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 The featured speaker for the 2023 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame banquet on Monday was University of North Carolina head football coach Mack Brown. But Brown spent much of his speech discussing the talent, work ethic and resilience of former Ashbrook High standout British Brooks. Brooks, a 2018 Ashbrook High graduate, […]
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 Belmont Abbey College’s baseball team moved within one victory of becoming the winningest team in school history in Saturday’s come-from-behind 10-9 victory at Newberry that wrapped up a NCAA Division II Southeast Regional 2 title. Coach Chris Anderson’s team improved to 41-16 entering a best-of-3 Southeast Super Regional at Conference Carolinas rival […]
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 Gaston College learned who it will play in its historic National Junior College Athletic Association Division I World Series appearance in Oxford, Ala., on Friday. The NJCAA announced the Rhinos (43-8) will open their first World Series appearance on Tuesday May 23 against Florida SouthWestern (49-5). Gaston College was seeded 15th of […]
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 Big South 3A Conference champion South Point along with runner-ups Kings Mountain and Crest and fourth-place finishers North Gaston and Cramer led the all-league team done in voting by conference coaches. South Point had three first team selections in Patrick Blee, Gavin Smith and Talan McConnell, three second team selections in Zeke […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets came close to winning the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday. But the Hornets moved up for the fifth time in their draft lottery history and will choose No. 2 overall behind lottery-winning San Antonio. The Spurs are expected to draft 7-foot-3 Frenchman Victor Wemebanyama who is considered a “can’t […]
By Richard Walker On Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. in Chicago, the Charlotte Hornets upcoming history could be altered forever when the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery is conducted. The Hornets are coming off a disappointing 27-55 record and have the fourth-best chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in a draft with 7-foot-3 French […]
By Richard Walker Gaston College took on all sorts of challenges this weekend – and the Rhinos answered them all to win the National Junior College Athletic Association East District tournament at Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park. Gaston College came through the loser’s bracket and defeated national power Florence Darlington Tech twice on Sunday – by […]
By Richard Walker After opening the day with disappointment, Gaston College’s baseball program ended Saturday with the exhilaration of knowing they will be playing for a National Junior College Athletic Association East District title on Sunday. Preston Hall’s 2-out, 2-run RBI single completed a comeback from a 6-3 deficit for an 8-7 victory over Harford, […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets on Friday announced on Friday the organization will be commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the inaugural 1988-89 Hornets season during the upcoming 2023-24 NBA campaign. A season-long celebration of the past, present and future of Charlotte NBA basketball will include a series of 35th Anniversary games that will feature […]
By Richard Walker Wyndham Clark closed out strong to take his first PGA win in his career on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Championship. Clark shot a final round 68 to win by four strokes of second place Xander Schauffele. Clark’s previous best PGA finish came in 2020 when he lost a playoff to Brian […]
By Richard Walker Wyndham Clark holds a 2-shot lead after three rounds of the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. Clark seeks his first PGA victory as his best finish came in 2020 when he lost a playoff to Brian Gay in the Bermuda Championship. Here are the scores following Saturday’s third […]
By Richard Walker There’s a three-way atop the leader board at the Wells Fargo Championship at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. Tyrrell Hatton, Nate Lashley and Wyndham Clark are tied at 8-under-par 134 after two rounds of the tournament. Here are all of Friday’s scores following the second round: 1 Tyrrell Hatton -8 69 65 134 […]
By Richard Walker Former North Gaston High golfing star and Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Larry Penley is among 11 members of the 2023 Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. Penley, who played and coached golf at Clemson, will be honored with 10 others during the Sept. 23, 2023 weekend that coincides with the […]
By Richard Walker Defending champion Belmont is the top seed in both the Gaston County Conference baseball and girls soccer middle school playoffs as they begin on Thursday. In baseball, Belmont (9-1) seeks its fourth title since 2017 – the Wildcats won in 2017, 2018 and 2022 – when it opens on Thursday at home […]
By Richard Walker When Chuck Niemeyer’s swimming career began in Gastonia in the mid-1970s, he had no idea the sport would last as long as it has for him – or land him in his hometown Hall of Fame. But Niemeyer’s determination, talent and work ethic drove him to excellence in high school, collegiately, in […]
By Richard Walker Pro-am play continues on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Golf Championship at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club. The tournament will feature six of the 10 highest-ranked players in the world – 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 Former Carolina Panthers tight end Wesley Walls won the celebrity putting challenge as the Wells Fargo Golf Championship at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club as week-long festivities began on Monday. In a tournament with six of the 10 highest-ranked players in the world – Rory McIlroy (No. 3), Patrick Cantlay (No. 4), Xander […]
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 Gaston College and Belmont Abbey closed their regular seasons with impressive home victories on Saturday. Gaston College won 14-2 win over visiting Hosanna Bible College at Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park gave Gaston College its second straight 41-9 regular season record. The Rhinos honored 23 players on “Sophomore Day” before the game. Twelve […]
By Richard Walker With a crowd of 1,000 fans at a midday Friday pep rally, the Carolina Panthers officially introduced their newest franchise quarterback Bryce Young. Young, picked No. 1 overall in Thursday’s NFL Draft, met with fans, Panthers staffers and local media after arriving on a flight from Kansas City, Mo., on Friday. “It’s […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers did what had been expected for the last few weeks on Thursday night when they officially made Alabama quarterback the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young becomes the third quarterback selected in the first round in the 29-year history of the Panthers; No. 5 overall […]
By Richard Walker Bessemer City’s Kevin Millwood will be honored by the Philadelphia Phillies before Thursday’s 1:05 p.m. home game against the Seattle Mariners at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. Millwood will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch to honor the 20th anniversary of his no-hitter for the Phillies in an April 27, 2023 no-hitter […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers are set to make their second No. 1 overall selection when the 2023 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. And the team is expected to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with that first selection, the Panthers will become the 18th team to select […]
By Richard Walker Several local products are making impacts on the high school, college and pro scene. Former East Lincoln and Lincolnton star Sage Surratt on Sunday has the best pro football game of his career with 11 catches for 121 yards and one touchdowns for New Orleans in the Breakers’ 38-31 USFL victory over […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte 49ers officially ushered in the Biff Poggi era with an exciting Spring Game in front of 5,250 fans at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday night. In the game, quarterback James Foster’s 5-yard pass to Reggie Givhan III with 2:49 left to play capped a 16-point rally as TEAM MILLER/GREEN came […]
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 The Gastonia Honey Hunters are a week away from opening their 2023 season. Gastonia won both halves of the Southern Division races with records of 45-21 in the first half and 43-23 in the second half before losing three games to two in a Southern Division playoff series. Here is the full […]
By Richard Walker The N.C. High School Athletic Association is set for major changes after a vote to increase the state’s number of classifications passed. An amendment proposal was sent to the 432 NCHSAA principals and needed 324 votes to pass that would increase the state’s classifications from the current four to at least seven […]
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 A pair of former local high school baseball standouts have set career milestones in recent weeks. Lane Hoover, a 2018 Lincolnton High graduate, is hitting .320 with two home runs and 15 RBIs for East Carolina’s No. 7 nationally-ranked Pirates. He also now has 160 career runs, which is the new record […]
By Richard Walker Gaston College’s 11th doubleheader sweep of the season on Sunday – by 4-1 and 4-0 scores over Louisburg – will give the Rhinos a chance to win the Region 10 regular season title next week. The Rhinos improved to 39-5 overall and 15-3 in Region 10. Gaston College is ranked No. 15 […]
By Richard Walker Former South Point High multi-sport standout Tanner Muse will have a new NFL home. The NFL Network reported on Saturday that Muse is expected to sign a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. A 2015 South Point High graduate who won two College Football Playoff national championships at Clemson, Muse was […]
By Richard Walker Family mattered for North Gaston High School as tournament MVP Caleb Cloninger matched his father Chris Cloninger’s 1997 feat of winning Gaston County Baseball Tournament most valuable player honors while leading the Wildcats to an 11-3 championship game victory over East Gaston. Also like his father, who threw a no-hitter in ’97 […]
By Richard Walker North Gaston moved into second place all-time in the Gaston County Baseball Tournament with its seventh championship in a 11-3 victory over East Gaston in Thursday’s title game at Sims Legion Park. The Wildcats had previously won GCBT titles in 1987, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2011 and 2018. South Point remains the all-time […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte 49ers will host their annual Green-White football game on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at Jerry Richardson Stadium. It’ll mark the initial spring game under new coach Biff Poggi and gates will open at 6 p.m. with free admission to any fans who want to attend. Named head coach […]
By Richard Walker Based on how the Charlotte Hornets finished their 2022-23 schedule, many fans of the team will determine success or failure of this season based on what happens in the NBA Draft lottery on May 16. That’s when the organization will have a 12.5 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick […]
By Richard Walker (Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame) When Bill Eccles grew up in Gastonia’s Thomas Acres, perhaps his life’s passion was foretold when he was 12 years old. At the time, Eccles simply wanted his neighborhood team of 9-year-olds to beat another neighborhood’s team of 9-year-olds. “So I guess you could say I’ve […]
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 The Charlotte Hornets closed out an injury-ravaged season with a 106-95 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. In a year in which the Hornets lost 265 games due to injuries, including 46 for LaMelo Ball, 32 for Gordon Hayward and 19 for Terry Rozier, the finished with a 27-55 final overall […]
By Richard Walker Former South Point High standout Garrett Davila will be making a homecoming for a stop that has him one step away from the major leagues. Davila, a 2015 South Point High graduate, was promoted by the Chicago White Sox organization from Class AA Birmingham to Class AAA Charlotte on Saturday. A 4th-round […]
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 The Gaston County Baseball Championship will hold its 35th tournament next week at Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park. Defending champion East Gaston is the host and four games are slated to be played next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. South Point is the winningest team in tourney history with 61 overall victories and eight […]
By Richard Walker Former East Lincoln High product Alec Burleson is making an impact for the St. Louis Cardinals through three games. The 2017 East Lincoln High graduate, Burleson is hitting .308 with one home run and two RBIs while playing left field. Burleson had become the first East Lincoln High alumnus to play in […]
By Richard Walker The N.C. High School Athletic Association could be close to a seismic change in how it classifies its schools. A vote is now underway to determine whether or not a proposed amendment to the NCHSAA bylaws will pass. Every principal of a NCHSAA member school was to have received the ballot via […]
By Richard Walker In a year where parity and unexpected results have been the norm, Connecticut has a chance Monday night to join some select NCAA basketball company. The Huskies can become the sixth school in NCAA tournament history with five or more championships if the Huskies can knock off San Diego State in the […]
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 […]
By Richard Walker The biggest surprise team of the 2023 Final Four has a Belmont Abbey and Charlotte connection. Florida Atlantic’s longest-tenured assistant, Kyle Church, is the son of former Belmont Abbey and Charlotte 49ers coach Robbie Church and Kyle Church played for the 49ers’ men’s basketball team. Born when his father was Belmont Abbey […]
By Richard Walker Former Forestview High and Gaston Day School standout Nate Hinton’s double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday night led the Cleveland Charge into the semifinals of the NBA G League playoff on Friday. Hinton, a 2018 Gaston Day graduate, and the No. 5 seed Charge defeated the No. 4 Maine Celtics […]
By Richard Walker Intrigue continues about the upcoming Carolina Panthers No. 1 overall pick for the April 27-29 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Mo. New Panthers head coach Frank Reich added to the rumor mill with his comments on Tuesday at the NFL League Meetings. After large Carolina team contingents went to the NFL Pro […]
By Richard Walker Gaston College’s baseball and softball programs each recorded milestone victories a mile apart and an hour apart on Tuesday in Gastonia. On Tuesday afternoon at CaroMont Health Park, the Rhinos’ softball team posted its first victories over Surry Community College in a doubleheader sweep. And on Tuesday afternoon at Sims Legion Park, […]
By Richard Walker Several former local products played or coached college basketball in the 2022-23 season and one of them is looking to play again at a higher level next season as we wrap up the season. Dame Adelekun, a 2019 Gaston Day product who has played at Dartmouth for four seasons, entered the transfer […]
By Richard Walker It’s amazing what a difference week can make in the NCAA tournament. Just a week ago, many writers who cover major college conferences not named the ACC were celebrating the league’s apparent demise. Longtime power North Carolina was being criticized for declining a NIT appearance. Virginia and N.C. State lost in the […]