The 2022 high school baseball and softball seasons are down to their final week. Here are the games in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties most likely to help decide who qualifies for the state playoffs and those on the outside looking in.
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Baseball
North Lincoln at East Lincoln (Monday, May 2): Already with a share of the Western Foothills 3A title in hand, North Lincoln has a chance to earn the whole shebang on enemy territory Monday at East Lincoln. The Mustangs also have their eyes set on a league championship, a win over rival North Lincoln giving them a share as well.
Monday’s contest could also see North Lincoln ace Landon Reeves attempt to stymie a vaunted East Lincoln lineup for the second time this season. East Lincoln shortstop and Virginia Tech recruit Garrett Michel is among the nation's best with 15home runs, according to MaxPreps.
Both are ranked among 3A West’s top seven teams, according to the NCHSAA’s baseball RPI standings.
Crest vs. Kings Mountain (May 3 and 6): On a collision course much of the season, Cleveland County rivals Crest and Kings Mountain will again decide the Big South 3A title between themselves.
Holding a one-game lead heading into the two-game set, Kings Mountain needs one win to claim a league championship, its first since 2009. Meanwhile, Crest needs a sweep to earn a fourth straight Big South 3A title.
Both teams have qualified for postseason play. Kings Mountain is ranked fifth in the NCHSAA’s 3A West RPI basketball rankings, while the Chargers are also in the top 10.
North Gaston vs. South Point (May 3 and 6): North Gaston and South Point each are likely to find themselves in the 3A West playoff field. However, the two-game set could go a long way toward deciding which earns favorable seeding in the upcoming baseball playoffs.
North Gaston goes into the regular season’s final week with an 11-8 record. South Point is 21-7.
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A baseball tournament (May 3-6): Despite Burns already taking the checkered flag in a competitive race for the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A title, the league tournament is still full of intrigue based on the quality of baseball played throughout the season.
Particularly at the top, with league champion Burns’ only losses coming to teams with winning records. One of those was an East Gaston club currently riding a six-game win streak of its own. Cherryville is also playing good baseball, winners in six of their last seven games. And don’t forget about Shelby, whose 13 wins are its most since 2013.
Forestview vs. Stuart Cramer (May 3 and 6): Forestview is looking for its first playoff berth since 2018. To reach its goal, the Jaguars must first take care of a Stuart Cramer club trying to stave off elimination itself. The Storm are currently among the “first four teams out” in the NCHSAA ‘s RPI standings for 3A West baseball.
The teams are trending in the opposite direction heading into the two-game set. Prior to Friday night’s games, Forestview had won six of its last nine games. On the other hand, Stuart Cramer has lost six of its last seven contests.
Softball
Stuart Cramer at North Gaston (May 3): Stuart Cramer (17-3, 10-2) has already matched its program-high for victories, earning its 17th win Thursday in an extra innings victory over Kings Mountain. More importantly, the Storm are currently among 3A West’s top automatic qualifiers, ranked eighth in the latest NCHSAA RPI rankings.
To stay there, Stuart Cramer must get past a North Gaston (11-9) side that limited them to one hit in their previous matchup. A win by the Lady Cats pushes them into a tie for second place in Big South 3A with the Storm.
The game also features two of the league’s top home run hitters in North Gaston’s Megan Towery (10) and Payton Conroy (7) of Stuart Cramer.
North Lincoln at East Lincoln (May 2): Already with the Western Foothills 3A softball title in hand, East Lincoln now shifts its focus toward completing an undefeated regular season. Standing in the way is rival North Lincoln, on a 10-game winning streak of its own.
Forestview at Stuart Cramer (May 6): Stuart Cramer’s playoff spot has already been assured, but Forestview's future is a tad murky. A win over the Storm would go a long way to ensuring the Jaguars are in the number come next week.
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You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.