What lies ahead for 8 Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball teams in NCHSAA, NCISAA playoffs
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As the NCHSAA and NCISAA state baseball and softball playoffs move into their second week, eight teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties remain in play.
After outscoring Newton-Conover and Pine Lake Prep 15-1 over the first two rounds of the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs, Burns faces a familiar foe Tuesday, May 13 in Lincoln Charter for a regional semifinal berth.
Bulldog pitchers have combined for 22 strikeouts in two playoff games. Lincoln Charter (21-5) scored nearly as many runs this past Friday night, taking a wild, eight-inning affair with RS Central. Canton Bare’s walk-off grand slam — the last of five home runs by his team — delivered the Eagles a 19-15 win.
This is the second time in three seasons in which Burns and Lincoln Charter will meet in the postseason and fourth time during the span overall. Burns (24-4) has won each of the three previous matchups, including a 7-2 victory in March. The winner will get either top-ranked East Rutherford or No. 6 Forbush.
Speaking of rematches, rivals East Lincoln and North Lincoln will renew acquaintances Tuesday, with a spot in the NCHSAA 3A West semifinals hanging in the balance.
It is North Lincoln’s second straight game against a Western Foothills 3A foe. The fifth-ranked Knights erased a late two-run deficit to knock off 12-seed North Iredell, 5-4, in their last game. Meanwhile, a four-run fifth inning proved just enough for No. 13 East Lincoln (20-6) to advance with a 6-5 win at fourth-ranked Rockingham County.
North Lincoln (17-8) has won each of the teams’ last four meetings, including a pair this season. The Knights outscored East Lincoln 9-1 in those games, limiting the Mustangs to two hits over the course of 14 innings.
Cherryville (19-7) is also third-round bound. A no-hitter by sophomore pitcher Brock Bumgardner did the trick Friday, the Ironmen advancing via a 6-0 victory over Langtree Charter. The NCHSAA 1A West bracket’s top seed, Cherryville will host No. 8 Hayesville, which defeated Mountain Island Charter 8-4 in Round 2.
Gaston Christian (17-2) is a step closer to a date in the NCISAA 3A championship, as the Eagles bounced Greensboro Day 9-0 Saturday in a quarterfinal matchup. The Eagles will take on Greenville’s John Paul II Catholic for a bid in the state final opposite Grace Christian or Hickory Grove Christian.
Two area softball teams remain, both in the NCHSAA 3A West bracket.
Following an 11-0 rout of Parkwood, Crest (22-3) is back in the third round of the state playoffs. The No. 5 Chargers will hit the road for a matchup with fourth-ranked East Rowan, which took a 1-0 win over Kings Mountain on Friday night.
After a first round exit last season, East Lincoln (15-6) is back in Round 3 following a 9-0 win over 9-seed Hibriten. Pitcher Jordyn Aungst was masterful, allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts.
She’ll need to be at her best Tuesday with the eighth-ranked Lady Mustangs facing top-seed Enka for a spot in the 3A West regional semifinal round.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 8 Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball teams left in state playoffs
