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FINAL American Legion baseball statistics for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties

American Legion 2021 statistical leaders Note: Statistics provided by area coaches and/or statisticians. Batting average (minimum: 30 at-bats) Cole Irby, Cherryville (26-54) .481 Samuel Duncan, Cherryville (16-36) .444 Will Heavner, Cherryville (28-67) .418 Zach Wilson, Cherryville (41-101) .416 Caleb Burr, G-Braves (25-65) .385 Ryan Emery, Cleveland (21-55) .382 Luke Reynolds, Cleveland (18-51) .353 Joseph Webb, […]

8-3-21 roundup: High school athletics, Legion softball, Pro basketball and baseball

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 […]

8-2-21 roundup: Legion baseball and softball, College athletics, Pro basketball

By Richard Walker After a year off due to the coronavirus, American Legion baseball begins national playoff competition on Wednesday with start of regional play among 64 teams in eight regions across the country. Those 64 teams came out of 3,045 teams that registered to play this season. All state champions will participate along with […]

7-14-21 roundup: Legion baseball and softball, Pro football and baseball

By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100 started its N.C. Area IV semifinal series in impressive fashion with a 10-2 win over Mint Hill Post 555 at Independence High School. Cherryville (15-5) got six-hit, one-run, four-strikeout pitching from starter and winner Zach Wilson and Zane Brockman had two of Post 100’s 11 hits. Game […]

7-11-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Little League baseball, Pro golf and baseball

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 […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 11)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 11) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/5-1 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-3 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/4-3 Queen City 5-4 5-4/6-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-3 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

7-10-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Little League baseball, Pro basketball and baseball

By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100 moved within one victory of the North Carolina Area IV semifinals after shutting out Lincoln County 3-0 on Saturday night at The Corral at East Lincoln High School. Zane Brockman pitched a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and helped himself at the plate with two hits as Cherryville […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 10)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 10) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/4-1 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/4-2 Queen City 5-4 5-4/5-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-3 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

7-9-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Pro baseball, Local Hall of Fame

By Richard Walker Cherryville had to wait a week to play its first American Legion baseball playoff game but Post 100 shook off the rust quickly in a 6-2 win Friday night over visiting Lincoln County in the opener of a best-of-five N.C. Area IV quarterfinal series. Cherryville (12-5) visits Lincoln County (4-3) at East […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 9)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 9) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/3-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-1 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/3-2 Queen City 5-4 5-4/4-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-3 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

7-8-21 roundup: College baskeball and cross country, Legion baseball, Pro baseball

By Richard Walker A major college basketball tournament will be held at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center with ties to the current ownership tenant of the building and his alma mater. The Charlotte Sports Foundation announced on Thursday a three-year agreement with Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Oklahoma to plau men’s and women’s basketball tournaments called the […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 8)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 8) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/3-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/3-1 Queen City 5-4 5-4/3-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-3 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 7)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 7) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/3-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/3-1 Queen City 5-4 5-4/3-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-2 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-3 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 6)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 6) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/3-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/2-1 Queen City 5-4 5-4/3-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-2 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-2 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 5)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 5) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/2-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/2-0 Queen City 5-4 5-4/2-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/1-1 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-1 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 4)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 4) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill Post 555 8-2 8-2/1-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/1-0 Queen City 5-4 5-4/0-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/0-1 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/1-0 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs […]

2021 N.C. Area IV playoffs begin: Cleveland County, Cherryville Mint HIll are top-seeded teams

By Richard Walker Cleveland County, Cherryville and Mint Hill are the top-seeded teams as the North Carolina Area IV playoffs begin on Sunday. Cleveland County and Cherryville shared the Western Division title with 10-4 divisional records and Mint Hill took the Eastern Division title with an 8-2 record. A late start to the season caused […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 3)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 3) Eastern Division Division Overall/Playoffs Mint Hill 8-2 8-2/0-0 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2/0-0 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6/0-0 Queen City 5-4 5-4/0-0 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5/0-0 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3/DNP Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8/0-0 Western Division Division Overall/Playoffs Cleveland County […]

7-3-21 roundup: Pro baseball, Legion baseball, Pro basketball

By Richard Walker Blake Lalli, Gardner-Webb University’s first major league baseball player, is making a name for himself as a minor league manager. Lalli got another honor on Thursday when he was named the National League team’s bench coach for the upcoming SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 11 at 3 p.m. ET on the […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 2)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 2) Eastern Division Division Overall Mint Hill 8-2 8-2 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6 Queen City 5-4 5-4 Pineville Post 337 4-5 4-5 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3 Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru July 1)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru July 1) Eastern Division Division Overall Mint Hill 8-2 8-2 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6 Queen City 4-4 4-4 Pineville Post 337 4-4 4-4 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3 Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-30-21 roundup: Pro baseball, Little League baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball

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) […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru June 30)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 30) Eastern Division Division Overall Mint Hill 8-2 8-2 Lincoln County Post 455 4-2 4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 6-6 6-6 Queen City 4-4 4-4 Pineville Post 337 4-4 4-4 Union County Post 535 1-3 1-3 Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-29-21 roundup: Legion baseball, College baseball and basketball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Lincoln County American Legion Post 455 exploded for 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 13-3, mercy-rule-shortened 5-inning win over visiting Gastonia to move into first place of the Eastern Division of N.C. Area IV. The Cardinals (4-1) trailed 2-1 before their late surge as starter Ben Carpenter […]

N.C. Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 29)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 29) Eastern Division Division Overall Lincoln County Post 455 4-1 4-1 Mint Hill 7-2 7-2 Gaston Post 144-266 5-5 5-5 Queen City 4-4 4-4 Pineville Post 337 4-4 4-4 Gastonia Post 23 2-8 2-8 Union County Post 535 0-2 0-2 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-28-21 roundup: Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro hockey and baseball

By Richard Walker Cleveland County American Legion Post 82-155 dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker at Asheville on Monday night in N.C. Area IV Western Division baseball. Post 82-155, which was led by Blake Davis (two hits) and Jeb Bridges (one hit, two RBIs), fell to 9-2 overall but remains atop the divisional standings. Cherryville 8, Rutherford […]

N.C. Area IV Legion baseball update (thru June 28)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 28) Eastern Division Division Overall Mint Hill 6-2 6-2 Lincoln County Post 455 3-1 3-1 Gaston Post 144-266 5-4 5-4 Queen City 4-3 4-3 Pineville Post 337 3-4 3-4 Gastonia Post 23 2-7 2-7 Union County Post 535 0-2 0-2 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-27-21 roundup: Prep wrestling and baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Five local wrestlers advanced to championship matches in the N.C. High School Athletic Association, with two taking home state titles. Crest’s Rex Howard won the Class 3A 138-pound weight class by major decision over West Carteret’s Jacob Bennett. And Cramer’s Zack Karagias won the Class 3A 145-pound weight class by fall over […]

N.C. Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 27)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 27) Eastern Division Division Overall Lincoln County Post 455 3-1 3-1 Mint Hill 5-2 5-2 Gaston Post 144-266 5-3 5-3 Queen City 4-3 4-3 Pineville Post 337 2-4 2-4 Gastonia Post 23 2-7 2-7 Union County Post 535 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-26-21 roundup: Prep track and baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker North Lincoln’s boys and girls won N.C. 2A track championships Saturday and Ashbrook freshman Camryn Massey set a state record in the 2021 championships held at the North Carolina A&T track complex. North Lincoln’s girls were led by MVP Angie Allen, who won three individual titles as the Knights racked up 69 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 26)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 26) Eastern Division Division Overall Lincoln County Post 455 3-1 3-1 Mint Hill 4-2 4-2 Gaston Post 144-266 4-3 4-3 Queen City 4-3 4-3 Pineville Post 337 2-3 2-3 Gastonia Post 23 2-6 2-6 Union County Post 535 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-25-21 roundup: Prep track and baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Mountain Island Charter’s boys track team won the school’s first team state championship on Friday and Highland Tech’s Lauren Tolbert was the most valuable girls performer in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A championships at the North Carolina A&T track and field complex. The Raptors runners dominated the meet as […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 25)

  American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 25) Eastern Division Division Overall Mint Hill 3-1 3-1 Gaston Post 144-266 4-2 4-2 Lincoln County Post 455 2-1 2-1 Queen City 3-3 3-3 Pineville Post 337 2-3 2-3 Gastonia Post 23 1-5 1-5 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County […]

6-24-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Prep baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Cleveland County American Legion Post 82-155 split a doubleheader at Cherryville Post 100 on Thursday to remain atop the North Carolina Area IV Western Division standings. Cleveland County (4-1) is tied with Burke County (4-1) with Cherryville (6-2) in third place after Thursday’s games. In the opener, Colby Humphries threw a two-hitter […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 24)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 24) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 4-1 4-1 Mint Hill 2-1 2-1 Queen City 3-2 3-2 Lincoln County Post 455 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-3 1-3 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-3 0-3 Western Division Division Overall Burke County Post […]

6-23-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Prep baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100 swept visiting Asheville 4-2 and 2-0 on Wednesday night to improve to 5-1 in N.C. Area IV and 6-2 overall entering another huge home doubleheader on Thursday. Cherryville will host nearby rival Cleveland County Post 82-155 (3-0, 3-0) in a 5 p.m. doubleheader with first place in […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 23)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 23) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 4-1 4-1 Mint Hill 2-1 2-1 Queen City 3-2 3-2 Lincoln County Post 455 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-3 1-3 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-3 0-3 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post […]

6-22-21 roundup: Prep baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Could Reilly Hovis’ Gastonia baseball homecoming give him a shot at the major leagues? The Toronto Blue Jays think so after signing Hovis off the Gastonia Honey Hunters’ roster of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on Tuesday. A 2012 Forestview High graduate who was an ACC champion and an All-ACC pitcher […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 22)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 22) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 2-1 2-1 Mint Hill 2-1 2-1 Queen City 2-2 2-2 Lincoln County Post 455 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-2 1-2 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 21)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 21) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 2-1 2-1 Mint Hill 2-1 2-1 Queen City 2-2 2-2 Lincoln County Post 455 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-2 1-2 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Cleveland County Post […]

6-21-21 roundup: Prep baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Cherryville and East Lincoln led their respective all-conference baseball teams after each team won or shared their league titles. In the Southern Piedmont 1A Conference, Cherryville’s Dalton Pence was named player of the year and Scott Heavner coach of the in voting by league coaches. Pence also was one of five Ironmen […]

6-20-21 roundup: Legion baseball, Prep baseball and wrestling, College baseball and Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Cleveland County American Legion Post 82-155 opened its 2021 season Sunday with an 8-5 road win at Hickory. Colby Humphries picked up the pitching win and Bradley Jordan got the save for Post 82-155 and Luke Reynolds, Porter Hall and Ryan Emery had two hits apiece to lead the offense.     […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 20)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 20) Eastern Division Division Overall Lincoln County Post 455 1-0 1-0 Queen City 2-1 2-1 Gaston Post 144-266 1-1 1-1 Mint Hill 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-2 1-2 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Asheville Post 70 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 19)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 19) Eastern Division Division Overall Lincoln County Post 455 1-0 1-0 Queen City 2-1 2-1 Gaston Post 144-266 1-1 1-1 Mint Hill 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-2 1-2 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Asheville Post 70 […]

6-18-21 roundup: Prep baseball, Legion baseball, College baseball and Pro baseball

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 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 18)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 18) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 2-1 2-1 Gaston Post 144-266 1-1 1-1 Gastonia Post 23 1-1 1-1 Mint Hill 1-1 1-1 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Asheville Post 70 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 16)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 16) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 1-0 1-0 Queen City 2-1 2-1 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-0 0-0 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Gastonia Post 23 0-1 0-1 Mint Hill 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Asheville Post 70 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 15)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 15) Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 1-0 1-0 Queen City 1-1 1-1 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Mint Hill 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-0 0-0 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Gastonia Post 23 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Maiden Post 240 […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 14)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings (thru June 14) Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 1-0 1-0 Gaston Post 144-266 0-0 0-0 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Mint Hill 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-0 0-0 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Gastonia Post 23 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Maiden Post 240 […]

6-13-21 roundup: Legion baseball, College track and baseball, Pro baseball

By Richard Walker Cherryville American Legion Post 100’s Jerry Hudson was inducted into the North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday in Raleigh during the annual North Carolina American Legion convention. Hudson, currently the N.C. Area IV commissioner, also is a longtime Cherryville Post 100 athletic officer. Hudson was inducted with Rowan […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (thru June 13)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall Queen City 1-0 1-0 Gaston Post 144-266 0-0 0-0 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Mint Hill 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-0 0-0 Union County Post 535 0-0 0-0 Gastonia Post 23 0-1 0-1 Western Division Division Overall Maiden Post 240 1-0 1-0 Asheville […]

6-12-21 roundup: College baseball, Legion baseball, Prep baseball, Pro baseball

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. […]

Area IV American Legion baseball update (through June 12)

American Legion 2021 Area IV standings Eastern Division Division Overall Gaston Post 144-266 0-0 0-0 Gastonia Post 23 0-0 0-0 Lincoln County Post 455 0-0 0-0 Mint Hill 0-0 0-0 Pineville Post 337 0-0 0-0 Queen City 0-0 0-0 Western Division Division Overall Asheville Post 70 0-0 0-0 Burke County Post 21 0-0 0-0 Caldwell […]

6-11-21 roundup: College baseball, Legion baseball, Prep baseball

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. […]

Friday’s roundup: High school football, soccer and softball, College baseball, football and soccer

By Richard Walker One of the most stunning nights in Cleveland County history struck on Friday as all three teams lost in the high school playoff teams lost on the same night for the first time since 2009 – and third time in history (2002 was first time). Burns suffered the biggest heartbreaker as Salisbury […]

Cherryville to host 2021 N.C. Legion state tournament and N.C. Area IV will have 16 teams this summer

By Richard Walker North Carolina American Legion baseball has long been big in the area and 2021 will be no different as top Legion officials make preparations for the new season after the coronavirus pandemic cancelled all games and tournaments in 2020. The pandemic did cause a shift of plans for the N.C. American Legion […]

Shelby’s 1957 and 1958 American Legion baseball success foreshadowed what would come to the city 50 years later

Most American Legion baseball fans think of Shelby these days as the home of the American Legion World Series. The Cleveland County city has hosted 10 of the last 12 ALWS starting with the 2008 event and has set attendance records virtually every year. Fifty years earlier, the seeds were planted for that future success […]

N.C. state American Legion baseball tournament didn’t start until 2000 but it’s had lots of history and future MLB stars

By Richard Walker The N.C. American Legion state tournament only began in 2000 but has seen all sorts of drama, history and spectacular performances. That includes a 2006 state final featuring two future major leaguers – Morehead City’s Lonnie Chisenhall and Caldwell County’s Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner would later turn in one of the best pitching […]

How big is American Legion baseball in our area? Cleveland and Gaston counties have hosted 33 Legion national tournaments

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 […]

N.C. Legion state tournament will be coming to Cleveland County in 2021

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 […]