8-5-23 roundup: Pro football, baseball, basketball and soccer, Middle school football, Legion baseball, NASCAR

By Richard Walker

The 2023 Gaston County Conference and Tri-County Conference seasons are fast approaching after official practices have gotten underway in both conferences.

In the Gaston County Conference, the regular season begins on Wednesday, Aug. 23. That schedule runs through Wednesday, Oct. 4 with the 2023 county championship game to be played on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Also, there has been one divisional change for the 2023 season as Belmont is moving from Division II to Division I and will join Cramerton, Grier, Holbrook and Southwest in Division I and Mount Holly is moving from Division I to Division II and will join Bessemer City, Chavis, W.C. Friday, Stanley and York Chester in Division II.

In the Tri-County Conference, the regular season begins on Wednesday, Aug. 30. That schedule runs through Wednesday, Oct. 4 with the 2023 Tri-County semifinals on Wednesday, Oct. 11 and the Tri-County championship game on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

The Tri-County remains split in two divisions with Burns, East Lincoln, Kings Mountain, Lincolnton, North Lincoln and West Lincoln comprising the East and Chase, Crest, East Rutherford, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, R-S Central and Shelby comprising the West.

The full 2023 Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Wednesday, August 23)
Cramerton at Mount Holly
Stanley at Holbrook
Grier at Bessemer City
Southwest at Friday
Chavis at Belmont
BYE – York Chester
(Wednesday, August 30)
Holbrook at Mount Holly
York Chester at Grier
Belmont at Stanley
Chavis at Cramerton
Bessemer City at Southwest
BYE – Friday
(Wednesday, September 6)
Grier at Belmont
Holbrook at Southwest
Mount Holly at Chavis
Bessemer City at Stanley
Friday at York Chester
BYE – Cramerton
(Wednesday, September 13)
York Chester at Mount Holly
Southwest at Grier
Cramerton at Holbrook
Chavis at Stanley
Friday at Bessemer City
BYE – Belmont
(Wednesday, September 20)
Stanley at Mount Holly
Belmont at Southwest
Grier at Cramerton
York Chester at Bessemer City
Friday at Chavis
BYE – Holbrook
(Wednesday, September 27)
Southwest at Cramerton
Stanley at Friday
Belmont at Holbrook
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Chavis at York Chester
BYE – Grier
(Wednesday, October 4)
Cramerton at Belmont
Holbrook at Grier
Bessemer City at Chavis
Stanley at York Chester
Mount Holly at Friday
BYE – Southwest
(Wednesday, October 11)
County Championship at TBD (HS)
Host: Division I

The full 2023 Tri-County Conference schedule:

(Wednesday, August 30)
Burns at Crest
East Rutherford at East Lincoln
Kings Mountain at Shelby
Lincolnton at Chase
R-S Central at North Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson at West Lincoln
(Wednesday, September 6)
East Lincoln at Burns
Kings Mountain at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at North Lincoln
Chase at Thomas Jefferson
Crest at East Rutherford
R-S Central at Shelby
(Wednesday, September 13)
Burns at West Lincoln
East Lincoln at Lincolnton
North Lincoln at Kings Mountain
East Rutherford at Chase
Crest at R-S Central
Shelby at Thomas Jefferson
(Wednesday, September 20)
Lincolnton at Burns
East Lincoln at Kings Mountain
West Lincoln at North Lincoln
Chase at Crest
East Rutherford at Shelby
Thomas Jefferson at R-S Central
(Wednesday, September 27)
North Lincoln at Burns
West Lincoln at East Lincoln
Kings Mountain at Lincolnton
Shelby at Chase
Crest at Thomas Jefferson
R-S Central at East Rutherford
(Wednesday, October 4)
Burns at Kings Mountain
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Chase at R-S Central
Shelby at Crest
Thomas Jefferson at East Rutherford
(Wednesday, October 11)
Semifinals: West-2 at East-1, East-2 at West-1
(Wednesday, October 18)
Tri-County Championship at West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legion baseball

Results from Region 3 (Southeast Regional) at Asheboro and hosted by Randolph County Post 45:

(Aug. 2 games)
Game 1: Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9 d. Evans (Ga.) Post 192, 5-1
Game 2: Richmond (Va.) Post 361 d. Belleview (Fla.) Post 284, 7-4
Game 3: Florence (S.C.) Post 1 d. Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) Post 116, 9-5
Game 4: Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19 d. Randolph County (N.C.) Post 45, 7-5

(Aug. 3 games)
Game 5: Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) Post 116 d. Evans (Ga.) Post 192, 6-1: Post 116 eliminated
Game 6: Randolph County (N.C.) Post 45 d. Belleview (Fla.) Post 284, 3-0: Post 284 eliminated
Game 7: Florence (S.C.) Post 1 d. Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9, 9-6
Game 8: Richmond (Va.) Post 361 d. Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19, 6-3

(Aug. 4 games)
Game 9: Randolph County (N.C.) Post 45 d. Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9, 17-1 in 5 innings: Post 9 eliminated
Game 10: Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) Post 116 d. Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19, 3-2: Post 19 eliminated
Game 11: Florence (S.C.) Post 1 d. Richmond (Va.) Post 361, 8-6

(Aug. 5 games)
Game 12: Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) Post 116 d. Richmond (Va.) Post 361, 14-2 in 5 innings: Post 361 eliminated
Game 13: Florence (S.C.) Post 1 d. Randolph County (N.C.) Post 45, 5-4 in 11 innings: Post 45 eliminated

(Aug. 6 games)

Game 14: Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) Post 116 vs. Florence (S.C.) Post 1, 1:30 p.m.
Game 15: if Fuquay-Varina wins Game 14, 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 (W 4-1)
(Round of 32)
Aug. 3 Cruz Azul (at Dallas TX) (T 0-0, wins 4-3 on penalty kicks)
Aug. 7 at Houston Dynamo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Norfolk 8, Charlotte 2
Norfolk 6, Charlotte 2
The Knights were swept in a doubleheader at Norfolk’s Harbor Park. The finale of the 7-game series is 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Earlier Saturday, pitcher Lane Ramsey became the 20th Knights player to be promoted to the Chicago White Sox this season. Ramsey, 27, was 4-4 record with six saves and a 5.50 ERA in 32 appearances this season.

Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2023 schedule:

Overall record: 40-67
First half record: 35-40
Second half record: 5-27

-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 (1-5)
Aug. 1-6 at Norfolk (1-5)
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

Gastonia 9, Lexington 2: Starter and winner Zach Mort threw 6 shutout innings with 6 strikeouts for the Honey Hunters in their home victory.

Here is the full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2023 schedule:

Overall record: 54-32
First half record: 41-22
Second half record: 13-10

-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 (13-13)
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 (W 17-5)
28 at Long Island (L 1-18)
29 at Long Island (W 12-5)
30 at Long Island (L 2-4)

August (1-2)
1 High Point (L 3-6)
2 High Point (L 3-7)
3 High Point (ppd.)
4 Lexington (W 9-8)
5 Lexington (W 9-2)
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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets 2023 preseason schedule:

Oct. 10 at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.
Oct. 19 Boston Celtics, 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 (Chris Buescher)
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