7-26-23 roundup: Pro football, baseball and soccer, Legion baseball, College football, NASCAR
By Richard Walker
For the second straight day, early leads didn’t hold up for Cleveland County or Cherryville in North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament games at Campbell University.
Cleveland County Post 82-155 lost 13-5 to Wilmington as Post 10 used 14 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batter and 3 fielding errors to win the elimination game.
The loss ends Cleveland County’s season with a 24-11 record. It’s the 1st 20-win season since 2018 and ended with Cleveland County winning its 18th regular season title (Area IV West) before finishing as Area IV runner-up for a 10th time and closing the season with 1,510 all-time Legion baseball victories.
Cleveland County took a 3-1 lead after 2 innings before Wilmington had a 5-run 3rd inning and 6-run 5th inning to cruise to victory.
Colby Putnam (2 triples, 1 RBI), Connor Gantt (RBI single), Aiden Taylor (RBI single, 2 stolen bases) and Jaxon Dubesko (double) led head coach Charlie Ruff’s 9-hit offense.
Cherryville Post 100 lost 11-4 to Rowan County as Post 342 used 7 hits, 10 walks, 3 hit batters and 3 fielding errors to win the elimination game.
The loss ends Cherryville’s season with a 22-14 record. Post 100 won its 4th straight Area IV title – and record 21st overall – while increasing its total to 1,429 all-time Legion baseball victories and coach Bobby Reynolds’ all-time state record for wins were increased to 882.
Cherryville took a 2-1 lead after 1 inning on Ashton Pope’s 2-run home run before Rowan County had a 5-run 2nd inning and 3-run 6th inning to roll to the victory.
Pope (2-run home run), Will Fowler (2 hits), Joseph Webb (2 hits) and Landon Jenkins (double) led Post 100’s 9-hit offense.
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 – Wilmington 13-5
Game 6 – Rowan County vs. Cherryville – Rowan County 11-4
Game 7 – Pitt County vs. High Point – High Point 12-1
Game 8 – Wayne County vs. Fuquay-Varina – Fuquay-Varina 10-4
(Thursday, July 27)
Game 9 – Rowan County vs. Pitt County, 1 p.m.
Game 10 – Wilmington vs. Wayne County, 4:30 p.m.
Game 11 – High Point vs. Fuquay-Varina, 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
The Charlotte 49ers’ new head coach Biff Poggi’s four-minute news conference at Tuesday’s American Athletic Conference Media Day has gained lots of attention on social media.
Poggi, who was hired last December as the 49ers’ 4th head coach in its 11-year history, has reshuffled the team’s roster and promised improvements for a program that has had only one winning season and made one postseason bowl game in its history.
Since being hired more than 40 players have departed the program with more than 40 players being added to the roster.
Selected 14th (and last) in the AAC preseason media poll, Poggi made news when he abruptly ended his media availabilty following a break after only three questions.
“That’s it? Three questions,” Poggi said. “Maybe that’s because you have us ranked last. That’s all what you think of us. We get that message. Thank you.”
Later in breakout media sessions, Poggi offered this to reporters: “We’re a different team. We’re not some C-USA team joining this league. We’re prepared for this conference. We’re going to let our play speak for ourselves.”
In its previous 10 seasons – 8 as a Conference USA member – Charlotte had a winning league record only once when it went 5-3 during the 2019 season that ended at 7-6 overall after losing in the Bahamas Bowl.
Charlotte enters the 2023 season with a 39-74 alltime record and 20-40 record in league games.
One of the 49ers’ newcomers, senior quarterback Jalon Jones, was happy to hear his coach be irritated at the team’s low preseason prediction.
“It made me excited,” Jones said. “It made me wish we were going out there today. Seeing him bang on the desk, that made me want to go out there and play right now.”
Charlotte opens is 2023 season on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. at home against South Carolina State.
The full American Athletic Conference preseason media poll:
1. Tulane (20 1st place votes)
2. UTSA (9)
3. SMU (3)
4. Memphis (1)
5. Florida Atlantic
6. East Carolina
7. North Texas
8. UAB (1)
9. Navy
10. Temple
11. Tulsa
12. Rice
13. South Florida
14. Charlotte
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 13, Charlotte 5: Knights shortstop Lenyn Sosa hit his 14th home run of the season and former South Point standout Garrett Davila fell to 2-6 on the season after yielding 5 runs and 5 hits in 3 2/3 innings at Durham. The 3rd game of the 6-game series is at 6:35 p.m. Thursday as Charlotte will try to shake its current slump of 20 losses in the last 23 games.
Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2023 schedule:
Overall record: 38-59
First half record: 35-40
Second half record: 3-19
-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 (0-2)
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
Staten Island 8, Gastonia 3: The host Ferry Hawks trailed 3-1 before a 6-run 5th inning gave them the lead for good.
Here is the full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2023 schedule:
Overall record: 50-28
First half record: 41-22
Second half record: 9-6
-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 (8-10)
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 (L 3-8)
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
Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich made it official on Wednesday early in the team’s training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. as he announced rookie Bryce Young would be his starting quarterback when the Panthers open their 2023 season at Atlanta on Sept. 10.
Young, the No. 1 overall pick out of Alabama in the 2023 draft after Carolina traded up with Chicago to get the selection, had this to say after Reich’s announcement:
“I want to do everything I can to play whatever role it is that I am called upon to do, and that means a lot and for me. It doesn’t change my approach and I will take things day-by-day … We are in this as a team ‘together’ and I want to do the best I can to master my role.”
Reich’s decision was made after Young had an impressive opening practice in which he showed off his knowledge of the team’s offense and showed a strong connection with veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Young last week signed a 4-year, $37.96 million contract with the Panthers.
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