8-13-21 roundup: Pro basketball, football and baseball, Legion baseball, College athletics

By Richard Walker

The Charlotte Hornets announced a four-game preseason schedule that features two home games at Spectrum Center.

Charlotte opens its 2021-22 preseason at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. before returning home to play the Mamphis Grizzlies on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

After visiting the Miami Heat on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m., the Hornets close their preseason slate at home on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks currently have 1986 Ashbrook High graduate Darrell Armstrong on their coaching staff and 2018 Gaston Day School graduate Nate Hinton on their roster.

Bally Sports Southeast will broadcast the last three preseason games.

Charlotte’s 2021-22 preseason schedule:

Oct. 4 at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Oct. 7 Memphis, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 Dallas, 7 p.m.

Summer League: The Charlotte Hornets play another 2021 Las Vegas Summer League game on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Toronto. The Hornets are off to a 0-3 start in summer league action.after losing a 106-105 shootout to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Hornets’ Las Vegas Summer League schedule:

Aug. 8: Portland (Lost 86-93)
Aug. 9: Sacramento, 6 p.m. (Lost 70-80)
Aug. 12: San Antonio, 3 p.m. (Lost 105-106)
Aug. 14: Toronto, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
Aug. 16 or 17 TBD

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

Here is the full schedule of games for the 2021 American Legion World Series that begin on Thursday:

Pool play 4-team divisions (with records)
Stars – Central Plains (Fargo, N.D. 0-2), Mid-Atlantic (Ridge St. Mary’s, Md. 1-1), Southeast (Tupelo, Miss. 1-1), Western (Honolulu Team Central, Hi. 2-0)
Stripes – Great Lakes (Midland Berryhill, Mich. 0-1), Mid-South (Dubuque County, Ia. 0-1), Northeast (Beverly, Mass. 1-0), Northwest (Idaho Falls, Id. 1-0)

Thursday Aug. 12
Central Plains vs. Western, 10 a.m. – Honolulu 7, Fargo 1
Mid-South vs. Northeast, 1 p.m. – Beverly 8, Dubuque County 4
Great Lakes vs. Northwest, 4 p.m. – Idaho Falls 3, Midland 2
Southeast vs. Mid-Atlantic, 7:30 p.m. – Ridge 6, Tupelo 1

Friday, Aug. 13
Central Plains vs. Southeast, 4 p.m. – Tupelo 11, Fargo 1 (6 innings)
Mid-Atlantic vs. Western, 7 p.m. – Honolulu 5, Ridge 2
Idle – Great Lakes, Mid-South, Northeast, Northwest

Saturday, Aug. 14
Mid-South vs. Northwest, 1 p.m.
Great Lakes vs. Northeast, 4 p.m.
Southeast vs. Western, 7:30 p.m.
Idle – Central Plains, Mid-Atlantic

Sunday, Aug. 15
Mid-South vs. Great Lakes, 1 p.m.
Mid-Atlantic vs. Central Plains, 4 p.m.
Northeast vs. Northwest, 7:30 p.m.
Idle – Southeast, Western

Monday, Aug. 16 – semifinals
Stars No. 1 vs. Stripes No. 2, 4 p.m.
Stripes No. 1 vs. Stars No. 2, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 17
6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

High school volleyball

Gaston Day 3, Charlotte Christian 0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-15): The Spartans won their Thursday night season opener and host Greensboro’s Caldwell Academy on Saturday at 11 a.m. in their next match.

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers open their 2021 preaseason schedule on Sunday at Indianapolis at 1 p.m.

Here is the Carolina Panthers’ full 2021 schedule:

(Preseason)

Aug. 14 at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
Aug. 21 Baltimore, 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

(Regular season)

Sept. 12 New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Houston, 8:20 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 New England, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 21 Washington, 1 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Miami, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 BYE WEEK
Dec. 12 Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 or 19 at Buffalo, TBD
Dec. 26 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m

 

 

 

 

 

 

College athletics

Gaston College will return to athletic competition this fall for the first time since 1975.

The school is holding a Block Party from 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19 to unveil the school’s new nickname, logo and colors.

Gaston College was nicknamed the Rebels from 1965 to 1969 and the Warriors from 1969 to 1972 before the school ceased its athletic programs after the 1974-75 school year.

With its restart this fall, it will again compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region 10 and field teams in baseball, beach volleyball, esports, men’s basketball, softball and women’s cross country.