By Richard Walker North Carolina Area IV American Legion recently met to discuss the upcoming season and its membership for the 2023 season. Area IV will be divided again into two divisions – the East and West. The Eastern Division will include teams from Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties – Gastonia Post 23 and the […]
By Richard Walker The Cherryville American Legion Post 100 baseball family has had a rough couple of weeks following the death of longtime scoreboard operator Darise Hartman. Hartman died on Sept. 15 at 89 with one of the greatest attendance streaks in Legion baseball history; Hartman attended the American Legion World Series for 34 straight […]
American Legion 2022 (FINAL) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses for Lincoln County, […]
By Richard Walker Troy, Ala., made its third straight rally from a large deficit to win its first American Legion World Series title – and take the first title for Alabama in 55 years – on Tuesday with a 6-5 win over two-time defending champion Idaho Falls, Id. Idaho Falls was pursuing an unprecedented third […]
By Richard Walker Troy, Ala., and Idaho Falls, Id. won Monday semifinal games at the American Legion World Series to advance to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. championship game. Troy, playing in its first-ever ALWS, rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to beat Midland, Mich., 5-3. Troy seeks to become the second Alabama champion; Tuscaloosa, Ala., won […]
By Richard Walker When Chandler Redmond played baseball for Gardner-Webb University, he set single-season and career records for home runs. Last Wednesday night, he matched one of the rarest home run records in professional baseball history with a home run cycle. A 32nd-round pick in 2019 by the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Redmond hit a […]
By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers played four quarterbacks – starting recent trade acquisition Baker Mayfield – and survived a Washington Commanders’ rally directed by former University of North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell before winning 23-21 Saturday afternoon in their 2022 preseason opener. Mayfield, acquired from the Cleveland Browns in July, started for coach Matt […]
By Richard Walker The Burns High School community is in mourning after the death of the coach credited with building the school into a championship football program. Ron Greene died at 71 on Thursday. The winningest coach in school history and the man for whom the school’s stadium is named guided the Bulldogs to a […]
By Richard Walker The 2022 American Legion World Series got underway at Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium on Thursday. Here’s the schedule and results: Stars Division – Mid-South (Troy AL), Northeast (Shrewsbury MA), Southeast (Camden SC), Western (League City TX) Stripes Division – Great Lakes (Midland MI), Mid-Atlantic (Chesapeake VA), Central Plains (Omaha Prep […]
By Richard Walker Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams was the featured speaker on Wednesday at LeGrand Center in Shelby, N.C., during the “Host City Welcome” festivities that kicked off the 2022 American Legion World Series. Williams applauded each of the eight regional champions that begin play in the ALWS on Thursday. “I […]
By Richard Walker The 2022 Gaston County Conference and Tri-County Conference middle school football seasons begin in the next month. Here’s the composite schedules of both conferences: (Gaston County Conference) Aug. 24 – Belmont at Southwest, Bessemer City at Holbrook, W.C. Friday at Cramerton, Stanley at Grier, York Chester at Mount Holly Aug. 31 – […]
By Richard Walker As the Carolina Panthers prepare for Friday’s first preseason game during training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., coach Matt Rhule still hasn’t named a starting quarterback. However, Rhule admitted that day was coming closer as 2021 starter Sam Darnold and offseason trade acquisition Baker Mayfield continue sharing practice repetitions with projected starters and […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 7) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker The field has been set for this week’s American Legion World at Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium – and it includes two-time defending champion Idaho Falls, Id. Here’s the schedule of games that begin on Thursday: Stars Division – Mid-South (Troy AL), Northeast (Shrewsbury MA), Southeast (Camden SC), Western (League City […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 6) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 4) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Here’s a look at pro baseball players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: Former Gardner-Webb and Belmont Abbey baseball standout Emilio Pagan is 3-5 with nine saves and a 4.97 ERA in 40 appearances for the Minnesota Twins. Jeffrey Springs (South Point 2011 graduate) is 4-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 22 […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of Aug. 4) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker A former Crest High standout Lannden Zanders announced on twitter that his Clemson University college football career was over while Burns High senior Cahari Haynes announced his college commitment on twitter to play at Appalachian State University. A 2019 Crest High graduate, Zanders is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety who had made 57 […]
By Richard Walker Six players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were honored earlier this week by HighSchoolOT.com with selection to their all-state high school baseball team. East Lincoln’s Garrett Michel was named first team infielder, North Lincoln’s Matt Heavner was named second team infielder, Cherryville’s Landon Hahn was named third team infielder and East […]
By Richard Walker Three perennial state powers and three first-time state champions highlight the eight-team American Legion Southeast Regional field at Asheboro’s McCrary Park that will begin a five-day event to determine a qualifier for the World Series in Shelby. N.C.’s all-time leader in state championships, Wilmington with 13, is joined by a pair of […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland Community College didn’t have to look far to find coaches to startup their new men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs as well as a new head baseball coach. It simply found three local successful high school coaches and promoted a local product from assistant coach to head coach, as […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 30) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-2 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
By Richard Walker Shelby Post 82 becomes the first four-time N.C. American Legion softball state tournament participant when it hosts the 2022 event at Marion’s Big League Camp starting on Monday. Guided by head coach Thomas Pruett and assistant coaches Todd Beheler and Gary Spangler, Post 82 will take a 15-6 overall record and Area […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 29) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/3-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 28) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/2-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 27) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/1-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 26) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5/0-1 State Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit […]
American Legion 2022 (through Games of July 22) Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 11-1 14-2/7-5 Gaston Post 144-266 10-2 12-3/8-5 Gastonia Post 23 8-4 8-7/2-3 Matthews Post 235 6-6 7-11/3-4 Mint Hill Post 555 5-7 5-7/0-3 Statesville Post 113 2-10 2-12/DNP Lincoln County Post 455 0-12 1-13/DNP (Includes ALL forfeit losses […]
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 […]
Here are all results from the 2021 American Legion World Series: Pool play 4-team divisions (with records) Stars – Central Plains (Fargo, N.D. 0-3), Mid-Atlantic (Ridge St. Mary’s, Md. 2-1), Southeast (Tupelo, Miss. 2-1), Western (Honolulu Team Central, Hi. 2-1) Stripes – Great Lakes (Midland Berryhill, Mich. 1-2), Mid-South (Dubuque County, Ia. 2-1), Northeast (Beverly, […]
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 […]
American Legion World Series (at Shelby) Pool play 4-team divisions (with records) Stars – Central Plains (Fargo, N.D. 0-3), Mid-Atlantic (Ridge St. Mary’s, Md. 2-1), Southeast (Tupelo, Miss. 2-1), Western (Honolulu Team Central, Hi. 2-1) Stripes – Great Lakes (Midland Berryhill, Mich. 1-2), Mid-South (Dubuque County, Ia. 2-1), Northeast (Beverly, Mass. 1-2), Northwest (Idaho Falls, […]
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 announced a four-game preseason schedule that features two home games at Spectrum Center. Charlotte opens its 2021-22 preseason at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. before returning home to play the Mamphis Grizzlies on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. After visiting the Miami Heat on […]
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 The schedule has been set for the 2021 American Legion World Series that returns for the 10th straight time and 11th time overall to Shelby’s Keeter Stadium at Veterans Field. Defending champion Idaho Falls, Id., and runner-up Fargo, N.D., are two of the six teams who will comprise the eight-team field. Midland […]
By Richard Walker Ever since Cherryville Post 100 began its American Legion baseball program in 1937, success has often followed. Cherryville has set Area IV records for championships (18) and regular season titles (22) in addition to building one of North Carolina’s top programs with seven state titles, five state runner-up finishes and 11 state […]
By Richard Walker When the American Legion World Series makes its return to Shelby after being cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Veterans Field and Keeter Stadium will be allowed full capacity. This comes after N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper’s May 14 announcement that most restrictions put in place to control the spread of COVID-19 […]
By Richard Walker American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford announced Monday that The American Legion World Series will be played in Shelby this year. The eight-team championship tournament will be played Aug. 12-17 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium and is returning after being cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. “As […]
By Richard Walker Every summer, most American Legion fans expect Cherryville Post 100 to annually compete for top honors in the area, the state and possibly the nation. It wasn’t always that way. Before the 1997 season, Post 100 had won two state titles, five N.C. Area IV championships and eight regular season titles. In […]
By Richard Walker As anyone who lives in the area knows, American Legion baseball has made its World Series home in Shelby. But even before Shelby became the permanent host to Legion’s signature event, this region has been a frequent host to national tournaments – and that started 90 years ago in Gastonia. Gastonia became […]
By Richard Walker Kings Mountain High School’s Lancaster Field is set to become a first-time host of the North Carolina American Legion championship tournament The facility was granted the 2020 tournament before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all Legion tournaments locally, regionally and nationally. And the 2021 event is based on COVID-19 conditions and has to […]
By Richard Walker Ten teams have won more than one American Legion World Series. Gastonia was painfully close to making it 11 in 1954 in what has proved to be the last year Post 23 won a state title. It came during a summer when fans packed Gastonia’s Sims Legion Park night after night – […]
By Richard Walker With seven state titles in history, many think Cherryville Post 100 has always been an American Legion baseball power. It just seems that way, but it all started with the magical summer of 1953. That season, a first-year coach more known for his time at Gardner-Webb took over a program that had […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties have never ranked ranked near the top of the North Carolina population. But they do have arguably the most interest in American Legion baseball as 12 local posts have sponsored teams over the years and won more than 100 championships including two American Legion World Series titles. […]
By Richard Walker Whenever you visit Cleveland County these days, you are greeted by signs proclaiming it as the home of the American Legion World Series at Shelby’s Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium. The permanent host of the ALWS since 2011, while Legion baseball started in Shelby in 1931, the community’s embrace of Legion baseball […]