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 […]
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 […]
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 Kings Mountain High School announced on twitter that it has a new head baseball coach. Wil Sellers was promoted from assistant coach and replaces Brad Melton after Melton spent five years as Mountaineers’ head coach. The KMHS athletic twitter account announced: “Kings Mountain High School proudly announces the appointment of Wil Sellers […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 8) 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 8-10/3-2 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 17-7/2-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The Cramerton History Society Museum this summer is hosting an exhibit that would appeal to major league baseball fans and New York Yankees’ fans in particular. Cramerton native and retired All-State insurance executive Art Shoemaker is sharing a part of his extensive sports memorabilia for an exhibit he calls, “The Boys of […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 7) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-2 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 8-10/3-1 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 17-7/1-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The Charlotte Hornets made a huge financial commitment that will make LaMelo Ball the face of their franchise for years to come. Hornets president of basketball operations and general manager Mitch Kupchak announced on Thursday that it had reached a contract extension with Ball. The team didn’t disclose financial details but multiple […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 6) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-1 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 8-10/3-1 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 17-7/1-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Ashbrook High School three-star offensive lineman Trent Mitchell announced on Wednesday that he was committing to play football at N.C. State. A 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior, Mitchell chose the Wolfpack after interest from Maryland, East Carolina, Appalachian State and Charlotte. Mitchell took his official visit to N.C. State in late June and was […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 5) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-0 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 8-10/3-0 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 17-7/0-0 Cherryville Post […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 4) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-0 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/2-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-2 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-0 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 17-7/0-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker A 5th game will be played in one series on Wednesday after a Tuesday night result while a protest was filed in another American Legion game late Tuesday night that could be resolved on Wednesday. Mint Hill’s 9-6 victory at Hickory tied their best-of-5 opening round North Carolina Area IV series with […]
By Richard Walker Three of the five North Carolina Area IV opening round playoff series winners have been determined after three days of action. Asheville finished a 3-0 sweep of Gastonia on Sunday and Matthews (3-0 over Burke County) and Rutherford County (3-0 over Lincoln County) completed sweeps on Monday. Hickory leads Mint Hill 2-1 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 3) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-0 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/1-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-2 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/3-0 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 17-7/0-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker After a quiet first two days for the Charlotte Hornets in free agency, ESPN reported on Sunday that restricted free agent Miles Bridges has signed $7.9 million qualifying offer for the 2023-2024 season. The move will allow Bridges to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and ESPN reports the restricted is […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through July 2) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-0 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/1-1 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/1-1 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/2-0 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-2 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/0-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker A pair of local products have made coaching news this week as the University of Tennessee extended the contract of track and field coach Duane Ross to the 2027-28 athletic year and LaQuanda Dawkins Prince was named head women’s basketball coach at Greensboro College. Ross, a 1991 North Gaston High graduate who […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through June 29) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Queen City 8-2 12-6/0-0 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6/0-1 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10/0-0 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9/0-1 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14/0-2 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7/0-0 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Cleveland County Post 82-155 will enter the 2023 N.C. Area IV playoffs as the top seeded team and is one of three teams that will receive a first round bye. “The kids just came to play this year no matter what we faced,” said second-year Cleveland County Post 82-155 head caoch Charlie […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through June 29) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 8-2 12-6 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker Former Crest High standout Riley Cheek earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors while also helping Queens in its first season of NCAA Division I baseball. Also named the Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Cheek was a third team honoree after maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. A 2018 […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through June 29) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 8-2 12-6 Mint Hill Post 555 7-3 8-4 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9 Gastonia Post 23 0-10 2-14 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post 82-155 9-3 17-7 Cherryville Post […]
By Richard Walker The pairings have been set for the 2023 North Carolina Area IV Junior American Legion baseball playoffs. Area IV has crowned champions since 2006 and defending Area IV and N.C. state champion Burns failed to make the 8-team field after the season began with 18 teams split into three divisions. The top […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through June 28) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 8-2 12-6 Mint Hill Post 555 6-3 7-4 Gaston Post 144-266 6-4 9-6 Matthews Post 235 6-4 8-10 Lincoln County Post 455 3-7 4-9 Gastonia Post 23 0-9 2-13 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post 82-155 8-3 16-7 Asheville Post […]
By Richard Walker With two days left in the North Carolina Area IV American Legion baseball schedule, Cleveland County Post 82-155 is one win away from clinching a division title and the Queen City Mustangs wrapped up their division title. Cleveland County moved within one win of its second Western Division title in three years […]
N.C. Area IV 2023 (Standings through June 27) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 8-2 12-6 Matthews Post 235 6-3 8-9 Mint Hill Post 555 5-3 6-4 Gaston Post 144-266 5-4 8-6 Lincoln County Post 455 3-6 4-8 Gastonia Post 23 0-9 2-13 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post 82-155 7-3 15-7 Asheville Post […]
By Richard Walker Gastonia’s Josh Jordan set Gaston County history on Monday night. The first-year LSU assistant coach became the county’s first College World Series winner when the Tigers routed Florida 18-4 to take the best-of-3 championship series in Omaha, Neb., two games to one. Jordan, a 1998 Huss High graduate and former Gastonia Post […]