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11-20-22 roundup: Pro softball, basketball and football, High school football and basketball, College football and basketball, Middle school soccer, volleyball and wrestling

By Richard Walker One of the area’s most prominent softball players recently received arguably the highest honor he has ever received with induction into the 41st annual National Softball Hall of Fame. Kings Mountain’s Rusty Bumgardner was among 11 inductees on Nov. 12 in a ceremony held in Shreveport, La. A 1987 Kings Mountain High […]

2022-23 COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Former Huss standout preseason All-CIAA at Fayetteville State

By Richard Walker Former Huss standout Cress Worthy is a preseason All-CIAA selection at Fayetteville State. A senior guard, Worthy was named first team All-CIAA in the 2021-22 season when he averaged 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 30 games (28 starts) for the Broncos. The 2017 Huss graduate is one of several […]

2022 GCSHOF: For Cherryville’s Stan Crisson, knee injury led to opportunity that made him a historic pro football champion

By Richard Walker When Stan Crisson grew up in Cherryville in the 1950s, he was like many youngsters who were determined to help the town’s high school and American Legion Post 100 baseball teams win titles and pursue greatness. However, it was a football injury during one of the best starts in Cherryville High School […]

Homecoming boost: Former East Lincoln standout Alec Burleson enjoys trip to Charlotte

By Richard Walker When Alec Burleson was helping lead the East Lincoln High baseball program to four straight state playoff appearances as a standout pitcher and hitter, he dreamed of making the major leagues. Now in his third year as a professional in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization, Burleson is one step away as a […]

2-3-22 roundup: College baseball and basketball, Pro basketball and football, College football, High school basketball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Eighty-six Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln county products begin college baseball seasons all over the country this month, including a preseason All-American and a starting outfielder for nationally-ranked East Carolina, Sophomore left-hander C.J. Mayhue, a 2019 Crest High graduate, was named third team preseason All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) earlier […]

Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame announces 2022 class

By Richard Walker The Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame has selected five new inductees for its 2022 class that will be honored May 2 at the Gastonia Conference Center. Former University of North Carolina player and administrator John Swofford will be the featured speaker. The induction class is comprised of Cherryville’s Stan Crisson, Cramerton’s […]

College basketball set to begin: Several former Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln county products will coach or play in 2020-21

By Richard Walker College basketball has begun all across the country and several former standouts from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are playing and coaching. That includes two with the Elon’s women’s basketball program that opens its season on Wednesday at Gardner-Webb. Charlotte Smith, a 1991 Shelby High graduate, begins her 10th season as head […]

Former Crest standout Jonathan Bullard adding to area’s pro football legacy

By Richard Walker When former Crest High standout Jonathan Bullard made one tackle in the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-26 home win over the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, he was just adding to a long professional football history for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties. Bullard, a 2012 Crest High graduate, is the 20th local product to play […]

National TV was to feature now-postponed Charlotte 49ers home opener

By Richard Walker Six local high school football products and the Charlotte 49ers were to get national television exposure at 8 p.m. Saturday night on ESPNU in their home opener until a late Thursday night game postponement. The 49ers (1-2, 1-1 C-USA) were to host Florida International on Saturday at 8 p.m. until COVID-19 issues […]