7-9-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball and soccer, College baseball, Legion baseball, Auto racing

By Richard Walker

Former Hunter Huss High and Gastonia American Legion Pos 23 standout Josh Jordan has a new coaching job.

After 10 years as the top assistant at Duke University where he was honored as the top assistant in the country, Jordan has been hired as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at LSU, Tigers head coach Jay Johnson announced on Friday.

“I am excited to add Josh Jordan as our new Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach,” Johnson said in a school news release. “When we started this search, it was my goal to find one of the best recruiters in all of college baseball. We have accomplished that and much more in bringing Josh to LSU. His work ethic, character, player relationship building, evaluation skills, and ability to connect make him second to none.
“Josh is also an elite developer of catchers and a great on-the-field coach. Our current and future players are immediately better by having Josh as a part of our program.”

Hired at Duke in June 2012, Jordan was promoted from recruiting coordinator to head coach/recruiting coordinator in July 2015 by Blue Devils’ head coach Chris Pollard.

The Duke program soared to new heights during Jordan’s tenure, as the Blue Devils ended a 45-year NCAA tournament drought in 2016, made their first NCAA Super Regional appearances in history in 2018 and 2019 and won the ACC Tournament Championship for the first time in 50 years in 2021.

In 2018, Jordan was named ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year after Duke set school records for overall wins (45) and ACC wins (18) in addition to its first NCAA Super Regional appearance.

During Jordan’s time at Duke, 33 Blue Devils were selected in the MLB Draft, including a school-record-tying seven in 2018. Of those 33 players, 12 were selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft, accounting for over a third of Duke’s total top-10-round picks in program history.

A 1998 Hunter Huss High graduate, Jordan played second base at Catawba and helped the Indians win the 2002 South Atlantic Conference championship in his senior year.

Jordan also began his long coaching career at Catawba in 2003 before also coaching at Fort Hays (Kansas) State in 2004 and 2005, Young Harris (Ga.) in 2006 and serving as an assistant under Pollard at Appalachian State from 2007-12. Among the players Jordan recruited and coached at ASU was 2011 South Point High graduate Jeffrey Springs, who is currently a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Springs is one of 17 players Jordan coached who were selected in the MLB Draft from ASU; Prior to Jordan and Pollard’s arrival, the Mountaineers had not produced a Major League draft choice since 1996.

Jordan and his wife, Erika, have a son, Jaxon, and a daughter, Lillian.

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here’s the Hornets’ NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022 Schedule:

Friday, July 8 at Thomas & Mack Center
6 p.m. – Charlotte vs. Indiana (Lost 84-96)

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

Cherryville-Matthews: The second game of their best-of-three series was rained out Saturday and will be made up on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Cherryville’s Fraley Field. The third game is now at Butler High School in Matthews on Monday.

Gaston Braves 11, Cleveland County 1 (5 innings): The Braves rolled to a win in a completion of a game that was suspended by weather issues with a 1-all tie in the bottom of the third inning on Friday night. The Braves scored four times in the third inning, five in the fourth and one in the fifth to end the game by the 10-run mercy rule. Gavin Houser (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Liam Brady (2 hits, 2 RBIs) and Parker Agosta (2 scoreless innings of relief for the win).

Cleveland County 8, Gaston Braves 3: Cleveland evened the best-of-five series at one game apiece as Tyler Smart picked up the pitching win with 3 1-3 scoreless innings of relief. Colby Putnam (2 hits), Ryan Emery (1 hit, 2 RBIs, double), Parker Dixon (2 hits) and Connor Gantt (2 hits, 1 RBI) led the Cleveland County offense and Logan Agosta and Liam Brady had two hits apiece for the Braves.

 

 

 

 

 

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 (ppd., weather)
Game 3 – July 9 at R-S (R-S 7-1, R-S wins series 2-1)

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 (M by forfeit, M wins series 2-0)

July 9-12 Area IV semifinals (best-of-3)
No. 1 East: Burns vs. No. 2 West: R-S Central
Game 1 – July 11 at B
Game 2 – July 12 at R-S
Game 3 (if necessary) – July 13 at B

No. 1 West: South Caldwell-1 vs. No. 2 East-Matthews
Game 1 – July 11 at SC
Game 2 – July 12 at M
Game 3 (if necessary) – July 13 at SC

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 improved to 4-0 in the second half of their Atlantic League of Professional Baseball League schedule with a 1-0 win over visiting High Point on Saturday.

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: 4-0

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 (7-1)
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 (ppd.)
9 High Point (W 4-0)
10 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 soccer

Charlotte FC had its most prolific offensive game of the season on Saturday in a 4-1 vicrtory over Nashville.

The previous record for most goals in a game was three in a March 19 3-1 victory over New England.

Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):

(8-10-2 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 (W 4-1)
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