By Richard Walker As the Carolina Panthers prepare for Friday’s first preseason game during training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., coach Matt Rhule still hasn’t named a starting quarterback. However, Rhule admitted that day was coming closer as 2021 starter Sam Darnold and offseason trade acquisition Baker Mayfield continue sharing practice repetitions with projected starters and […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 7) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker The field has been set for this week’s American Legion World at Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium – and it includes two-time defending champion Idaho Falls, Id. Here’s the schedule of games that begin on Thursday: Stars Division – Mid-South (Troy AL), Northeast (Shrewsbury MA), Southeast (Camden SC), Western (League City […]
By Richard Walker Gastonia’s Chandler Meeks, the Gaston Braves’ Caleb Burr and Chase Stewart and Cherryville’s Joseph Webb led American Legion baseball statistical leaders from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: Note: Statistics provided by area coaches and/or statisticians. Batting average (minimum: 30 at-bats) Chandler Meeks, Gastonia (25-53) .472 Austin Parker, Gastonia (22-51) .431 Logan Agosta, […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 6) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 4) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Here’s a look at pro baseball players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: Former Gardner-Webb and Belmont Abbey baseball standout Emilio Pagan is 3-5 with nine saves and a 4.97 ERA in 40 appearances for the Minnesota Twins. Jeffrey Springs (South Point 2011 graduate) is 4-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 22 […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 4) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker A former Crest High standout Lannden Zanders announced on twitter that his Clemson University college football career was over while Burns High senior Cahari Haynes announced his college commitment on twitter to play at Appalachian State University. A 2019 Crest High graduate, Zanders is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety who had made 57 […]
By Richard Walker Six players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were honored earlier this week by HighSchoolOT.com with selection to their all-state high school baseball team. East Lincoln’s Garrett Michel was named first team infielder, North Lincoln’s Matt Heavner was named second team infielder, Cherryville’s Landon Hahn was named third team infielder and East […]
By Richard Walker Three perennial state powers and three first-time state champions highlight the eight-team American Legion Southeast Regional field at Asheboro’s McCrary Park that will begin a five-day event to determine a qualifier for the World Series in Shelby. N.C.’s all-time leader in state championships, Wilmington with 13, is joined by a pair of […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland Community College didn’t have to look far to find coaches to startup their new men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs as well as a new head baseball coach. It simply found three local successful high school coaches and promoted a local product from assistant coach to head coach, as […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 30) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Shelby Post 82 becomes the first four-time N.C. American Legion softball state tournament participant when it hosts the 2022 event at Marion’s Big League Camp starting on Monday. Guided by head coach Thomas Pruett and assistant coaches Todd Beheler and Gary Spangler, Post 82 will take a 15-6 overall record and Area […]
By Richard Walker The Queen City Mustangs became the first Mecklenburg County N.C. American Legion baseball finalist in 19 years on Saturday. But all-time N.C. winner Wilmington was too much for the Mustangs in a 3-0 victory on Saturday at Campbell University. UNC Pembroke commitment and tournament most valuable player Ben Whitehurst threw a five-hit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 30) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Queen City will try to become the first Mecklenburg County American Legion baseball team to win a N.C. state championship in 45 years on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Campbell University when it meets Wilmington in the 2022 state tournament title game. Queen City is the first Mecklenburg County team to advance […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 29) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 28) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/2-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville concluded an impressive N.C. state American Legion tournament run on Thursday with a 7-3 victory over previously unbeaten Randolph County at Campbell University. But Post 100’s 2-1 record in pool play left it in a tie with Randolph County and host Fuquay-Varina – and Cherryville lost a tiebreaker that ends its […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 27) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/1-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville lost 10-3 to Fuquay-Varina in the second day of the N.C. American Legion baseball state tournament at Campbell University. Post 100 (26-13) meets Randolph County at 1 p.m. on Thursday and can advance with a win or loss but may need help in either circumstance to advance into Friday’s state semifinals. […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 26) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/0-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville held off pesky Hope Mills 6-4 in Tuesday’s opening day of the 2022 N.C. American Legion baseball state tournament at Campbell University. It was Post 100’s first of three games in the eight-team, pool-play tournament pitting two teams apiece from areas I, II, III and IV. Cherryville overcome a 2-0 deficit […]
By Richard Walker Caleb Burr of the Gaston Braves and Tyler Smart of Cleveland County lead in two statistical categories and Gastonia’s Chandler Meeks and Cherryville’s Joseph Webb lead in one apiece in the final 2022 N.C. Area IV final regular season statistics. In numbers provided by Area IV coaches, Meeks was the leading batter, […]
By Richard Walker Burns set history on Monday with a 2-0 Junior American Legion baseball state championship victory over Western Forsyth at High Point’s Finch Field. Burns, which is sponsored by Cherryville Post 100, took its first state title and the eighth by a N.C. Area IV team in the 21-year history of the event. […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 begins its bid for an eighth N.C. American Legion baseball state title on Tuesday at Campbell University when it meets Hope Mills at 4:30 p.m. Post 100 enters as the Area IV champion for a record 20th time and is playing in its 13th state tournament in the event’s […]
By Richard Walker Burns is one win away from history after winning Sunday’s N.C. Junior Legion state tournament semifinal game 5-4 over South Caldwell in nine innings at High Point’s Finch Field. Burns (21-4), which is sponsored by Cherryville Post 100 and coached by Burns High coach Alex Leonhardt, faces Western Forsyth on Monday at […]
By Richard Walker Burns is two wins away from a N.C. Junior Legion state title after a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to host High Point-Thomasville in its pool play finale on Saturday at High Point’s Finch Field. Both teams had already clinched berths in Sunday’s semifinals before Saturday’s contest between the top teams in the Stars […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 22) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville wrapped up its record 20th N.C. Area IV championship on Friday night with come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Queen City Mustangs at Fraley Field. Post 100, which improved 25-12 with the win, next plays next week in the N.C. state tournament at Campbell University. Queen City (21-7) also advances to the […]
By Richard Walker Two former local football standouts got national television exposure on Thursday during the ACC Kickoff media day at The Westin Hotel in Charlotte. North Carolina running back British Brooks, a former Ashbrook High standout, and Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield, a formsr Shelby High standout, were interviewed on the ACC Network during […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 21) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-4 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Landon Hahn scored the winning run and pitched four innings of relief for the pitching victory in Cherryville American Legion Post 100’s 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Gaston Braves in a weather-delayed playoff game. The victory gave Cherryville 4-2 win in the best-of-seven N.C. Area IV semifinal series and Post 100’s 13th […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 20) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/6-3 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 19) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/6-3 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-4 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Shelby’s Isaiah Lowe set local sports history on Tuesday when he was selected in the 11th round of the major league draft (330rd pick overall) by the San Diego Padres. Lowe, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, is the first player ever selected from Lincolnton’s Combine Academy. He has committed to play collegiately […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 19) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/6-3 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-4 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Shelby Post 82 will open its bid for a N.C. Legion softball championship on Tuesday as it opens its Area IV playoff schedule with a single game elimination contest against Hickory Post 48 at Crest High School at 7 p.m. Hickory is 8-6 overall and went 6-6 in the Area IV North […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 18) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/5-2 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-4 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Burns High School’s baseball program has enjoyed a renaissance this year and American Legion baseball success has been at the forefront of that success. After pushing eventual N.C. state champion Cherryville Post 100 in the Area IV playoffs last season, Burns went 22-4 overall in the high school season this past spring […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 17) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-3 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville forged a 2-all series tie with an 11-8 road victory in the N.C. Area IV best-of-seven semifinal series against the Gaston Braves at South Point’s Raider Field. The fifth game of the series moves to Cherryville’s Fraley Field at 7 p.m. on Monday. Trailing 5-3 after four innings, Cherryville scored two […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 16) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-2 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100 scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to edge the Gaston Braves 2-1 on Saturday night in the third game of their N.C. Area IV semifinal series. The Braves lead the series 2-1 with the fourth game slated for Sunday at 7 p.m. at South Point […]
By Richard Walker The Gaston Braves took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven N.C. Area IV semifinal series over Cherryville Friday night with a 3-2 victory at South Point High’s Raider Field. After Cherryville took a 1-0 lead in the third, the Braves scored three runs in the sixth inning on Caleb Burr’s solo home […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 15) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/4-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Shelby’s Kate Hollifield added to her family’s long, successful athletic heritage earlier this week in the annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star games. A 2022 Shelby High graduate, her 18 points helped lead the West to a 62-55 victory and earn her MVP honors. It also added to the Hollifield’s talented athletic […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 14) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/4-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/7-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker The stakes will be high when Cherryville hosts the Gaston Braves in the opening game of a best-of-seven N.C. Area IV semifinal series at 7 p.m. Thursday at Cherryville’s Fraley Field. The winner of the series earns a berth into the upcoming eight-team July 26-30 N.C. state tournament at Campbell University. It […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 12) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/3-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/6-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 12) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/3-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/6-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers officially introduced new quarterback Baker Mayfield to the media on Tuesday. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield talked about several topics in his zoom news conference. “Shocked, I would say, is pretty much the only way to describe it,” Mayfield said of the Cleveland […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 and Gaston Post 144-266 advanced to the N.C. Area IV semifinals on Monday with series-clinching road victories. Cherryville, the No. 1 seed from the Western Division, rallied for a 9-6 victory at Matthews to complete a three-game sweep in their best-of-five series. And the Gaston Braves, the No. 2 […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 11) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/3-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/6-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 and Gaston Post 144-266 moved within one victory of N.C. Area IV quarterfinal best-of-five series victories on Sunday night. Cherryville took a 3-1 win over visiting Matthews as Ashton Pope had two hits and three RBIs highlighted by a first-inning two-run home run to take a 2-0 series lead. […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 10) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/2-1 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/5-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-3 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker Former Hunter Huss High and Gastonia American Legion Pos 23 standout Josh Jordan has a new coaching job. After 10 years as the top assistant at Duke University where he was honored as the top assistant in the country, Jordan has been hired as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at LSU, Tigers head coach […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 9) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/2-0 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/4-1 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-2 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets opened their Las Vegas Summer League schedule on Friday with a 96-84 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Hornets led only at 2-0 and trailed by as many as 26 points in the first of a four-game schedule; Charlotte plays the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. […]