4-26-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track
By Richard Walker
When he was an All-CIAA quarterback at North Carolina Central who later gained a tryout as an end with the old AFL Boston Patriots, Robert “Al” Montgomery was a 6-foot-4, 235-pounder who was considered a giant.
That large physical stature also gave Montgomery a presence when his playing career was over and he became a coach and physical education teacher at Charlotte’s old Second Ward High School.
“He absolutely had a presence in any room he entered,” said current Mecklenburg County commissioner Arthur Griffin, a 1966 Second Ward graduate. “Not only was he a coach but he was a physical education teacher. His physical stature created respect.
“But he also was as kind as a big teddy bear. He had a big voracious belly laugh that you could hear all over the football field or the gymnasium.
“And, as a teacher, he taught about grit and persistence and determination and was a classic teacher of those traits. He was always trying to get the very best out of you, whether it was on the football field or in physical education activities.”
Montgomery was a star player before he became “Big Al” the legendary coach.
And on May 4th, Montgomery will be inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame alongside Danny Anderson, Steve Culbertson and Hester Martin Haynes. University of Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes will be the featured speaker for a banquet held at the Gastonia Conference Center.
A 1953 Highland High graduate, Montgomery was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball who helped the Rams win two state titles in baseball (1951 and 1952) and advance to the state championship games in football (1949) and basketball (1952).
He went to North Carolina Central (then called North Carolina College) and become a starting quarterback for Eagles’ CIAA championship teams in 1953, 1954 and 1956 and was named All-CIAA quarterback in 1956. (In 1984, the school honored Montgomery with induction on the NCCU Hall of Fame.)
After college, Montgomery served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960 before being invited to a tryout for the first-year AFL’s Boston Patriots (now the New England Patriots) as an end. After being released, he was hired as an assistant coach at Allen University.
In the summer of 1961, Montgomery was hired at Second Ward, Charlotte’s oldest African-American high school, as the Tigers’ head football coach and a physical education teacher.
At Second Ward, he inherited one of the school’s two eventual NFL players – defensive back Randy Staten – and would soon coach a player considered one of the greatest breakaway runners in N.C. high school history.
That player, Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, would help Montgomery’s Tigers win the 1963 state title with an unbeaten 8-0-1 record.
“I knew about ‘Big Al’ before I got to Second Ward because he played local baseball and he was one of the best athletes around,” Kirkpatrick said. “When I got to Second Ward, we were coming off a tough year (0-8-1 record) the year before. I don’t know that he knew a lot about me. So it was important to make a good impression.
“And we turned it around. I really respected coach. He had a great sense of the game and I learned a lot from him.”
Kirkpatrick would go on to greater importance in local and state history by being among the first African-American players to integrate formerly all-white schools.
In the process, he left Montgomery and Second Ward behind to play at Myers Park.
And in 1965, while Kirkpatrick was leading the Mustangs to an 11-0 record and state title in 1965, Second Ward slipped to a 5-4 record after back-to-back conference titles. Even more devastating was the decision that Second Ward would be closed after the 1968-69 school year when the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools would be fully integrated.
But Kirkpatrick says his coach never questioned his decision to leave Second Ward and go to Myers Park.
“He was always very supportive,” said Kirkpatrick, who went on to play at Purdue University and currently presents an award to top Mecklenburg County student-athletes every year in his honor at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. “Over the years, every time I’d come home, I’d look him up.”
Montgomery’s coaching career ended after the 1967 football season and he finished out his 31-year career in the Mecklenburg County Schools as a driver’s education teacher at West Mecklenburg, Garinger, West Charlotte and South Mecklenburg schools.
“That was kind of unfortunate because I was hoping he’d get another chance to coach again,” Kirkpatrick said. “I do not know if he didn’t want to or anything like that. But just knowing coach and how competitive he was, I felt like he would’ve wanted to coach again.”
Griffin, currently in charge of the Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation, said the school had a collective mourning when Montgomery died at 74 after an extended illness on July 21, 2008.
“He was always coaching and nurturing his students and his athletes,” Griffin said. “That’s why the memories of ‘Big Al’ are etched with me for a lifetime. Even though he was on the athletic side of things at the school, the skills that he taught you were transferable to the academic side – and in life.”
Pro football
Former Shelby High football standout Spencer Triplett has received an invitation to Green Bay Packers minicamp.
A 2020 Shelby High graduate who was a three-time all-conference honoree for th Golden Lions, Triplett has spent the previous six seasons in the University of North Carolina football program.
Triplett played in 61 games as a long snapper for the Tar Heels from the 2021 to the 2025 seasons.
Also, the Carolina Panthers have signed seven undrafted free agents following the weekend draft.
Among those signed are QB Haynes King (Georgia Tech), DB Jaylon Guilbreau (Texas), DT Aaron Hall (Duke), CB DeVonta Smith (Notre Dame), DE Isaiah Smith (SMU), WR Malick Meiga (Coastal Carolina) and CB Cam Miller (Rutgers).
Carolina Panthers’ 2026 NFL Draft picks:
1st round No. 19 overall- Monroe Freeling, OT (Georgia)
2nd round No. 49 overall- Lee Hunter, NT (Texas Tech)
3rd round No. 83 overall- Chris Brazzell II, WR (Tennessee)
4th round No. 129 overall- Will Lee III, CB (Texas A&M)
5th round No. 144 overall- Sam Hecht, C (Kansas State)
5th round No. 151 overall- Zakee Whitley, S (Penn State)
7th round No. 222 overall- Jackson Kuwatch, LB (Miami, Ohio)
High school baseball
Here are the area’s results/schedule:
(Monday, April 13)
SouthLake Christian 13, Gaston Day 3 (6 innings)
Mountain Island Charter 18, Queen’s Grant 3 (5 innings)
Bessemer City 11, Piedmont Community Charter 10
(Tuesday, April 14)
North Gaston 13, Forestview 3 (6 innings)
Ashbrook 10, Huss 0 (5 innings)
Crest 3, Kings Mountain 0
Burns 7, Cherryville 0
Cramer 12, Lincolnton 1 (6 innings)
East Gaston 9, Shelby 1
Highland Tech 4, West Lincoln 3
East Lincoln 5, North Lincoln 1
Lincoln Charter 7, Christ the King 2
Mountain Island Charter 12, Thomas Jefferson 0 (5 innings)
Concord Academy 10, Gaston Day 6
Gaston Christian 10, Metrolina Christian 9
(Wednesday, April 15)
Ashbrook 11, Misenheimer Gray Stone Day 10
North Gaston 7, Cramer 6
Forestview 13, Bessemer City 2 (9 innings)
Kell 11, Lincoln Charter 6
Newton-Conover 14, West Lincoln 9
South Point 8, North Lincoln 4
Corvian Community 10, Piedmont Community 4
(Thursday, April 16)
Gaston Christian 16, Gaston Day 1 (3 innings)
North Gaston 17, Huss 0 (3 innings)
Burns 10, Cherryville 3
Lincoln Charter 14, Christ the King 0 (5 innings)
Cramer 10, Lincolnton 2
Crest 7, Chase 3
(Friday, April 17)
South Point 12, Ashbrook 2 (6 innings)
Kings Mountain 17, Forestview 2 (5 innings)
East Gaston 11, Shelby 3
West Lincoln 4, Highland Tech 0
East Lincoln 16, West Iredell 6 (5 innings)
North Lincoln 11, Newton-Conover 0 (5 innings)
Piedmont Community Charter 26, Sugar Creek Charter 3
Gaston Christian 10, Covenant Day 2
(Monday, April 20)
Ashbrook 14, Huss 12
Burns 11, Highland Tech 3
Cherryville 13, East Gaston 0 (5 innings)
North Lincoln 15, Bandys 2
South Point 7, Palisades 3
Piedmont Community Charter 12, Bessemer City Community Christian 4
(Tuesday, April 21)
North Gaston 13, Ashbrook 3 (5 innings)
Crest 15, Forestview 1 (5 innings)
South Point 21, Huss 3
West Lincoln 10, East Gaston 7
Shelby 13, Bessemer City 1 (5 innings)
East Lincoln 10, Foard 0 (6 innings)
Lake Norman Charter 2, Lincoln Charter 0
Mountain Island Charter 5, Queen’s Grant 0
SouthLake Christian 9, Gaston Day 2
Gaston Christian 20, Hickory Christian Academy 1 (3 innings)
(Wednesday, April 22)
Burns 15, Polk County 3
Charlotte Stampede 10, Mountain Island Charter 2
Lincolnton 9, Forestview 0
North Lincoln 5, Lincoln Charter 0
Piedmont Community Charter 1, Highland Tech 0
East Lincoln 6, North Gaston 1
(Thursday, April 23)
South Point 5, Crest 3
Cherryville 4, Cramer 3
Burns 10, Highland Tech 0 (5 innings)
Lincoln Charter 4, Lake Norman Charter 3
Gaston Christian 5, SouthLake Christian 4
Metrolina Christian 15, Gaston Day 0 (3 innings)
(Friday, April 24)
Ashbrook 22, Chambers 7 (5 innings)
Forestview 15, Huss 0 (3 innings)
North Gaston 9, Kings Mountain 8 (9 innings)
Shelby 8, Bessemer City 4
Cramer 3, Cherryville 1
West Lincoln 8, East Gaston 5
East Lincoln 5, Hickory 1
Mountain Island Charter 4, Jackson Day 2
Gaston Day 12, Pinnacle Classical 1 (5 innings)
(Monday, April 27)
East Gaston at Cramer
Concord Academy at Gaston Christian
Highland Tech at Pinnacle Classical
(Tuesday, April 28)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Crest at Huss
North Gaston at South Point
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Shelby at Burns
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Bunker Hill at North Lincoln
East Lincoln at Maiden
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day
(Wednesday, April 29)
Highland Tech at East Gaston
Burns at Crest
Cramer at Forestview
East Lincoln at Cherryville
(Thursday, April 30)
Crest at North Gaston
North Lincoln at Foard
Gaston Christian at Metrolina Christian
Gaston Day at Concord Academy
(Friday, May 1)
Forestview at Ashbrook
South Point at Kings Mountain
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Cramer at East Gaston
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Pinnacle Classical at Highland Tech
High school tennis
Twenty area teams qualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual team tennis playoffs.
Here are the area pairings:
(First round- Monday, April 27)
Class 1A/2A West No. 2 Highland Tech- bye
Class 1A/2A West No. 3 Cherryville- bye
Class 1A/2A West No. 4 Thomas Jefferson- bye
Class 3A West No. 12 West Lincoln- bye
Class 3A West No. 15 Lincolnton hosts No. 18 Piedmont Community Charter
Class 3A West No. 19 Shelby at No. 14 Union Academy
Class 3A West No. 18 Piedmont Community Charter at No. 15 Lincolnton
Class 4A West No. 6 Cramer- bye
Class 4A West No. 10 Lincoln Charter- bye
Class 4A West No. 11 East Gaston hosts No. 22 Tuscola
Class 4A West No. 14 Burns hosts No. 19 Bandys
Class 5A West No. 3 Crest- bye
Class 5A West No. 4 South Point- bye
Class 5A West No. 6 North Lincoln- bye
Class 5A West No. 9 Forestview hosts No. 24 Robinson
Class 5A West No. 13 East Lincoln hosts No. 20 High Point Central
Class 5A West No. 21 North Gaston at No. 12 Oak Grove
Class 5A West No. 23 Huss at No. 10 W-S Atkins
Class 6A West No. 12 Kings Mountain hosts No. 21 Harding
Class 6A West No. 18 Ashbrook at No. 15 Piedmont
(Second round- Wednesday, April 29)
Class 1A/2A West No. 2 Highland Tech hosts No. 15 Clover Garden-West No. 18 South Stokes winner
Class 1A/2A West No. 3 Cherryville hosts No. 14 Christ the King
Class 1A/2A West No. 4 Thomas Jefferson hosts No. 12 Gray Stone Day
Class 3A West No. 12 West Lincoln at West No. 5 Patton
Class 4A West No. 6 Cramer hosts No. 11 East Gaston-No. 22 Tuscola winner
Class 4A West No. 10 Lincoln Charer at No. 7 Foard
Class 5A West No. 3 Crest hosts No. 14 Concord-No. 19 North Henderson winner
Class 5A West No. 4 South Point hosts No. 13 East Lincoln-No. 20 High Point Central winner
Class 5A West No. 6 North Lincoln hosts No. 11 Carson-No. 22 Clyde Erwin winner
(Third round- Monday, May 4)
(Fourth round- Wednesday, May 6)
(Regional finals- Tuesday, May 12)
(State championships at Burlington Tennis Center- Friday, May 15)
Class 6A and 8A, 8:30 a.m.
Class 5A and 7A, noon
(State championships at Burlington Tennis Center- Saturday, May 16)
Class 1A/2A and 4A, 8:30 a.m.
Class 3A, noon
Pro soccer
The 2026 Charlotte FC schedule:
(4-4-2 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 (L 1-2)
Saturday, Apr. 18 at New York (W 2-1)
Wednesday, Apr. 22 at Orlando (L 1-4)
Saturday, Apr. 25 at Nashville (L 2-4)
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
(U.S. Open Cup)
Wednesday, Apr. 15 Charlotte Independence (W 6-0)
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
Tuesday, Apr. 28 Atlanta United FC, 7 p.m.
…at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
Pro basketball
(Eastern Conference play-in tournament)
Tuesday, April 14: Miami at Charlotte – Charlotte 127-126 in OT
Wednesday, April 15: Orlando at Philadelphia – Philadelphia 109-97
Friday, April 17: Charlotte at Orlando – Orlando 121-90
(Eastern Conference quarterfinals)
*-if necessary
No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 8 Orlando
Game 1: Orlando at Detroit- Sunday April 19 – Orlando 112-101
Game 2: Orlando at Detroit- Wednesday, April 22 – Detroit 98-83
Game 3: Detroit at Orlando- Saturday, April 25 – Orlando 113-105
Game 4: Detroit at Orlando- Monday, April 27 (8 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Orlando at Detroit- Wednesday, April 29 (7 ET, Prime)
Game 6: Detroit at Orlando*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Orlando at Detroit*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Philadelphia
Game 1: Philadelphia at Boston- Sunday April 19 – Boston 123-91
Game 2: Philadelphia at Boston- Tuesday, April 21 – Philadelphia 101-97
Game 3: Boston at Philadelphia- Friday, April 24 – Boston 108-100
Game 4: Boston at Philadelphia- Sunday, April 26
Game 5: Philadelphia at Boston- Tuesday, April 28 (7 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: Boston at Philadelphia*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Philadelphia at Boston*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Atlanta
Game 1: Atlanta at New York- Saturday April 18 – New York 113-102
Game 2: Atlanta at New York- Monday, April 20 – Atlanta 107-106
Game 3: New York at Atlanta- Thursday, April 23 – Atlanta 109-108
Game 4: New York at Atlanta- Saturday, April 25 – New York 114-98
Game 5: Atlanta at New York- Tuesday, April 28 (8 ET, NBC)
Game 6: New York at Atlanta- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Atlanta at New York*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Toronto
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland- Saturday April 18 – Cleveland 126-113
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland- Monday, April 20 – Cleveland 115-105
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto- Thursday, April 23 – Toronto 126-104
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto- Sunday, April 26 – Toronto 93-89
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland- Wednesday, April 29 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
(Eastern Conference semifinals)
No. 1-8 winner vs. No. 4-5 winner
No. 2-7 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner
(Eastern Conference finals)
TBD
(Western Conference play-in tournament)
Tuesday, April 14: Portland at Phoenix – Portland 114-110
Wednesday, April 15: Golden State at L.A. Clippers – Golden State 126-121
Friday, April 17: Golden State at Phoenix – Phoenix 111-96
(Western Conference quarterfinals)
*-if necessary
No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 Phoenix
Game 1: Phoenix at Oklahoma City- Sunday April 19 – Oklahoma City 119-84
Game 2: Phoenix at Oklahoma City- Wednesday, April 22 – Oklahoma City 120-107
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Phoenix- Saturday, April 25 – Oklahoma City 121-109
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Phoenix- Monday, April 27 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 5: Phoenix at Oklahoma City*- Wednesday, April 29 (9:30 ET, Prime)
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Phoenix*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Phoenix at Oklahoma City*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
No. 2 San Antonio vs. No. 7 Portland
Game 1: Portland at San Antonio- Sunday April 19 – San Antonio 111-98
Game 2: Portland at San Antonio- Tuesday, April 21 – Portland 106-103
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland- Friday, April 24 – San Antonio 120-108
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland- Sunday, April 26 – San Antonio 114-93
Game 5: Portland at San Antonio- Tuesday, April 28 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: San Antonio at Portland*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Portland at San Antonio*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
No. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Minnesota
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver- Saturday April 18 – Denver 116-105
Game 2: Minnesota at Denver- Monday, April 20 – Minnesota 119-114
Game 3: Denver at Minnesota- Thursday, April 23 – Minnesota 113-96
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota- Saturday, April 25 – Minnesota 112-96
Game 5: Minnesota at Denver- Monday, April 27 (10:30 ET, NBC)
Game 6: Denver at Minnesota*- Thursday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Minnesota at Denver*- Saturday, May 2 (TBD, TBD)
No. 4 L.A. Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles- Saturday April 18 – L.A. Lakers 107-98
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles- Tuesday, April 21 – L.A. Lakers 101-94
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston- Friday, April 24 – L.A. Lakers 112-108 in OT
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston- Sunday, April 26 (9:30 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles*- Wednesday, April 29 (10 ET, ESPN)
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston*- Friday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles*- Sunday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)
(Western Conference semifinals)
No. 1-8 winner vs. No. 4-5 winner
No. 2-7 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner
(Western Conference finals)
TBD
(NBA finals)
TBD
Pro hockey
NHL playoff results/schedule for Carolina Hurricanes and Stanley Cup playoff pairings (*-if necessary):
(Eastern Conference Round 1)
-No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Wild Card No. 2 Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Saturday, April 18- at Carolina – Carolina 2-0
Game 2: Monday, April 20- at Carolina – Carolina 3-2 in 2 OT
Game 3: Thursday, April 23- at Ottawa – Carolina 2-1
Game 4: Saturday, April 25- at Ottawa – Carolina 4-2 (Carolina wins series 4-0)
-No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Flyers
-No. 1 Buffalo Sabres vs. Wild Card No. 1 Boston Bruins
-No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 3 Montreal Canadiens
(Western Conference Round 1)
-No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. Wild Card No. 2 Los Angeles Kings
-No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
-No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. Wild Card No. 1 Utah Mammoth
-No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Anaheim Ducks
(Eastern Conference Round 2)
-No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins-No. 3 Philadelphia Flyers winner
Calder Cup playoff results/schedule for Charlotte Checkers:
(Atlantic Division First Round)
-No. 3 Charlotte vs. No. 6 Springfield
Game 1: Wednesday, April 22- at Charlotte – Charlotte 8-1
Game 2: Friday, April 24- at Charlotte – Springfield 5-2
Game 3: Saturday, April 25- at Charlotte – Springfield 2-1 in OT (Springfield wins series 2-1)
Middle school baseball
Gaston County Conference standings through April 23:
Stanley 9-0
Mount Holly 8-1
Belmont 8-2
Cramerton 6-3
Chavis 6-3
Bessemer City 4-5
W.C. Friday 4-5
Holbrook 2-7
York Chester 2-7
Grier 1-8
Southwest 0-9
The Gaston County Conference schedule:
(Thursday, April 23)
Belmont 16, Chavis 2
Cramerton 15, York Chester 0
Stanley 15, W.C. Friday 0 (5 innings)
Grier 11, Southwest 8
Mount Holly 23, Holbrook 0 (3 innings)
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, April 27)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, April 30)
Semifinals: No. 4 (Cramerton or Chavis) at No. 1 (Stanley), No. 3 (Belmont) at No. 2 (Mount Holly)
(Wednesday, May 6)
Baseball finals: Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed
Tri-County Conference regular season standings:
(Eastern Division)
North Lincoln 9-1
Burns 8-2
East Lincoln 5-5
West Lincoln 5-5
Kings Mountain 3-7
Lincolnton 0-10
(Western Division)
R-S Central 10-0
Crest 8-2
Thomas Jefferson 6-4
East Rutherford 4-6
Chase 2-8
Shelby 0-10
(Tuesday, April 28)
Semifinal- Burns at R-S Central
Semifinal- Crest at North Lincoln
(Thursday, April 30)
Championship
Middle school girls soccer
Gaston County Conference standings through April 23:
Belmont 10-0
Cramerton 8-1
Mount Holly 7-2
W.C. Friday 7-2
Stanley 5-4
Chavis 4-5
Holbrook 3-6
York Chester 3-6
Bessemer City 2-7
Southwest 1-8
Grier 0-9
The Gaston County Conference schedule:
(Thursday, April 23)
Belmont 7, Chavis 0
Cramerton 7, York Chester 0
W.C. Friday 1, Stanley 1 (WCF wins on penalty kicks 1-0)
Southwest 4, Grier 0
Mount Holly 0, Holbrook 0 (MH wins on penalty kicks 3-2)
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, April 27)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, April 30)
Semifinals: No. 4 (April 27 W.C. Friday at Mount Holly loser) at No. 1 (Belmont), No. 3 (April 27 W.C. Friday at Mount Holly winner) at No. 2 (Cramerton)
(Wednesday, May 6)
Baseball finals: Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed
Tri-County Conference regular season standings:
(Eastern Division)
East Lincoln 10-0
North Lincoln 8-2
Kings Mountain 6-4
Burns 3-7
Lincolnton 3-7
West Lincoln 0-10
(Western Division)
Thomas Jefferson 10-0
R-S Central 7-3
Shelby 5-5
Crest 4-6
Chase 4-6
East Rutherford 0-10
(Tuesday, April 28)
Semifinal- North Lincoln at Thomas Jefferson
Semifinal- R-S Central at East Lincoln
(Thursday, April 30)
Championship
Middle school tennis
Tri-County Conference regular season standings:
Shelby 6-0
Kings Mountain 5-1
East Rutherford 4-2
Crest 2-4
R-S Central 2-4
Thomas Jefferson 2-4
Burns 0-6
(Tuesday, April 21)
Semifinal- Shelby BYE
Semifinal- East Rutherford at Kings Mountain – KM
(Thursday, April 23)
Championship- Kings Mountain at Shelby – Shelby
Middle school track
(Wednesday, April 22 at Bessemer City HS)
Gaston County Conference Division I
Boys team scores: Holbrook 103, Belmont 101, Cramerton 96, Southwest 59, Grier 11.
Girls team scores: Belmont 108, Cramerton 94, Holbrook 59, Southwest 53, Grier 52.
Gaston County Conference Division II
Boys team scores: Stanley 159, Mount Holly 92, W.C. Friday 42, York Chester 34, Bessemer City 22, Chavis 15
Girls team scores: Mount Holly 148, Stanley 121, W.C. Friday 52, Chavis 23, Bessemer City 12, York Chester 8
(Wednesday, April 29 at Cramer HS)
County championship
Pro baseball
Nashville 5, Charlotte 1: A 3-run second inning spurred the visiting Sounds to victory in the finale of a 7-game series at Charlotte’s Truist Field. After a day off on Monday, the Knights continue their 13-game homestand with a 6:05 p.m. Tuesday game against Gwinnett.
Here is the full Charlotte Knights’ 2026 schedule:
(13-14 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 3-3 (L 4-9, W 7-3, L 1-4, W 9-8 in 10, L 4-6, W 13-4)
April 14-19 at Jacksonville 2-4 (L 0-3, L 2-3, L 3-5, L 1-4, W 2-0, W 9-4)
April 21-26 Nashville 4-3 (L 1-5, W 9-4, W 3-2 in 10, W 11-9, L 5-12, W 16-6, L 1-5)
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:
(4-2 record, 4-2 1st half, 0-0 2nd half)
-1st half
April 21-23 at High Point 1-2 (W 3-1, L 5-6, L 0-5)
April 24-26 High Point 3-0 (W 4-3, W 18-8, W 9-2)
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 (Ty Gibbs)
April 19 — Kansas (Reddick-5)
April 26 — Talladega, Alabama (Carson Hocevar)
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)
Aug. 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 17 at Billings: Semifinal- (No. 2 Austin Gamblers def. No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws 87.10-84.50)
April 26 at Tacoma: Championship- (No. 1 Missouri Thunder def. No. 2 Austin Gamblers 254.75-171.35)
Upcoming events:
May 10 – PBR World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum
Sept. 18-20 – Greensboro First Horizon Coliseum Complex
Golf
The Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame (RCSHOF), presented by Hardin’s Drug, in conjunction with Golf Sponsors Forest City Honda and Chick-fil-A of Forest City, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 T. Max Champion Memorial Golf Tournament.
The tournament will be held on Friday, July 31 at the Apple Vally Golf Course in Lake Luke, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $100.00 per player or $400.00 for a team of four and covers the green fee, cart usage and lunch.
First prize for Gross and Net Winners is $600.00 per team. Other prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries. Proceeds from the event go to support the RCSHOF Scholarship Fund and registration deadline is July 21.
For information or to register, please visit the RCSHOF website: https://www.rcshof.org/ or call Randy Page at 828-429-7773.