnati (T 2-2)
July 15 at CF Montreal (L 0-2)
Aug. 20 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 L.A. FC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 Inter Miami CF, TBD

(Leagues Cup schedule – Group stage)
July 21 at FC Dallas (T 2-2, wins 4-1 on penalty kicks)
July 29 Necaxa, 7:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Durham 9, Charlotte 7: The host Bulls scored 3 runs in the 8th inning to rally past the Knights in the opener of a 6-game series in Durham. The 2nd game of the series is 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday.

Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2023 schedule:

Overall record: 38-58
First half record: 35-40
Second half record: 3-18

-First half
March 31-April 2 Louisville (2-1)
April 4-9 at Columbus (3-3)
April 11-16 Jacksonville (3-3)
April 18-23 at Louisville (2-4)
April 25-30 Norfolk (2-4)
May 2-7 at Gwinnett (4-2)
May 9-14 Durham (3-3)
May 16-21 Scranton-Wilkes Barre (2-4)
May 23-28 at Jacksonville (4-2)
May 30-June 4 Nashville (3-3)
June 6-11 at Gwinnett (1-5)
June 13-18 at Durham (3-3)
June 20-25 Louisville (3-3)

-Second half
June 28-July 3 at Norfolk (1-4)
July 4-9 Jacksonville (1-5)
July 14-16 at Lehigh Valley (0-3)
July 18-23 Memphis (1-5)
July 25-30 at Durham (0-1)
Aug. 1-6 at Norfolk
Aug. 8-13 Gwinnett
Aug. 15-20 at Nashville
Aug. 22-24, 26-27 Memphis
Aug. 28-Sept. 3 at Jacksonville
Sept. 5-10 Durham
Sept. 12-17 Nashville
Sept. 18-24 at Memphis

The Gastonia Honey Hunters appear to be on shaky financial ground and one news report indicated the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is handling the team’s paychecks the rest of the season.

Twitter account @indyballnation reported on Monday night that it had talked to “3 dozen individuals who love team” to discuss the team’s financial issues that include failure to pay team employees. On Tuesday evening, the site said it had “confirmed that the Atlantic League will be handling the rest of the team’s paychecks this season.”

Charlotte’s Queen City News (qcnews.com) discussed the late paychecks issue with Gastonia chief operating officer Veronica Jeon on Tuesday.

“It’s something we don’t take lightly,” Jeon told qcnews.com. “When I do have to communicate or tell staff, it’s one of the most difficult conversations that I have to have.”

The Honey Hunters, whose majority owner is Brandon Bellamy, began play in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic altered all spectator businesses.

“We started out in a deficit,” Jeon told qcnews.com. “That and we don’t have 3,500 or 4,500 people in the ballpark every weekend. We would love to get there.”

When qcnews.com asked the league if it was bankrolling the team, and ALPB spokesman responded: “It is league policy not to comment on internal league matters.”

Jeon told qcnews.com the team was paying its players.

“We are working closely in partnership with the league to make sure moving forward things like this are smoother,” she said.

With the financial issues, qcnews.com asked Jeon if the team can continue to “weather the financial storms?”

“We are currently not looking to sell the team,” she said. “We made a commitment not only to the city but to this community and to our team. We are moving forward as a team. I know, like I said, it’s been bumpy, let’s keep it real, it’s been bumpy, but we have a plan.”

Here is the full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2023 schedule:

Overall record: 50-27
First half record: 41-22
Second half record: 9-5

-First half
April (3-0)
28 Spire City (W 10-4)
29 Spire City (W 8-6)
30 Spire City (W 7-4)

May (17-9)
2 at So. Maryland (W 8-6)
3 at So. Maryland (W 11-6)
4 at So. Maryland (L 2-4)
5 at Long Island (W 3-2)
6 at Long Island (L 1-3)
7 at Long Island (L 4-6)
9 Spire City (W 2-1 in 10)
10 Spire City (W 10-0)
11 Spire City (W 9-7)
12 at High Point (L 5-8)
13 at High Point (W 12-5)
14 at High Point (L 3-4)
16 Charleston, W.Va. (W 13-4)
17 Charleston, W.Va. (W 4-2)
18 Charleston, W.Va. (L 4-6)
19 at Lexington (W 15-2)
20 at Lexington (W 8-0)
21 at Lexington (W 5-3)
23 at Spire City (W 6-0)
24 at Spire City (W 8-5)
25 at Spire City (W 8-3)
26 Lancaster (L 3-4 in 11)
27 Lancaster (ppd., rain)
28 Lancaster (ppd., rain)
29 Lancaster (W 9-1)
29 Lancaster (L 3-4)
30 High Point (L 8-10)
31 High Point (W 14-10)

June (19-8)
1 High Point (W 7-4)
2 Lexington (W 3-2)
3 Lexington (W 10-1)
4 Lexington (W 4-1)
6 at Charleston, W.Va. (W 4-1)
7 at Charleston, W.Va. (L 1-13)
8 at Charleston, W.Va. (L 2-4)
9 at Spire City (W 5-4)
10 at Spire City (W 12-7)
11 at Spire City (L 6-9)
13 So. Maryland (W 5-0)
14 So. Maryland (L 9-10)
15 So. Maryland (W 11-6)
16 Staten Island (W 5-4)
17 Staten Island (W 7-5)
18 Staten Island (W 5-1)
20 at Lancaster (L 0-6)
21 at Lancaster (W 9-7)
22 at Lancaster (W 4-1)
22 at Lancaster (L 2-6)
24 at Staten Island (W 12-3)
25 at Staten Island (L 2-7)
27 High Point (W 8-3)
28 High Point (W 7-3)
29 High Point (L 1-11)
30 So. Maryland (W 15-0)

July (8-9)
1 So. Maryland (L 6-7)
1 So. Maryland (W 8-7)
2 So. Maryland (W 3-2 in 10)
4 at Spire City (L 3-4)
5 at Spire City (L 8-18)
6 at Spire City (L 4-6)
7 at High Point (L 1-8)
-Second half
8 at High Point (W 7-2)
9 at High Point (L 13-14)
11 at Charleston, W.Va. (W 5-3)
12 at Charleston, W.Va. (W 2-1)
13 at Charleston, W.Va. (ppd.)
14 Staten Island (W 7-3)
15 Staten Island (L 10-12 in 10)
16 Staten Island (W 13-8)
18 High Point (W 6-5)
19 High Point (L 5-9)
20 High Point (W 10-5)
21 at So. Maryland (L 9-11)
22 at So. Maryland (W 8-6)
23 at So. Maryland (L 8-12)
25 at Staten Island (W 10-2)
26 at Staten Island
27 at Staten Island
28 at Long Island
29 at Long Island
30 at Long Island

August
1 High Point
2 High Point
3 High Point
4 Lexington
5 Lexington
6 Lexington
8 Spire City
9 Spire City
10 Spire City
11 at Long Island
12 at Long Island
13 at Long Island
15 York
16 York
17 York
18 Lexington
19 Lexington
20 Lexington
22 at Long Island
23 at Long Island
24 at Long Island
25 at Lancaster
26 at Lancaster
27 at Lancaster
29 Spire City
30 Spire City
31 Spire City

September
1 So. Maryland
2 So. Maryland
3 So. Maryland
4 So. Maryland
5 at High Point
6 at High Point
7 at High Point
8 Charleston, W.Va.
9 Charleston, W.Va.
10 Charleston, W.Va.
12 So. Maryland
13 So. Maryland
14 So. Maryland
15 at Lexington
16 at Lexington
17 at Lexington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers’ training camp schedule:

Practices (at Wofford unless noted):
July 26-27 10:15 a.m.
July 29 11 a.m.
July 31 10:25 a.m.
Aug. 1 10:15 p.m.
Aug. 2 Fan Fest at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, 7 p.m.
Aug. 4 10:25 a.m.
Aug. 5-6 10:15 a.m.
Aug. 8 10:15 a.m.
Aug. 9 Joint practice with N.Y. Jets, 10:15 a.m.
Aug. 10 Joint practice with N.Y. Jets, 9 a.m.

Here is the 2023 preseason and regular season schedule for the Carolina Panthers:

(Preseason)
Aug. 12 N.Y. Jets, 4 p.m.
Aug. 18 at N.Y. Giants, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 Detroit, 8 p.m.

(Regular season)
Sept. 10 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 New Orleans, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 1 Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Miami, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 OFF WEEK
Oct. 29 Houston, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5 Indianapolis, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Chicago, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 19 Dallas, 1 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Dec. 10 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 17-18 Atlanta, TBD
Dec. 24 Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Dec. 31 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Jan. 6-7 Tampa Bay, TBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

The 2023 NASCAR schedule (with winners in parentheses):

Feb 5 Clash at The Coliseum, Los Angeles CA (Martin Truex, Jr.)
Feb 16 Duel No. 1, Daytona Beach FL (Joey Logano)
Feb 16 Duel No. 2, Daytona Beach FL (Aric Almirola)
Feb 19 Daytona 500, Daytona Beach FL (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.)
Feb 26 NASCAR Cup Series at California, Fontana CA (Kyle Busch)
Mar 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV (William Byron)
Mar 12 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ (William Byron-2)
Mar 19 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA (Joey Logano-2)
Mar 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas, Austin TX (Tyler Reddick)
Apr 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA (Kyle Larson)
Apr 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN (Christopher Bell)
Apr 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville VA (Kyle Larson-2)
Apr 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL (Kyle Busch-2)
May 1 NASCAR Cup Series at Dover, Dover DE (Martin Truex, Jr.-2)
May 7 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS (Denny Hamlin)
May 14 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC (William Byron-3)
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open Race, North Wilkesboro NC (Josh Berry)
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro NC (Kyle Larson-3)
May 29 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC (Ryan Blaney)
Jun 4 NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison IL (Kyle Busch-3)
Jun 11 NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma, Sonoma CA (Martin Truex, Jr.-3)
Jun 25 NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville, Lebanon TN (Ross Chastain)
Jul 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Chicago, Chicago IL (Shane van Gisbergen)
Jul 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA (William Byron-4)
Jul 17 NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire, Loudon NH, noon on USA (Martin Truex, Jr.-4)
Jul 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono, Long Pond PA, 2:30 p.m. on USA (Denny Hamlin-2)
Jul 30 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 6 NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan, Brooklyn MI, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Aug 13 NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Road Course, Speedway IN, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Aug 20 NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen NY, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona, Daytona Beach FL, 7 p.m. on NBC

(Cup Playoffs)
Sep 3 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC, 6 p.m. on USA
Sep 10 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS, 3 p.m. on USA
Sep 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN, 7:30 p.m. on USA
Sep 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Texas, Fort Worth TX, 3:30 p.m. on USA
Oct 1 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 8 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 15 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 22 NASCAR Cup Series at Miami, Homestead FL, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 29 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville, 2 p.m. on NBC
Nov 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ, 3 p.m. on NBC