By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers set dubious history in Sunday’s 37-27 loss at the Seattle Seahawks as the loss dropped them to 0-3 for only the 5th time in the team’s 29-year history. It’s the first time since 2010 when Carolina finished 2-14 in John Fox’s final season of a 9-year tenure. The other […]
By Richard Walker Every week this season, www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will look back at the Carolina Panthers’ historic 2003 season that ended with the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl. Week 3: The Carolina Panthers enjoy an early-season off week and remain the only unbeaten team in the NFC South at 2-0. The Week 3 bye […]
By Richard Walker Huss rallied from a 24-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime and knock off South Point 31-24 for the Huskies’ first home win in the long series since 1995. Huss had lost 11 straight home games to the Red Raiders, who lead the all time series that began in 1965 […]
By Richard Walker The 9th-oldest rivalry in Gaston County resumes tonight when East Gaston opens its Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference schedule at Cherryville. It’s a rivalry that features four schools and once was highlighted by one of the most amazing individual performances in N.C. high school football history. East Gaston, which opened in 1972 as […]
By Richard Walker When Dax Hollifield was a star linebacker at Shelby High and Virginia Tech, many predicted he would have a future professional future. Hollifield is doing that – just in an unconventional manner with NASCAR. Just last weekend, Hollifield was working at legendary Bristol Motor Speedway just a few years after his last […]
By Richard Walker Three days after a disappointing 41-25 home loss to Georgia State, Charlotte 49ers head coach Biff Poggi is eager to finish the first phase of his 2023 season – the 4-game non-league schedule – and vows to push his team with positivity. “Tough week last week and a tough loss for the […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers’ offense struggled again and it cost the team a 20-17 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The loss also dropped Carolina to 0-2 to start the season for the 12th time in the team’s 29-year history. Only in […]
By Richard Walker Every week this season, www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will look back at the Carolina Panthers’ historic 2003 season that ended with the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl. Week 2: One of the most improbable wins in team history hands the 2002 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 12-9 overtime loss on their […]
By Richard Walker After one week, the four unbeaten teams in the Big South 3A Conference are conference favorites Crest, Kings Mountain and South Point in addition to upstart North Gaston. How surprising is North Gaston? The Wildcats won their second Big South Conference game in their 47 league contests when they knocked off Forestview […]
By Richard Walker Hickory ended East Lincoln’s 19-game winning streak on Friday in a 49-28 victory at Frank Barger Field. The Mustangs, defending N.C. 3A champions, have the four of the five longest winning streaks in Lincoln County history – 30 from 2014 to 2015, the one that ended on Friday, 16 from 2012 to […]
By Richard Walker Conference action starts up for most area teams on Friday. And the importance of winning a league opener is most prominent in the Big South 3A Conference. In the school histories of that 8-team league, only twice has a team lost its conference opener and still managed to win a league championship. […]
By Richard Walker Former East Lincoln High standout Chazz Surratt is one of four former local standouts on NFL rosters this year. Surratt also played a key role in one of the most prominent plays in the NFL’s opening weekend as his block near midfield helped spring Xavier Gipson’s game-winning 65-yard punt return that capped […]
By Richard Walker Charlotte 49ers first-year head coach Biff Poggi said at Tuesday’s weekly news conference that he felt he made a mistake during his team’s 38-20 loss at Maryland. Poggi said when his team held a 14-3 lead in the second quarter and faced a fourth-and-8 play near midfield, he thought about going for […]
By Richard Walker When Wayne Bolick got into coaching, he used the coaching strategies and theories of one of the best Gaston County coaches in history. Those Delmer Wiles coaching methods helped make Bolick the winningest junior high/middle school football and baseball coach in Gaston County history. A 2011 Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers struggles in Atlanta and head coach Frank Reich’s struggles in season openers continued on Sunday as rookie Bryce Young’s regular season debut was ruined by 2 pass interceptions that led to 10 Falcons’ points in Sunday’s 24-10 Atlanta victory. The Panthers fell to 8-21 all time in Atlanta and […]
By Richard Walker Every week this season, www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will look back at the Carolina Panthers’ historic 2003 season that ended with the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl. Week 1: Offseason free agent signee Jake Delhomme replaced 2002 starter Rodney Peete at quarterback in the second half with the Panthers trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars […]
By Richard Walker In Shelby’s long history as the state’s winningest football program, the Golden Lions have gone 0-4 to start a football season only once. Entering Friday’s home game against Class 4A Charlotte Olympic, the Golden Lions were 0-3 and desperate to avoid the second 0-4 start in school history. And Shelby did so […]
By Richard Walker When Cherryville visits North Gaston Friday night in a non-conference high school football game, it’ll resume the 6th-oldest rivalry in Gaston County history – and the oldest rivalry in each school’s history in the sport. Cherryville’s 9-6 home win over old Dallas High on Oct. 8, 1926 is the 1st game in […]
By Richard Walker Four local products open their NFL seasons this weekend with one playing in the season-opening Monday Night Football contest. On Sunday, Jonathan Bullard (Crest 2012 graduate) and Nick Muse (South Point 2017) and the Minnesota Vikings host Tampa Bay at 1 p.m. Bullard is beginning his 8th year as a defensive lineman […]
By Richard Walker When Maryland and the Charlotte 49ers agreed to a two-game series in March 2016, the 49ers were four head coaches away from a homecoming trip for current Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi and many of his players. Back then, the 49ers had just completed their second season under inaugural head coach Brad […]
By Richard Walker When Mack Brown was the featured speaker in May for the 2023 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at the Gastonia Conference Center, he called former Ashbrook High standout British Brooks one of the “hardest-working players” he’s ever coached and said Brooks was in “our Hall of Fame” due to overcoming […]
By Richard Walker With a win and an impressive losing performance, Saturday’s opening games have to be considered a success for the Charlotte 49ers and Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. Despite falling behind 3-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 15,622 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in the much-anticipated head coaching debut of Biff Poggi, the 49ers […]
By Richard Walker After stopping a 6-year losing streak to rival Cramer, East Gaston is off to only its 4th 3-0 start in the school’s 52-year history. And if the Warriors can defy history this Friday at home against Ashbrook, they’ll have a chance at the school’s best-ever seasonal start. East Gaston’s previous 3-0 starts […]
By Richard Walker Crest fell behind early but its offense erupted for a 53-38 win at longtime rival Shelby on Friday to improve to 3-0 on the season. The Chargers, who will be off next week, got 6 touchdown passes and 1 TD run from quarterback Ny’Tavious Huskey. Huskey threw TD passes to Malachi Addison […]
By Richard Walker A pair of city-county rivalries with striking similarities headline Week 3 of the area’s high school football schedule. County school Crest in Cleveland County first played against Shelby in 1968 and didn’t win in the rivalry until 1980. In Lincoln County, East Lincoln faced the same type of struggles against Lincolnton as […]
By Richard Walker All 4 area NFL players survived cut week even as 1 of those players was released by 1 team and signed by another. Tanner Muse, a 2015 South Point High graduate, was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday but was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers. A linebacker, Muse […]
By Richard Walker When the Charlotte 49ers open their 2023 football season on Saturday at 6 p.m. against South Carolina State at Jerry Richardson Stadium, former Huss standout Prince Bemah will be one of 8 team captains in Biff Poggi’s college head coaching debut. “Prince is a great kid,” Poggi said of Bemah, a 2019 […]
By Richard Walker Fifteen products from Cleveland and Gaston counties are on the Gardner-Webb roster as the Runnin’ Bulldogs enter this season seeking to a defend a league title for the first time in 20 years. Gardner-Webb is in its first season as a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference member after winning the Big South championship […]
By Richard Walker Belmont Abbey College will induct 3 individuals and 1 team into the Dr. Michael P. Reidy Athletics Hall of Fame this fall. The ceremony, to be held on Sept. 23, will honor Frank Zinke (Class of 1969), Theresa Nolan Breslin (Class of 2009), William Collins (Class of 1966) and the 1989 men’s […]
By Richard Walker Two weeks into the area high school football success, the biggest story would seem more about struggles than successes as eight teams remain winless. Those struggling teams are Cramer (0-2), Forestview (0-2), Bessemer City (0-2), Cherryville (0-2), Highland Tech (0-2), Shelby (0-2), Lincolnton (0-2) and Ashbrook (0-1). While eight teams also are […]
By Richard Walker Crest avenged back-to-back losses to Burns with a convincing 49-29 road victory on Friday that leaves the Chargers 2-0 entering next week’s game at rival Shelby. Crest quarterback Ny’Tavious Huskey threw four touchdown passes – one to Malachi Addison, one to A.J. Adams and two to Javarius Green. The second TD throw […]
By Richard Walker One of the oldest Gaston County rivalries will resume this Friday when Bessemer City visits North Gaston in Week 2. It’s a rivalry that began in 1930 when it was Bessemer City against Dallas and Friday’s meeting will mark the 49th meeting between the schools. North Gaston holds a 24-21-3 alltime advantage […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday unveiled a new Classic Edition uniform that will be worn during the 2023-24 season in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the franchise’s inaugural 1988-89 season. With a teal silhouette featuring multi-colored double pinstripes, the 2023-24 Hornets Classic Edition uniform echoes the second-generation Hornets uniforms that were […]
By Richard Walker With the first change in Gaston County Conference Middle School divisional alignment in 26 years, the 2023 football season opens with a newness that breeds some uncertainty. Defending county champion and two-time defending Division II champion Belmont is being switched to Division I with Mount Holly switching from Division to Division II. […]
By Richard Walker Gaston County Conference middle school sports will begin action this week as the football season gets underway on Wednesday and the softball season starts on Thursday. www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will preview the football season in Tuesday’s roundup and here’s the 2023 softball schedule for all league teams. Belmont went 11-0 last season to win […]
By Richard Walker (Special from Jacob Conley) Former Gardner-Webb wide receiver T.J. Luther has been beating the odds his whole life. Now he wants to do it again, this time by making a NFL roster. According to a 2020 report published by the NFL, of the 73,712 college football players in the United States, only […]
By Richard Walker There will be a first-time American Legion World Series winner crowned on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when Lincoln (Neb.) Post 3 meets League City (Tex.) Post 554 at Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium. Lincoln need only one hit – Garrett Springer’s 2-run single in the bottom of the 6th inning […]
By Richard Walker The newest chapter in Charlotte Hornets history became official on Thursday as the NBA and the team announced Michael Jordan has sold his majority stake in the team to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rich Schnall. The sale, which was approved by the NBA Board of Governors, immediately gives the […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland County Post 82-155 pitcher-shortstop Colby Putnam and Cherryville pitcher Joseph Webb were the top statistical performers among Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties for the 2023 American Legion baseball season. Putnam, a Burns High sophomore in the spring, led the area in batting average (.415) and ERA (0.66) and was 2nd in […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland County Post 82-155 started the day with a heartbreaking defeat and Cherryville Post 100 ended the day with a disappointing loss as both N.C. Area IV teams lost their opening games on Tuesday at the N.C. state American Legion baseball tournament at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium. Both teams now will have […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville’s Fraley Field hosts the final day of the North Carolina Junior American Legion baseball tournament on Wednesday. And host Cherryville and South Caldwell are poised to continue a streak of excellence for N.C. Area IV teams in the event. Area IV teams have won the last two state titles and have […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 and Cleveland County Post 82-155 each moved within one victory of clinching N.C. American Legion state tournament appearances on Friday. Both lead their respective Area IV best-of-7 semifinal series by commanding 3-0 margins. Cherryville downed visiting Rutherford County 4-1 as Zane Brockman (home run, double, 2 RBIs) and Asheton […]
By Richard Walker Former Lincolnton High standout Lane Hoover recently became the 16th area product who is playing professional baseball this season. A 2018 Lincolnton High graduate, Hoover just completed his career at East Carolina before signing a free agent contract with the Florence, Ky., Y’alls of the independent Frontier League. Hoover signed with the […]
By Richard Walker Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper announced on Monday they will be expanding their Hall of Honor when wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and defensive end Julius Peppers are inducted at halftime of the Oct. 29 home game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium. “Muhsin Muhammad and Julius Peppers were drafted […]
By Richard Walker The Cramerton History Society Museum this summer is hosting an exhibit that would appeal to major league baseball fans and New York Yankees’ fans in particular. Cramerton native and retired All-State insurance executive Art Shoemaker is sharing a part of his extensive sports memorabilia for an exhibit he calls, “The Boys of […]
By Richard Walker A pair of former local standouts helped Campbell win its second straight Big South Conference baseball championship on Saturday and earn an automatic berth in next week’s NCAA tournament. Former Crest High standout Lawson Harrill and former Gaston College standout Chandler Riley were named to the all-tournament team after the Camels beat […]
By Richard Walker East Lincoln High School’s softball team set history on Friday night as it defeated Rockingham County 2-1 to win the best-of-3 Western N.C. 3A championship series 2 games to 1. It advances the Mustangs (23-2) to the state finals for the first time in the school’s 56-year history. Here is the area’s […]
By Richard Walker Burns High School set school history on Thursday after completing a sweep of Eden Morehead in the best-of-3 Western N.C. 2A baseball championship series. After the Bulldogs won 7-0 over Eden Morehead at home on Tuesday in the opener of the series, Burns closed out the series on Thursday with a 13-6 […]
By Richard Walker Former Crest High standout Lawson Harrill of Campbell and Gardner-Webb’s Bobby Alcock were voted as Big South Conference player and pitcher of the year, respectively, in voting by the league coaches. Other top awards that were announced on Wednesday were Campbell’s Justin Haire as Coach of the Year, Campbell pitcher Jackson Roberts […]
By Richard Walker Former Southwest Middle School and Gaston Day School standout Keyshawn Woods is a basketball champion and most valuable player. Woods scored 33 points, including the last three at the free throw line of an 82-81 Tindastoll victory over Valur in the Icelandic basketball title game last Thursday. Woods, who played high school […]
By Richard Walker When the 2023-24 athletic season begins at Mount Holly Middle School, a familiar face will be missing. Mike Nixon, who has coached softball, volleyball, boys soccer and boys track at the school he once attended announced earlier this month that he was retiring after a long, successful coaching career. Nixon’s teams have […]
By Richard Walker Area college baseball is having possibly its best season ever as a second-year junior college (Gaston College) has advanced to the NJCAA World Series, a NCAA Division II school (Belmont Abbey) is making its second straight regional tournament appearance and NCAA Division I schools Charlotte, Davidson, Gardner-Webb and Queens are enjoying varying […]
By Richard Walker The North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame returned to Cherryville for the seventh time in its 56-year history and Post 100 welcomed six new inductees and had a featured speaker with local ties. The speaker, longtime college baseball coach Rusty Stroupe, played for Cherryville’s 1981 N.C. Legion state championship team […]
By Richard Walker Six of the top 10 golfers in the current World Golf Rankings will be in the field this week as the Wells Fargo Golf Championship at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. Rory McIlroy (No. 3), Patrick Cantlay (No. 4), Xander Schauffele (No. 5), Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 6), Max Homa (No. 7) and Jordan […]
By Richard Walker Gardner-Webb University announced on Saturday that Scott Merritt will be its new head women’s basketball coach. A press conference to introduce Merritt will be held next week in Tucker Student Center on campus with the details to be announced at a later date. Merritt becomes the 13th women’s basketball head coach in […]
By Richard Walker One of the area’s winningest basketball coaches is retiring from the sidelines as Bessemer City’s Danny McDowell announced he was resigning his head coaching job on Wednesday. A Kings Mountain High native who was a member of Gaston College’s first baseball team in 1968, McDowell got his college degree from Appalachian State […]
By Richard Walker Gardner-Webb will soon have its fourth major leaguer after Mason Miller was promoted to the Oakland Athletics. Miller, a third round pick in the 2021 major league draft, was promoted from Class AAA Las Vegas after going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings this season. A […]
By Richard Walker Fifteen area products are on major leagues or minor league rosters this spring highlighted by three major leaguers. Pagan, who played for Gardner-Webb (2010-11) and Belmont Abbey (2012-13) is a reliever for the Minnesota Twins. Springs, a 2011 South Point High graduate, is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. And […]
By Richard Walker Cramer High School boys golfer Aiden Vargosko and his teammates set a N.C. High School Athletic Association record for single day individual and team excellence on Tuesday at Cramer Mountain Country Club. Vargosko set records best 9-hole score (27) and best 18-hole score (61) for a round in non-NCHSAA championship play history […]
By Richard Walker Fresh off its historic Big South Conference and Football Championship Series playoff run, Gardner-Webb held its 2023 spring game on Friday night at Spangler Stadium. A crowd of more than 1,200 attended the game in which the White team posted a 14-0 victory over the Black team. The top priority this spring […]