7-7-22 roundup: Pro football, baseball, basketball and soccer, High school football, Legion baseball, Auto racing
By Richard Walker
Shelby’s Daylin Lee, South Point’s Sullivan Absher, East Lincoln’s Ben Cutter and Burns’ Cahari Haynes were named to the NCpreps.com preseason all-state high school football team for the upcoming 2022 season.

Lee, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback, led Shelby to a 15-1 record and 2021 N.C. 2A state title with 3,837 yards passing with 50 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Absher, a 6-7, 290-pound offensive tackle and four-star recruit who has committed to play for Notre Dame next season, was a top blocker for an offense that averaged 293.3 yards total offense per game as South Point had an 11-4 record and advanced to the Western N.C. 3A championship game.
Cutter, a 6-1, 210-pound linebacker and three-star recruit who has committed to play for West Virginia next season, had 158 tackles for East Lincoln last season when the Mustangs went 8-4 and advanced to the second round of the N.C. 3A playoffs.
And Haynes, a 6-2, 206-pound linebacker, had 101 tackles including six sacks for Burns last season when the Bulldogs went 8-4 and advanced to the second round of the N.C. 2A playoffs.
The full 2022 NCPREPS.COM preseason all-state football team:
OFFENSE
QB – Daylin Lee, Sr. – Shelby HS
RB – Daylan Smothers, Sr. West Charlotte HS
RB – Marquies McCombs, Sr. – Chase HS
WR – Noah Rogers, Sr. Rolesville HS
WR – Kevin Concepcion, Sr. Chambers HS
TE – Javonte Vereen, Sr. Havelock HS
OL – Sullivan Absher, Sr. South Point HS
OL – Samuel Pendleton, Sr. Reagan HS
OL – Connor Drake, Sr. Providence HS
OL – Darrion Rivers, Sr. West Charlotte HS
OL – Kamen Smith, Sr. Wilkes Central HS

DEFENSE
DL – K.J. Sampson, Sr. New Bern HS
DL – Jamaal Jarrett, Sr. Grimsley HS
DL – Tyler Thompson, Sr. Panther Creek HS
DL – Daevin Hobbs, Sr. JM Robinson HS
LB – Jaybron Harvey, Sr. Southern Durham HS
LB – Ben Cutter, Sr. East Lincoln HS
LB – Cahari Haynes, Sr. Burns HS
DB – Taivon Derisma, Sr. Chase HS
DB – Noah Gist, Sr. Lexington HS
DB – Brock Adams, Sr. Robbinsville HS
DB – Daunte Hall, Sr. East Duplin HS
SPECIAL TEAMS/ATHLETES
ATH – Christian Hamilton, Sr. Hickory Ridge HS
ATH – Chris Culliver, Sr. Maiden HS
ATH – Jonathan Paylor, Jr. Cummings HS
ATH – Tamarcus Cooley, Sr. Rolesville HS
ATH – Rico Walker, Sr. Hickory HS
K – Nolan Hauser, Jr. Hough HS
P – Chad Giarrusso, Sr. Mitchell HS
KR/PR – Shamar Sutton, Sr. Northeastern HS
LS – Weston Sharpe, Sr. West Brunswick HS
Pro football
With two of the top three picks in the 2018 NFL Draft on their roster – both quarterbacks – it would seem to make sense that the Carolina Panthers would part with one of them.
Instead, it appears the Panthers will enter training camp allowing No. 1 selection Baker Mayfield and No. 3 selection Sam Darnold the opportunity to compete for their starting job.
Mayfield was acquired on Wednesday from the Cleveland Browns while Darnold was acquired from the New York Jets before the 2021 season.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule had previously said he viewed Darnold as his starter, though most expect Mayfield to become Carolina’s starter after trade talks between the Panthers and Browns had been ongoing for months.
The deal came about when Mayfield agreed to a $3.5 million pay cut for the upcoming season; The Browns will now pay Mayfield $10.5 million this season and the Panthers will pay him $4.8 million.
And both Mayfield and Darnold are set to become unrestricted free agents after the season.
Mayfield is 29-30 as an NFL starter in four seasons with Cleveland and led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff win in 2020. A 2017 Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma, Mayfield has 14,125 career passing yards with 92 touchdowns and 56 interceptions.
Darnold, the No. 3 pick in 2018 out of Southern California, has a 17-32 record as a starter for the New York Jets and Panthers and no winning seasons. He has 10,624 career passing yards with 54 touchdowns and 52 interceptions.
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
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, 5 p.m.
Game 3 (if necessary) – July 8 at M
July 9-12 Area IV semifinals (best-of-3)
No. 1 East: Burns vs. No. 2 West: R-S Central-No. 3 East-Cherryville winner
No. 1 West: South Caldwell-1 vs. No. 2 East-Matthews vs. No. 3 West: Chase winner
July 14 Area IV final (1 game)
Both finalists advance to N.C. State tournament at High Point (July 19-24)
Pro baseball
The Gastonia Honey Hunters defeated High Point 6-4 on Thursday night to remain unbeaten (3-0) in the second half of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball schedule.
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: 3-0
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 (6-1)
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
9 High Point
10 High Point
12 at Wild Health, Ky.
13 at Wild Health, Ky.
14 at Wild Health, Ky.
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 basketball
The Charlotte Hornets Las Vegas summer league roster:
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Prior to NBA/Home Country
51 Ty-Shon Alexander G 6-3 195 07/16/98 Creighton/USA
8 LiAngelo Ball F 6-5 230 11/24/98 Greensboro Swarm/USA
17 Jalen Crutcher G 6-2 175 07/18/99 Dayton/USA
30 LJ Figueroa G 6-6 200 03/28/98 Oregon/USA
23 Kai Jones F/C 6-10 225 01/19/01 Texas/Bahamas
16 Scottie Lewis G 6-5 185 03/12/00 Florida/USA
45 Brady Manek F 6-9 230 09/04/98 North Carolina/USA
7 Bryce McGowens G/F 6-7 181 11/08/02 Nebraska/USA
22 Cameron McGriff F 6-7 220 09/30/97 Oklahoma State/USA
14 Justin Minaya F 6-7 210 03/26/99 Providence/USA
4 Nick Richards C 7-0 250 11/29/97 Kentucky/Jamaica
21 JT Thor F 6-9 205 08/26/02 Auburn/USA
55 Isaiah Whaley F 6-9 225 03/26/98 Connecticut/USA
5 Mark Williams C 7-1 242 12/16/01 Duke/USA
Head Coach: Steve Clifford (College – Maine-Farmington)
Summer League Head Coach: Jordan Surenkamp (College – Wabash College)
Assistant Coaches: Nick Friedman (College – Miami), Norm Richardson (College – Hofstra), Jackson Simmons (College – North Carolina), Donyell Marshall (College – Connecticut), Ben Resner (College – Stony Brook), Collin Terry (College – Utah Valley University)
Director of Health Care & Sports Performance: Joe Sharpe (College – Old Dominion)
Associate Head Athletic Trainer: Quinton Sawyer (College – North Carolina)
Hornets NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022 Schedule:
Friday, July 8 at Thomas & Mack Center
6 p.m. – Charlotte vs. Indiana (ESPN2)
Sunday, July 10 at Thomas & Mack Center
9:30 p.m. – Charlotte vs. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA TV)
Wednesday, July 13 at Cox Pavilion
5 p.m. – Cleveland vs. Charlotte (ESPNU)
Thursday, July 14 at Cox Pavilion
6 p.m. – Chicago vs. Charlotte (ESPN2)
(All times listed are Eastern)
Pro soccer
Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(7-10-2 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, 7 p.m.
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
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