8-17-22 roundup: Pro baseball, football and soccer, High school football, boys soccer and volleyball, Auto racing, Hall of Fame
By Richard Walker
Gastonia’s Harold Varner III is in a five-person class of those who will be inducted into the 44th annual East Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 14 at Minges Coliseum.
Varner will be joined by 1994 Liberty Bowl Alliance Co-Offensive Player of the Year and former Pirate quarterback Marcus Crandall, longtime East Carolina supporter Ron Dowdy, two-time USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) All-American Eric Frasure and Conference USA All-Decade women’s golf selection Adrienne Millican.
The five inductees will be recognized publicly at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium as a part of the Hall of Fame and Homecoming festivities during the Oct. 15 football game versus Memphis.
Varner, a 2008 Forestview High and 2012 ECU graduate, became the first Pirates’ player in program history to be named Conference USA Golfer of the Year in 2012.
He also set the ECU record for lowest scoring average (72.28) and was the first Pirate to break 200 in a 54-hole tournament (196) – doing so at the 2010 Outer Banks Intercollegiate. He qualified for three NCAA Regional tournaments and was the second player in school history to earn an individual at-large berth. Varner earned selection to the Golf Coaches Association of America All-East Region Team twice (2010-11) while garnering All-Conference USA laurels three times, including first-team recognition in 2011 and 2012.
The Big South Conference golfer of the year in 2008 at Forestview and a two-time N.C. 3A state runner-up, Varner in 2011 became the first African-American male to win the N.C. Amateur golf championship.
Upon turning pro, Varner spent one season on the eGolf tour and two seasons on the Web.com tour before earning his PGA tour card in 2015. He’s made the FedEx Cup all seven years he’s been on the PGA Tour.
Pro baseball
Former Gastonia American Legion Post 23 and Gastonia Grizzlies standout Tyler White is headed for his fifth major league baseball organization.
A 5-foot-11, 238-pound infielder, White was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Atlanta Braves.
White, who broke into the major leagues with the Houston Astros in 2016, has also played in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays organizations.
He was hitting .231 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs in 75 games for the Brewers’ Class AAA Nashville Sounds at the time of the trade.
High school football
This week’s area schedule:
Anson County at Mountain Island Charter (cancelled)
Ashbrook at Concord
Avery County at Cherryville
Bunker Hill at Cramer
Carolina Bearcats at Highland Tech
Community School of Davidson at Bessemer City
Crest at Freedom
Forestview at Burns
Hibriten at East Lincoln
Hickory Ridge at Huss
Kings Mountain at Shelby
North Gaston at East Gaston
South Point at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at North Lincoln
High school volleyball
Cherryville def. Lincolnton 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 27-25, 23-25, 15-7): Rileigh Kiser (36 assists, 15 digs), Emily Allen (13 kills), Carson Reed (10 kills) and Taylor Digh (19 digs) led Cherryville (2-0).
Cherryville def. North Gaston 3-2 (18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, 15-21 on Tuesday): Rileigh Kiser (27 assists 5 aces, 15 digs), Cardon Reed (8 kills, 3 blocks) and Emily Allen (7 kills, 4 aces) led Cherryville.
Cherryville also won the junior varsity 2-0 behind Kennedy Weathers (4 aces) and Jenna Anthony (4 aces, 5 kills).
Cramer def. Shelby 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-11 on Tuesday): Cramer plays on Thursday at Charlotte Palisades.
High school boys soccer
Ashbrook 6, West Lincoln 0: Hilario Aguirre (2 goals), Jackson Thomas (2 goals, 2 assists), Sanders Zendejas (1 goal, 2 assists) and Jeremiah George (1 goal) led Ashbrook and Mark Aguilar (20 steals) and Joel Sellers (28 Steals) led West Lincoln.
Pro football
Here’s the full Carolina Panthers schedule for the 2022 season:
(Preseason)
Aug. 13 at Washington (W 23-21)
Aug. 19 at New England, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 Buffalo, 7 p.m.
(Regular season)
Week 1, Sept. 11, Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Week 2, Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Week 3, Sept. 25, New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Week 4, Oct. 2, Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Week 5, Oct. 9, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Week 6, Oct. 16, at L.A. Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Week 7, Oct. 23, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 8, Oct. 30, at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Week 9, Nov. 6, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Week 10, Nov. 9, Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Week 11, Nov. 20, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Week 12, Nov. 27, Denver, 1 p.m.
Week 13, Dec. 4, BYE
Week 14, Dec. 11, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15, Dec. 18, Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 16, Dec. 24, Detroit, 1 p.m.
Week 17, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 18, Jan. 7 or 8, at New Orleans, TBD
Pro baseball
Gastonia knocked off Southern Maryland 5-3 on Wednesday night.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
First half record: 45-21 (South Division winner)
Second half record: 26-12
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 (21-5)
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 (W 5-2)
10 High Point (ppd., Aug. 5)
12 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 8-6)
13 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 6-2)
14 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 4-1)
15 Lexington, Ky (ppd.)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 4-1)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 5-3)
17 Lexington, Ky. (W 12-5)
19 at York, Pa. (W 19-5)
20 at York, Pa. (W 10-0)
21 at York, Pa. (L 2-6)
22 at High Point (L 1-2)
23 at High Point (W 5-3)
24 at High Point (L 6-7)
26 Lexington, Ky. (L 4-10)
27 Lexington, Ky. (W 11-0)
28 Lexington, Ky. (W 8-6)
29 York, Pa. (W 3-2)
30 York, Pa. (ppd.)
31 York, Pa. (W 8-7)
31 York, Pa. (W 5-1)
August (8-8)
2 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-8)
3 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-3)
4 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-5)
5 High Point (W 6-3)
5 High Point (L 2-3)
6 High Point (L 4-8)
7 High Point (L 5-11)
9 Staten Island (W 10-5)
9 Staten Island (W 7-2)
10 Staten Island (L 2-6)
11 Staten Island (L 7-9)
12 at High Point (W 9-4)
13 at High Point (L 3-5)
14 at High Point (L 3-6)
16 So. Maryland (L 2-3 in 10)
17 So. Maryland (W 5-3)
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.
—ALPB playoffs
(Southern Division championship: Best-of-5)
20 home at 6:15 p.m.
21 home at 6:15 p.m.
23 away TBA
24 (if necessary) away TBA
25 (if necessary) away TBA
Pro soccer
A big day for Charlotte FC ended with arguably the expansion franchise’s biggest win in its brief history.
Charlotte won 3-1 on Wednesday at defending MLS champion New York FC.
Earlier on Wednesday, Charlotte FC announced an agreement with Levine Properties for a permanent training facility and business operation headquarters in Charlotte.
That facility will be located at 8600 McAlpine Park Drive, with 52,000 plus square feet of use for players and business operations. It will feature four world-class fields and be home to the Club’s First Team, MLS NEXT Pro and Academy teams. Charlotte FC’s first team currently trains on the fields at the site. They’ll continue to do so until the facility’s opening next year as renovations to the existing structure at the site will begin immediately with a finish date slated for spring 2023.
“A permanent training facility and business headquarters for Charlotte FC has been a priority for the Club since it was launched and we’re excited to reach an agreement to bring this to life,” Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said in a team news release. “The timeline for this project was crucial and we’re delighted to deliver a first-class facility to our players and staff in Spring 2023. This is an important milestone for our Club and reflects our commitment to continue investing in infrastructure that will allow Charlotte FC to be a leader in Major League Soccer both on and off the pitch.”
Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(10-14-2 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 (L 2-3)
July 23, at Toronto (L 0-4)
July 30, Columbus (suspended at 0-0 in 16th minute to Oct. 5)
August 3, D.C. (W 3-0)
August 6, Chicago (L 2-3)
August 13, at LAFC (L 0-5)
August 17, at New York City (W 3-1)
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, 5:30 p.m.
October 5, Columbus, 7 p.m.
October 9, at New York, 1 p.m.
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 (Chase Elliott-3)
July 17 Ambetter 301 (Christopher Bell)
July 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono (Chase Elliott-4)
July 31 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard (Tyler Reddick-2)
Aug. 7 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Kevin Harvick)
Aug. 14 Federated Auto Parts 400 (Kevin Harvick-2)
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