4-9-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school basketball, baseball, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer and track

By Richard Walker

Gaston County Easter Baseball Tournament champion South Point led the event’s top individual honors with five selections including most valuable player Brody Crawford.

Crawford threw a five-hitter with four strikeouts in Wednesday’s 9-1 title game victory over Christ the King.

Red Raiders joining Crawford on the all-tournament team were Cole Hendrickson, Nolan Jones, Jonathon Kalmbach and Gavin Smith.

The full all-tournament selections by team:

South Point- Brody Crawford (MVP), Cole Hendrickson, Nolan Jones, Jonathon Kalmbach, Gavin Smith
Christ the King- Jamison Ehret, John Gargano, Benny Rametta, Jimmy Tamuccio
Gaston Christian- Cooper Summerlin, Reid Wilson
Cramer- Nic Stutzman, Chris Wurster
North Gaston- Connor Bates
Highland Tech- Coleman Schafer
Forestview- Isaac Aycock
Ashbrook- A.J. McClain

The area’s results/schedule:

(Monday, April 6)
-Gaston County Easter tournament at Sims Legion Park
Christ the King vs. North Gaston – Christ the King 9-8
Forestview vs. Cramer – Cramer 6-0
Ashbrook vs. Gaston Christian – Gaston Christian 17-0 (3 innings)
South Point vs. Highland Tech – South Point 7-0

-Shelby Easter tournament at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium
Shelby vs. South Caldwell – South Caldwell 4-0
Burns vs. Chase – Chase 4-2
-Walt Disney Wide World of Sports tournament at Orlando, Fla.
Cherryville vs. Utica NY Notre Dame Catholic – Cherryville 13-10
Cherryville vs. Voorhees NJ Eastern – canceled, rain

(Tuesday, April 7)
-Gaston County Easter tournament at Sims Legion Park
Ashbrook vs. North Gaston – North Gaston 15-0 (3 innings)
Forestview vs. Highland Tech – Highland Tech 7-2
Gaston Christian vs. Christ the King – Christ the King 3-2
Cramer vs. South Point – South Point 3-2

-Shelby Easter tournament at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium
Kings Mountain vs. Tuscola – Tuscola 2-1
Crest vs. Piedmont – Crest 1-0

-Cal Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach SC
East Lincoln vs. Owensboro KY Apollo – East Lincoln 2-0

North Lincoln vs. Charles Town WV Washington – North Lincoln 7-2

(Wednesday, April 8)
-Gaston County Easter tournament at Sims Legion Park
7th place- Ashbrook vs. Forestview – Forestview 15-5 (5 innings)
5th place- North Gaston vs. Highland Tech – North Gaston 10-0 (6 innings)
3rd place- Gaston Christian vs. Cramer – Gaston Christian 5-2
Championship- Christ the King vs. South Point – South Point 9-1

-Shelby Easter tournament at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium
Shelby vs. Burns – Burns 5-1
Kings Mountain vs. Piedmont – Kings Mountain 6-5
South Caldwell vs. Chase – South Caldwell 12-0 (5 innings)
Tuscola vs. Crest – Crest 6-2

-Cal Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach SC
East Lincoln vs. Highland Regional NJ – East Lincoln 7-0

-Walt Disney Wide World of Sports tournament at Orlando, Fla.
Cherryville vs. Appleton WI Xavier – Cherryville 6-3

North Lincoln vs. Hedgesville WV – North Lincoln 9-2

(Thursday, April 9)
-Shelby Easter tournament at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium
7th place- Shelby vs. Piedmont – Piedmont 7-1
5th place- Burns vs. Kings Mountain – Burns 2-1
3rd place- Chase vs. Tuscola – Tuscola 2-1 (8 innings)
Championship- South Caldwell vs. Crest – Crest 6-4

-Cal Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach SC
East Lincoln vs. Elmira NY – Elmira 2-0

North Lincoln at Myrtle Beach SC Carolina Forest

(Friday, April 10)
North Lincoln vs. Avon Lake OH at Conway SC, 11:30 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:

OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN (W 136-117)
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia (L 121-125)
Sunday 26 at Washington (W 139-113)
Tuesday 28 at Miami (L 117-144)
Thursday 30 ORLANDO (L 107-123)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA (L 105-122)
Sunday 2 UTAH (W 126-103)
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans (L 112-116)
Friday 7 at Miami* (L 108-126)
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS (L 111-121)
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE (W 111-100)
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* (L 134-147, OT)
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY (L 96-109)
Monday 17 at Toronto (L 108-110)
Wednesday 19 at Indiana (L 118-127)
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS (L 116-131)
Sunday 23 at Atlanta (L 110-113)
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* (L 101-129)
Friday 28 CHICAGO* (W 123-116)
Saturday 29 TORONTO (W 118-111, OT)
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn (L 103-116)
Wednesday 3 at New York (L 104-119)
Friday 5 at Toronto (W 111-86 )
Sunday 7 DENVER (L 106-115)
Friday 12 CHICAGO (L 126-129)
Sunday 14 at Cleveland (W 119-111)
Thursday 18 ATLANTA (W 133-126)
Saturday 20 at Detroit (L 86-112)
Monday 22 at Cleveland (L 132-139)
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON (W 126-109)
Friday 26 at Orlando (W 120-105)
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE (L 113-123)
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE (L 125-132)
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee (L 121-122)
Saturday 3 at Chicago (W 112-99 )
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City (W 124-97 )
Wednesday 7 TORONTO (L 96-97 )
Thursday 8 INDIANA (L 109-112)
Saturday 10 at Utah (W 150-95 )
Monday 12 at LA Clippers (L 109-117)
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers (W 135-117)
Saturday 17 at Golden State (L 116-136)
Sunday 18 at Denver (W 110-87 )
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND (L 87-94 )
Thursday 22 at Orlando (W 124-97 )
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON (W 119-115)
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA (W 130-93 )
Wednesday 28 at Memphis (W 112-97 )
Thursday 29 at Dallas (W 123-121)
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO (W 111-106)
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS (W 102-95 )
Thursday 5 at Houston (W 109-99 )
Saturday 7 at Atlanta (W 126-119)
Monday 9 DETROIT (W 110-104)
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA (W 110-107)
Thursday 19 HOUSTON (L 101-105)
Friday 20 CLEVELAND (L 113-118)
Sunday 22 at Washington (W 129-112)
Tuesday 24 at Chicago (W 131-99 )
Thursday 26 at Indiana (W 133-109)
Saturday 28 PORTLAND (W 109-93 )
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS (W 117-90 )
Wednesday 4 at Boston (W 116-89 )
Friday 6 MIAMI (L 120-128)
Sunday 8 at Phoenix (L 99-111)
Tuesday 10 at Portland (W 103-101)
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento (W 117-109)
Saturday 14 at San Antonio (L 102-115)
Tuesday 17 MIAMI (W 136-106)
Thursday 19 ORLANDO (W 130-111)
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS (W 124-101)
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO (W 134-90 )
Thursday 26 NEW YORK (W 114-103)
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA (L 114-118)
Sunday 29 BOSTON (L 99-114)
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn (W 117-86 )
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX (W 127-107)
Friday 3 INDIANA (W 129-108)
Sunday 5 at Minnesota (W 122-108)
Tuesday 7 at Boston (L 102-113)
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.

Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams

The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:

Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at N. Charleston Col.) L 114-135
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City L 116-122
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas W 120-116
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Col., Gboro) W 145-116
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York L 108-113

The Greensboro Swarm-Stockton Kings NBA G League championship series:

Game 1- April 8 at Greensboro – Greensboro 111-107
Game 2- April 10 at Stockton, 10 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 3 (if necessary)- April 13 at Stockton, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

The 2026 Charlotte FC schedule:

(3-1-2 record)
Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Louis (T 1-1)
Saturday, Feb. 28 at L.A. Galaxy (L 0-3)
Saturday, March 7 Austin (W 3-1)
Saturday, March 14 Miami (T 0-0)
Saturday, March 21 New York Red Bulls (W 6-1)
Saturday, Apr. 4 Philadelphia (W 2-1)
Saturday, Apr. 11 Nashville, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 18 at New York, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Apr. 22 at Orlando, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 25 at Nashville, 8:30 PM
Saturday, May 2 at New England, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 9 Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 13 New York, 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 16 Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 23 New England, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, July 22 Atlanta, 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 1 at Chicago, 8:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 15 Columbus, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 22 DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 29 at Atlanta, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5 Houston, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 19 at DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 26 Chicago, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 10 Dallas, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Columbus, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Philadelphia, 2:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Portland, 10:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31 Orlando, 1:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Miami, 4:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school baseball

Gaston County Conference standings through April 2:

Stanley 5-0
Mount Holly 4-1
Belmont 4-2
Chavis 4-2
W.C. Friday 4-2
Bessemer City 3-3
Cramerton 3-3
Holbrook 2-3
York Chester 1-4
Southwest 0-5
Grier 0-5

The Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Monday, April 13)
Grier at Cramerton
Holbrook at Chavis
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Southwest at Belmont
Stanley at York Chester
BYE – W.C. Friday

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school girls soccer

Gaston County Conference standings through April 2:

Belmont 6-0
Cramerton 5-1
W.C. Friday 5-1
Holbrook 3-2
Mount Holly 3-2
Chavis 3-3
Stanley 2-3
York Chester 2-3
Bessemer City 1-5
Southwest 0-5
Grier 0-5

The Gaston County Conference schedule:

(Monday, April 13)
Grier at Cramerton
Holbrook at Chavis
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Southwest at Belmont
Stanley at York Chester
BYE – W.C. Friday

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school track

The Gaston County schedule

(Wednesday, March 18)
Bessemer City, Chavis, York Chester, Stanley at Stanley, ppd., no date
Grier, Belmont, Holbrook, Cramerton at Belmont

(Monday, March 23)
Cramerton, Grier, Chavis at Stuart Cramer

(Wednesday, March 25)
Stanley, Bessemer City, Holbrook, Southwest at Stanley: Stanley won both meets as the boys had 75 points and the girls 70. The boys finished ahead of Holbrook (58 1/2), Southwest (43 1/2) and Bessemer City (7) with the girls finishing ahead of Holbrook (69), Southwest (40) and Bessemer City (5).

Belmont, Mount Holly, W.C. Friday, York Chester at Belmont: Belmont won both meets as the boys had 111 points and the girls 76.7. The boys finished ahead of Mount Holly (40), W.C. Friday (22) and York Chester (11) with the girls finishing ahead of Mount Holly (73.8), W.C. Friday (31 1/2) and York Chester (2).

(Tuesday, March 31)
W.C. Friday, Mount Holly, Southwest at North Gaston

(Wednesday, April 1)
Holbrook, Stanley, Chavis, W.C. Friday at Bessemer City HS: Holbrook won both meets as the boys had 88 points and girls 72. The boys finished ahead of Stanley (72), W.C. Friday (15) and Chavis (9) with the girls finishing ahead of Stanley (62), W.C. Friday (31) and Chavis (16).

Mount Holly, York Chester, Southwest, Cramerton at Stanley

Belmont, Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont: Belmont won both meets as the boys had 98 points and the girls 77. The boys finished ahead of Grier (20) and Bessemer City (8) with the girls finishing ahead of Grier (40) and Bessemer City (9).

(Tuesday, April 14)
York Chester, Holbrook, Cramerton at Bessemer City HS

(Wednesday, April 15)
Southwest, Belmont, Grier, W.C. Friday at Belmont
Chavis, Mount Holly, Stanley, Bessemer City at Stanley

(Wednesday, April 22)
Division 1 Meet – Host: Southwest at Bessemer City HS
Division 2 Meet – Host: Stanley at Bessemer City HS

(Wednesday, April 29)
County Championship – Host: Cramerton at Stuart Cramer

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

Memphis 4, Charlotte 1: The visiting Redbirds scratched out single runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings to win the third game of a six-game series at Charlotte’s Truist Field. The fourth game of the series is 7:04 p.m. Friday.

Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2026 schedule:

(5-6 record 1st half)
March 27-29 Durham 3-0 (W 19-2, W 2-1 in 11, W 4-3)
March 31-April 5 at Nashville 1-4 (L 3-7, W 9-3, L 0-4, L 6-7, ppd, L 5-7)
April 7-12 Memphis 1-2 (L 4-9, W 7-3, L 1-4)
April 14-19 at Jacksonville
April 21-26 Nashville
April 28-May 3 Gwinnett
May 5-10 at Jacksonville
May 12-17 Norfolk
May 19-24 at Gwinnett
May 26-31 Jacksonville
June 2-7 at Durham
June 9-14 Oklahoma City
June 16-21 at Buffalo
June 23-28 Rochester
June 30-July 5 at Memphis
July 7-12 Nashville
July 17-19 at Durham
July 21-26 Norfolk
July 28-August 2 at Nashville
August 4-9 Durham
August 11-16 at Rochester
August 18-23 at Scranton-WB
August 25-30 Memphis
September 1-6 at Gwinnett
September 8-13 Buffalo
September 15-20 at Norfolk

Here is the full Gastonia Ghost Peppers’ 2026 schedule:

(0-0 record, 0-0 1st half, 0-0 2nd half)

-1st half
April 21-23 at High Point
April 24-26 High Point
April 28-May 3 at York
May 5-10 Southern Maryland
May 12-17 at Long Island
May 19-20 Charleston, W.Va.
May 22-24 at Charleston, W.Va.
May 26-28 at Lexington
May 29-31 Charleston, W.Va.
June 2-7 Lancaster
June 9-14 at Lexington
June 16-21 Staten Island
June 23-28 at Lexington
June 30-July 2 Lexington
-2nd half
July 3-5 Charleston, W.Va.
July 7-12 at Hagerstown
July 14-19 Lexington
July 21-26 at Charleston, W.Va.
July 28, 30-31-Aug. 2 Hagerstown
Aug. 4-6 Southern Maryland
Aug. 7-9 at Lexington
Aug. 11-16 at High Point
Aug. 18-23 Charleston, W.Va.
Aug. 25-30 at Southern Maryland
Sept. 1-6 High Point
Sept. 8-10 Lexington
Sept. 11-13 at High Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

Here is the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule with race winners in parentheses:

Feb. 4 — Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Ryan Preece)
Feb. 15 — Daytona 500 (Tyler Reddick)
Feb. 22 — Atlanta (Reddick-2)
March 1 — Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (Reddick-3)
March 8 — Phoenix (Ryan Blaney)
March 15 — Las Vegas (Denny Hamlin)
March 22 — Darlington, South Carolina (Reddick-4)
March 29 — Martinsville, Virginia (Chase Elliott)
April 5 — off weekend
April 12 — Bristol, Tennessee
April 19 — Kansas
April 26 — Talladega, Alabama
May 3 — Texas
May 10 — Watkins Glen, New York
May 17 — All-Star Race (Dover)
May 24 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
May 31 — Nashville, Tennessee
June 7 — Michigan
June 14 — Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
June 21 — San Diego
June 28 — Sonoma, California
July 5 — Chicagoland
July 12 — Atlanta
July 19 — North Wilkesboro
July 26 — Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
A-ug. 2 — off weekend
Aug. 9 — Iowa
Aug. 15 — Richmond, Virginia
Aug. 23 — New Hampshire
Aug. 29 — Daytona, Florida
Sept. 6 — Darlington
Sept. 13 — Gateway in Madison, Illinois
Sept. 19 — Bristol
Sept. 27 — Kansas
Oct. 4 — Las Vegas
Oct. 11 — Charlotte Roval
Oct. 18 — Phoenix
Oct. 25 — Talladega
Nov. 1 — Martinsville
Nov. 8 — Homestead, Florida

 

 

 

 

Rodeo

Professional Bull Riding Unleash the Beast tour schedule for Greensboro-based Carolina Cowboys:

Feb. 1 – Golden 1 Center Sacramento- Austin Gamblers (L 173.90-256.90)
Feb. 21 – Progressive PBR Jacksonville- Florida Freedom (L 158.70-169.25)
March 22 – Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis- Nashville Stampede (W 88.70- 0.00)
(DNQ for playoffs)

Team Challenge playoff results
March 29 at Albuquerque: Semifinal- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder def. No. 4 Florida Freedom 83.65-0.00)
April 12 at Sioux Falls: Semifinal- (No. 2 Austin Gamblers vs. No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws)
April 26 at Tacoma: Championship- (No. Missouri Thunder vs. April 12 winner)

Upcoming events:
April 12 – First Premier Bank PBR Sioux Falls
April 18 – PBR Billings
April 26 – Cooper Tires PBR Tacoma
May 10 – PBR World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum
Sept. 18-20 – Greensboro First Horizon Coliseum Complex