By Richard Walker Former South Point High standout Garrett Davila last week won his second minor league championship as a member of the Kansas City Royals’ organization. A 2015 South Point High graduate, Davila was the winning pitcher for Northwest Arkansas in the second game of the Naturals’ three games to none Class AA Central […]
By Richard Walker Gardner-Webb trailed at halftime against Western Carolina before its offense got untracked for a 52-34 victory at Spangler Stadium. The Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-2) won their second straight game by scoring the game’s final 28 points – or after trailing 34-24 with 8:09 left in the third quarter. Gardner-Webb quarter B Fisher completed […]
By Richard Walker The first big Southern Piedmont 1A/2A matchup of the season turned into a rout for Shelby as the Golden Lions rolled to a 55-7 win at previously unbeaten Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy on Friday night. Shelby improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play by scoring the game’s last 49 points […]
By Richard Walker As the high school football season hits the midway point of the 11-week, 10-game season on Friday, we look at individuals who have shined brighest so far this season. Already, two quarterbacks in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties have surpassed 1,000 yards passing and many others are having strong seasons. No running […]
By Richard Walker Can the Carolina Panthers’ defense keep it up? And can the offense continue it fast starts? If Carolina can keep doing both, the Panthers will become the first 3-0 team in the NFL this season if they can win Thursday’s 8:20 p.m. game at the Houston Texans. The Panthers also are seeking […]
By Richard Walker Several former local products are nearing the end of their professional baseball seasons. Here’s a look at how they are doing with statistics through Monday’s games: Emilio Pagan (former Gardner-Webb and Belmont Abbey): The right-handed pitcher is 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 66 appearances for the San Diego Padres. Jeffrey Springs […]
By Richard Walker During Big South Conference football media day this summer, Gardner-Webb coach Tre Lamb said former Crest standout Jalin Graham would be a future standout in his program. Graham, a 2020 Crest graduate, proved his coach correct on in the Bulldogs’ 56-0 home win over Lincoln, Pa., with a brief but very effective […]
By Richard Walker A dominating defensive effort in Sunday’s 26-7 home win over the New Orleans Saints could have the Carolina Panthers thinking big already this season. Not only did it give the Panthers a 2-0 for only the eighth time in the franchise’s 27-year history but it also ended a four-game losing streak to […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers pursue a rare 2-0 start on Sunday when they host the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Winning again would put the team in a good historical position since six of the previous 2-0 starts have resulted in postseason appearances. Carolina has started out 2-0 or better in 1996, […]
By Richard Walker West Lincoln High School is off to its third 4-0 football start in the last four seasons after Mason Avery’s 10-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted the Rebels to a 20-17 win over Bandys in a Catawba Valley 2A Conference opener. West Lincoln hosts preseason league favorite Maiden next week. Here are […]
By Richard Walker How important is winning your conference football opener? In the Big South Conference, it’s imperative if you want to win the league championship. How so? With Friday featuring six teams opening their league slate – Crest beat North Gaston 42-16 last week – none of the previous league champions or co-champions have […]
By Richard Walker Holbrook and Southwest stayed unbeaten in Gaston County Conference middle school football action after wins on Wednesday. Holbrook defeated Mount Holly 36-6 to improve to 4-0 and Southwest edged Southwest 6-0 to improve to 5-0. Grier (3-0) also is unbeaten in the Gaston County Conference. Here are Wednesday’s Gaston County Conference results: […]
By Richard Walker Charlotte is off to its fourth 2-0 start in the school’s nine-year football history. Coach Will Healy said during his weekly news conference that 2-0 won’t mean anything if the team doesn’t finish strong – and that starts with this week’s 7 p.m. game at Georgia State. “Every week I say this […]
By Richard Walker Former South Point High baseball standout Dawson Gause will be playing on one of the biggest stages in all of college baseball this spring when he pitches for six-time national champion LSU. A 2018 South Point High graduate, Gause will be a 6-foot-4, 215-pound redshirt sophomore for the Tigers after transferring from […]
By Richard Walker They may have started slow – and drew a few boos in the process – but the Carolina Panthers reversed a recent opening-game trend on Sunday with a 19-14 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. Sam Darnold completed 24 ot 34 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown in his […]
By Richard Walker There was no letdown for the Charlotte 49ers as they rolled to a 38-10 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday night at Richardson Stadium. One week after Charlotte’s first-ever home game and victory over a power five major college football conference – the 49ers beat Duke 31-28 – Charlotte never trailed as it […]
By Richard Walker A shootout at Shelby’s Blanton Memorial Stadium between two of the Carolinas winningest programs ended with South Pointe of Rock Hill, S.C., holding off Shelby 51-37 on Friday night. South Pointe scored 34 straight points in the first half to take a 37-7 halftime lead before the host Golden Lions outscored the […]
Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties high school football all-time rankings. Here is a 7-part series on how local programs rank all-time based on victories: Part 1: Teams ranked Nos. 19 to No. 13 – Cramer, Highland Tech, Mountain Island Charter, North Lincoln, Forestview, West Lincoln, North Gaston Part 2: Teams ranked Nos. 12 to No. […]
By Richard Walker On Saturday, a former Crest High quarterback will make his head coaching debut against the ACC when Dawson “Tyrone” Odums leads his Norfolk State team into its first game at Wake Forest at noon. Odums, a 1992 Crest High graduate, played quarterback in high school and defensive line at North Carolina Central […]
By Richard Walker Former South Point High standout Tanner Muse has a new NFL home. Muse, a 2015 South Point High graduate, signed to play on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on Wednesday. It comes two days after the Las Vegas Raiders released Muse from their roster. Muse had made eight tackles with half a […]
By Richard Walker Former Forestview and Gaston Day standout Nate Hinton has a new NBA team. Hinton signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Indiana’s new head coach is Hinton’s former Dallas Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle. A 2018 Gaston Day graduate who was an undrafted free agent signee out of the University of […]
By Richard Walker Quarterbacks at Charlotte and Gardner-Webb, a Gardner-Webb receiver and Gaston County’s all-time leading high school football rusher were among those honored with top conference awards for their play in the opening week of the 2021 college football season. Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week after he […]
By Richard Walker Former North Gaston High standout Blake Brown was promoted by the Philadelphia Phillies to its Class AA affiliate on Sunday. A 2016 North Gaston High graduate, Brown went 2-1 with eight saves with a 3.15 ERA in 33 appearances for the Class A Jersey Shore Blue Claws before being promoted to the […]
By Richard Walker Gardner-Webb put a scare into traditional power Georgia Southern in the 2021 college football opener for both teams. The visiting Bulldogs scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and drove to the Georgia Southern 29 in the closing seconds before losing 30-25 at Paulson Stadium. Gardner-Webb quarterback Bailey Fisher completed 27 of 45 passes for […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte 49ers set history Friday night. The 49ers scored late and survived a Duke rally for a 31-28 victory in front of 14,125 fans at Richardson Stadium. It marks Charlotte’s first win over an ACC school in the 49ers first home game against an ACC opponent. In a game with six […]
By Richard Walker High school football’s third week continued Thursday with non-conference games that include rivalry matchups like Burns-Kings Mountain, Cramer-East Gaston and East Lincoln-Lincolnton. There’s also been four game cancellations – Blacksburg, S.C., at Cherryville, Central Cabarrus at Huss, Foard at West Lincoln and South Point at R-S Central – with South Point picking […]
By Richard Walker After the COVID-19 pandemic completely disrupted high school football in the 2020-21 school year, it continues having an impact on the 2021 fall schedule. On Wednesday, the Crest at Shelby game that was scheduled for Friday will be postponed with school officials saying they are “working to reschedule.” It is the fourth […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers roster is at 53 after a flurry of moves on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the team waived linebacker Josh Bynes, wide receiver Omar Bayless, running back Spencer Brown, quarterback Will Grier, defensive lineman Frank Herron, offensive lineman Mike Horton, cornerback Jalen Julius, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, outside linebacker Christian Miller, […]
By Richard Walker Four local high school products are currently on NFL rosters following the 2021 preseason – former Crest standout Jonathan Bullard, former South Point standout Tanner Muse, former East Lincoln standout Chazz Surratt and former East Lincoln and Lincolnton standout Sage Surratt. Here is a look at how each player is doing: Bullard: […]
By Richard Walker High school football teams into the third playing date of the season this week. One game, South Point at R-S Central, has been cancelled due to COVID issues at R-S Central but South Point is trying to find another opponent. Here is Friday’s current schedule for schools from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln […]
By Richard Walker Shelby honored the greatest football player the city has ever produced on Saturday with “Bobby Bell Day.” Bell, a 1959 graduate of the old Cleveland Training School, went on to become an Outland Trophy winner at the University of Minnesota, a Super Bowl winner for the Kansas City Chiefs and was inducted […]
By Richard Walker South Point was challenged for a half at rival East Gaston. Then the Red Raiders scored 28 straight points in the second half for a 35-7 non-conference victory. It gives South Point its 25th win over the Warriors in their last 25 meetings. Tyson Riley scored two second half touchdowns and Cam […]
By Richard Walker High school football moves into its second week highlighted by three of the oldest rivalries in the area when Crest visits Burns, South Point plays at East Gaston and West Lincoln visits Cherryville. Here’s a look at each of the matchups in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: Alexander Central at North Gaston […]
By Richard Walker Area products fill college football rosters all across the nation. And during Labor Day weekend, when the focus of college football will be on Charlotte, local products will be involved for five of the six teams who will be playing in the Queen City. On Thursday, Sept. 2, seven area products will […]
By Richard Walker Wednesday’s inclement weather played havoc on the first Gaston County Conference middle school football games in two years. Only two games were played long enough to be completed as Cramerton won 24-8 at W.C. Friday and Grier defeated visiting Stanley 8-0. In Cramerton’s win, Tristan Holt had three touchdowns and L.J. Watson […]
By Richard Walker After a year or disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, middle school football returns to the area with conventional schedules for both area leagues. In the Gaston County Conference, action begins on Wednesday in its 11-school league with five games. Gaston County didn’t play any football in the 2020-21 school year. And […]
By Richard Walker After two seasons off, the Gazette Cup boys high school soccer tournament returned last week. And a familiar champion, South Point, enjoyed the event more than anyone else as the Red Raiders won their ninth title in 11 championship game appearances for a tournament that began in 1993. Tony Baker scored two […]
By Richard Walker Four local high school products are currently active on NFL rosters in the 2021 preseason – former Crest standout Jonathan Bullard, former South Point standout Tanner Muse, former East Lincoln standout Chazz Surratt and former East Lincoln and Lincolnton standout Sage Surratt. Here is a look at how each player is doing: […]
By Richard Walker Carolina Panthers fans got their first preseason look at new starting quarterback Sam Darnold but the Baltimore Ravens kept alive one of the most confounding streaks in NFL history with a 19-3 win over the Panthers on Saturday in the team’s preseason home opener. Carolina closes out the 2021 preseason on Friday […]
By Richard Walker After two straight losses to its oldest rival, Shelby High opened the 2021 high school football season with a vengeance – and a 37-14 victory – at Kings Mountain. In the earliest meeting of the 98-year-old series, Kings Mountain scored first before Shelby took charge of the game with 23 straight points. […]
By Richard Walker Gaston College has a nickname, a logo and school colors for its startup athletic program. The school unveiled its blue and yellow colors, its “Rhinos” nickname and its logo during a Thursday outdoor party at the campus. Gaston College’s Rhinos will return to athletic competition this fall for the first time since […]
WWW.CAROLINASSPORTSHUB.COM High School Football Previews Aug. 16 – Others (Mountain Island Charter and Clover) Aug. 17 – Catawba Valley 2A, Western Foothills 3A conferences Aug. 18 – Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference Aug. 19 – Big South 3A Conference By Richard Walker As much as some leagues have changed dramatically due to realignment, the Big South […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville’s Dixie Angels All-Star softball recently won both the North Carolina state and the Dixie World Series tournament titles. In the N.C. state tournament held in Cherryville from July 9-13, Cherryville routed three opponents by a 33-0 cumulative score and yielded only one hit. In the Dixie World Series (Angels Division) held […]
By Richard Walker Inclement weather wreaked havoc on the 2021 American Legion World Series for the third straight night Tuesday as the championship game matching defending champion Idaho Falls, Id., against Honolulu, Hi., will be played on Wednesday at a time to be determined. Here is the full schedule of games for the 2021 American […]
By Richard Walker On Saturday night, Bessemer City inducted its inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class. In a ceremony held at First Baptist Church of Bessemer City, a class of four individuals and one team were officially inducted – Mike Mahaffey, Kevin Millwood, Jackson “Ace” Parker and Shameka Smith and the 1959 Bessemer City High […]
By Richard Walker The Indianapolis Colts scored 11 points in the final 7:43 on Sunday afternoon to ruin the Carolina Panthers preseason opener. The Colts, who got six of those points on a 1-yard touchdown run by former Charlotte 49ers running back Benny LeMay, won the contest on Eddy Pinero’s 30-yard field with seven seconds […]
By Richard Walker Area high school football teams have completed preseason practices and scrimmages. And on Friday, the 2021 regular season will begin. Here’s the schedule for opening games for teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: Bessemer City at Community School of Davidson Burns at Forestview Cherryville at Avery County Cramer at Bunker Hill […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets fell to 0-3 in the Las Vegas Summer League after losing a 106-105 shootout to the San Antonio Spurs. Tre Jones scored 34 points to lead the Spurs to the win. Charlotte was led by James Bouknight (23 points, 8 assists), Vernon Carey, Jr. (19 points, 8 rebounds), Grant […]
By Richard Walker After the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the Gaston County Conference football schedule and altered the Tri-County Conference football schedule, both leagues will run full slates for the 2021 season. In Gaston County, it’ll mark the first action since the 2019 season. And in Cleveland and Lincoln counties, the teams will play a full […]
By Richard Walker During Tuesday’s offseason media session, Charlotte Hornets president and general manager Mitch Kupchak said his team had finished its offseason roster decisions, had high hopes for the upcoming season and felt the contract extension the team gave head coach James Borrego indicated he would be able to meet those expectations. Charlotte added […]
By Richard Walker East Lincoln and Crest are among the Wells Fargo Conference Cup award winners for conferences with Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties. The Wells Fargo Conference Cup award, sponsored by Wells Fargo and the N.C. High School Athletic Association, is a companion to the statewide Wells Fargo Cup. The Conference Cup is […]
By Richard Walker Fuquay-Varina scored early, survived a rain delay, then held off Wilmington 8-6 to take its first N.C. American Legion state tournament championship on Sunday afternoon at Fraley Field in Cherryville. Post 116 scored once in the bottom of the first, then scored four times after a 20-minute rain delay in the second […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville and Fuquay-Varina clinched their spots in Saturday’s semifinals with wins on Thursday in the N.C. American Legion baseball state tournament at Cherryville’s Fraley Field. Cherryville routed Rowan County 17-1 in six innings by the 10-run mercy rule in the final game of pool play. It came a few hours after Fuquay-Varina […]
By Richard Walker Every four years, the N.C. High School Athletic Association realigns its member schools into conferences and sometimes different classifications. For the schools from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties, the upcoming setup involves some changes that are completely new for some while also leaving many long-standing rivalries intact. The area conference that changed […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100 wrapped up another N.C. Area IV semifinal appearance Sunday night after defeating the Lincoln County Cardinals 12-2 in six innings at Fraley Field to complete a 3-0 sweep of their best-of-five quarterfinal series. Noah Ingle’s bases-loaded walkoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning wrapped up […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville and Cleveland County ended their North Carolina Area IV regular seasons by finishing tied atop Western Division standings with 10-4 records Wednesday’s games. Cherryville knocked off Burke County 3-1 as Noah Huss threw a four-hitter with six strikeouts and Zach Wilson (triple), Colin Robinson (double), Zane Brockman (one hit, one RBI) […]
By Richard Walker After winning its third straight Big South 3A Conference baseball title, Crest took two of the top honors in postseason voting done by the league’s coaches. Crest senior pitcher and shortstop Ben Hodge was named the league’s player of the year after hitting .500 and going unbeaten (6-0) as a pitcher. And […]
By Richard Walker Wingate University completed its comeback run through the NCAA Division II World Series to finish as 2021 baseball national champions. And former Crest standout Logan McNeely was named tournament most valuable player after helping the Bulldogs beat Central Missouri 5-3 in Saturday’s championship game at the USA National Training Complex in Cary. […]
By Richard Walker Wingate wasn’t just satisfied with making its first NCAA Division II World Series. The Bulldogs’ fourth straight win at the event at the USA National Training Complex in Cary – an 8-7, 11-inning thriller over Angelo State – will give the school the chance to play for a national championship on Saturday. […]
By Richard Walker Crest puts the wraps on an outright Big South 3A Conference baseball title with a dramatic 5-4 win over Kings Mountain on Thursday night. The win improved the Chargers to 12-0 overall and in Big South play this season and ensures a home playoff game next Tuesday when N.C. High School Athletic […]