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 Gastonia’s Charles “Dean” Huffstickler, a longtime amateur boxer and boxing coach and two-time Hall of Fame inductee, has died at 84. Huffstickler, who was inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022 and into the Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame in April, first gained notereity in the sport during […]
By Richard Walker League City (Tex.) Post 554 made a first inning run stand up for a 1-0 victory over Lincoln (Neb.) Post 3 Tuesday night in the 2023 American Legion World Series championship game at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. The result gives the Lone Star state its first champion in […]
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 Several area products have been honored as members of the www.CarolinaGridiron.com 2023 preseason North Carolina all-state football team. Here’s the full time with notes on each player: Quarterback – Jadyn Davis, Providence Day Leading the charge is Jadyn Davis of Providence Day. With a rocket arm and a mind as sharp as […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers’ opening act of the 2023 season came up flat as they dropped their preseason opener by a 27-0 score to the New York Jets on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The game, which came in Frank Reich’s debut as Carolina head coach, […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers open their 2023 preseason schedule at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium against the New York Jets on Saturday at 4 p.m. Here is a preview of the contest: Preseason Game 1: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers, 4 p.m. TV: WJZY locally (Taylor Zarzour play-by-play, Steve Smith Sr. color […]
By Richard Walker The North Carolina High School Athletic Association earlier this week released its final 2022-23 Wells Fargo all-sports trophy standings for each of the four classifications and from all of the state’s conferences. Among area schools, Mountain Island Charter finished 4th in the overall 1A standings, 3 area schools were in the top […]
By Richard Walker Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium will begins hosting duties for the American Legion World Series for the 13th time on Thursday. Shelby gained the ALWS for the first time in 2008. Then after the national American Legion office pursued a permanent host, Shelby was granted the right to host the event […]
By Richard Walker The Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame will have its 16th induction ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Mount Holly Citizens Center with its 2023 induction class. This year’s class is comprised of 5 individuals and 2 teams and tickets are $25 apiece and can be purchased by […]
By Richard Walker The 8th and final team for the 8-team field for this week’s American Legion World Series in Shelby punched its ticket on Monday morning. Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Post 671 rallied past longtime power Midland (Mich.) Post 165 by a 2-1 score when the teams resumed a game that was suspended with Midland […]
American Legion World Series pairings: (at Shelby NC) Stars Division – Northeast (Ellsworth, Maine), Mid-South (Troy, Ala.), Northwest (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Western (League City, Tex.) Stripes Division – Mid-Atlantic (Brooklawn, N.J.), Southeast (Florence, S.C.), Great Lakes (Midland, Mich. OR Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Central Plains (Lincoln, Neb.) August 10 Game 1 – Northwest vs. Western, 10 a.m. […]
By Richard Walker Seven of the eight-team field for this week’s American Legion World Series in Shelby was determined on Sunday and the final spot will be claimed after a suspended game is resumed at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning. Defending champion Troy, Ala. leads the field that includes all-time ALWS participant Brooklawn, N.J.; Post will […]
By Richard Walker The 2023 Gaston County Conference and Tri-County Conference seasons are fast approaching after official practices have gotten underway in both conferences. In the Gaston County Conference, the regular season begins on Wednesday, Aug. 23. That schedule runs through Wednesday, Oct. 4 with the 2023 county championship game to be played on Wednesday, […]
By Richard Walker The HighSchoolOT website devoted to prep sports recently released its 2023 All-North Carolina teams for baseball and softball. Twelve athletes from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were honored – 7 in baseball in 5 in softball. In baseball, N.C. 2A state champion Burns’ Marshall McGowan was a 1st team infielder, Ben Mauney […]
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 The 64-team American Legion baseball regionals begin on Wednesday at eight locations all across the country, including the Southeast Regional at Asheboro’s McCrary Park. Defending American Legion World Series champion Troy, Ala., will play in the Mid-South Regional at Pelham, Ala., and three other teams from last year’s ALWS in Shelby also […]
By Richard Walker After the first practice in full pads, veteran Carolina Panthers’ offensive lineman Taylor Moton welcomed the contact and know it means the season is getting closer and closer. Moton, whose accepted a Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame induction of behalf of his Gastonia grandfather Dr. Thomas Gunnings in 2018, said it […]
By Richard Walker The field for the 2023 Southeast American Legion baseball regional in Asheboro, N.C., has been set. Asheboro’s McCrary Park will host a regional for the 11th straight year as state champions from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia and host Randolph County Post 45 will open the 8-team, […]
American Legion regional tournament pairings: Northeast (Region 1 at Shrewsbury MA) (Wednesday, Aug. 2) Game 1 – Maine (Ellsworth) vs. New Hampshire (Nashua Coffey), 9:30 a.m. Game 2 – Vermont (Essex) vs. New York (Greece), after 9:30 a.m. game Game 3 – Connecticut (West Hartford) vs. Massachusetts No. 1 (Franklin), 4:30 p.m. Game 4 – […]
By Richard Walker Fuquay-Varina Post 116 overcame an early deficit to rally for a 5-2 victory over Wayne County Post 11 to win the championship game of the 2023 North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament at Campbell University’s Jim Perry Field. Post 116 trailed 2-0 before scoring 2 times in the 5th inning to […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (FINAL standings) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2/0-2 State Cherryville Post 100 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (FINAL standings) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2/0-2 State Cherryville Post 100 […]
By Richard Walker The 3-day ACC Kickoff came to a close on Thursday and there was still some chatter about the “old” divisions even as the league had discontinued the Atlantic and Coastal divisions. Since Clemson and Florida State dominated the Atlantic Division – with 14 title game appearances in 17 years and 13 of […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (FINAL standings) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2/0-2 State Cherryville Post 100 […]
By Richard Walker One of most important pioneers in North Carolina’s rich athletic history has died. Western Carolina University officially confirmed that former All-American basketball player Henry Logan had died at 77 on Wednesday. Logan was the first African-American basketball player at a previously all-white college in the Southeast when he began his career in […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (FINAL standings) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2/0-2 State Cherryville Post 100 […]
By Richard Walker For the second straight day, early leads didn’t hold up for Cleveland County or Cherryville in North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament games at Campbell University. Cleveland County Post 82-155 lost 13-5 to Wilmington as Post 10 used 14 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batter and 3 fielding errors to win […]
By Richard Walker For the second straight day, early leads didn’t hold up for Cleveland County or Cherryville in North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament games at Campbell University. Cleveland County Post 82-155 lost 13-5 to Wilmington as Post 10 used 14 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batter and 3 fielding errors to win […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 20) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2/0-1 State Cherryville […]
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 Cleveland County Post 82-155 suffered one of the most heartbreaking defeats in its history on Tuesday morning in the opener of the 2023 N.C. state American Legion baseball tournament at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium. Pitt County Post 39 knocked off Cleveland County 2-1 on a walkoff home run in the bottom of […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets are entering a new frontier this week after the NBA’s Board of Governors approved the sale of the Charlotte Hornets to a group led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin and ending Michael Jordan’s 13-year run as majority owner. The vote was reportedly 29-1 with only the New York […]
By Richard Walker One of the most talented fields in North Carolina American Legion baseball tournament history will battle for the N.C. title this week at Campbell University’s Barker-Lane Stadium. You have the winningest title teams in each of the 4 areas, 4 of the top 6 all-time state champions, the 7 most frequent state […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100’s Joseph Webb led two of the statistical categories in final 2023 North Carolina Area IV regular season baseball. Webb, a 2022 Burns High graduate, led Area IV in ERA (0.48) and strikeouts (45). Webb also led Area IV in strikeouts in 2022. Other statistical Area IV leaders were Queen […]
By Richard Walker East Lincoln High School softball coach Roger Wilson was named N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3A coach of the year during a N.C. Coaches Association meeting in Greensboro on Wednesday. Wilson has been Mustangs’ head coach for two years and guided the team to a 49-4 overall record that includes 24-1 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 20) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 wrapped up a best-of-3 American Legion baseball series sweep on Thursday night for its record 21st North Carolina Area IV championship following a 3-2 victory over Cleveland County Post 82-155 at Cherryville’s Fraley Field. Cherryville, which won 2-1 in Wednesday’s series opener at Shelby, won its 5th Area IV […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 20) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-2 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The 23rd annual North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament will return for a second straight to Barker-Lane Stadium at Campbell University. Since 2023 was Area II’s year to host and no team from that area is hosting, Area I gets 3 teams in this year’s 8-team field with Area III and […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 19) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-1 Cherryville Post […]
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 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 16) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The most frequently played North Carolina Area IV series resumes on Wednesday and the stakes are a higher seed in next week’s state tournament. Both Cherryville Post 100 and Cleveland County Post 82-155 are guaranteed berths in the July 25 through 29, 8-team, double-elimination state tournament to be played at Campbell’s Barker-Lane […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 16) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville will be heading to its 14th North Carolina American Legion baseball state tournament after closing out its Area IV semifinal series against Rutherford County on Sunday. Post 100 lost 4-1 earlier Sunday in the completion of a game that was suspended on Saturday night, then won 7-3 in the 5th game […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 16) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland County punched its ticket to the 2023 North Carolina American Legion state tournament at Campbell University as Post 82-155 completed a 4-game sweep of Asheville in an Area IV semifinal series. Cleveland County improved to 24-7 on the season – and 7-0 in the playoffs – with Saturday’s 10-3 victory in […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 15) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/7-0 Cherryville Post […]
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 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 14) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/6-0 Cherryville Post […]
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 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 13) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/4-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville Post 100 and Cleveland County Post 82-155 took wins in the openers of their best-of-7 North Carolina Area IV semifinal series in convincing fashion on Wednesday night. Cherryville had a 7-run 3rd inning to spur it on to a 9-2 victory over Rutherford County at Cherryville’s Fraley Field. Starter and winner […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 12) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/4-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cherryville’s Fraley Field will host the 22nd North Carolina Junior American Legion baseball tournament starting on Saturday. Host Cherryville Post 100 and Area IV champion South Caldwell will be considered the “home teams” when the event begins with four games on Saturday. After four games on Sunday, three games are slated for […]
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 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 9) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-3 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-3 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-3 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-3 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/3-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The North Carolina Area IV Final Four has been set after Cleveland County Post 82-155 completed a 3-0 quarterfinal series sweep over Matthews. Since the current playoff format was adopted in 1953, Cherryville is tops in Area IV with 39 Final 4 appearances and Cleveland County 2nd with 31. Cherryville is making […]