Cherryville Post 100 defeated Shelby Post 82 by a score of 3-1 Tuesday night to advance to the Area IV Finals.

Cherryville will face Asheville Post 70 in a one-game Area IV title game on Friday, July 18 tentatively scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at West Henderson High School.  

The scheduled game time could move up due to Friday’s weather forecast.

In Tuesday’s Game 5, Post 100 scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.  

Landon Jenkins (West Lincoln) singled with one out in the inning and Zane

Monday

Area IV Semifinals

Game 4

Shelby 9, Cherryville 6 (9 innings)

Wyatt McSwain belted a 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Shelby Post 82 an improbable 9-6 win over Cherryville Post 100 to force a deciding Game 5 on Tuesday night in Cherryville.

The game was back-and-forth throughout with Post 100 taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning and Shelby scoring the next 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead after two

Heading into Monday night’s Game 3, Cherryville Post 100 had a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 first round series with Hickory Post 48.

On Saturday, Collin Chappel (Maiden) pitched 4-2/3 strong innings as Post 100 held on late to defeat Hickory 2-1 in the series opener.

The right-hander did not allow a single run to Post 48, while surrendering just three hits.

Chappel walked just one batter while striking out five.

Eli Newsome (Cherryville) tossed the final 2-⅓ innings, giving up one run on two hits. Newsome struck out three hitters, including back-to-back strikeouts

Two generations. Two state championships.

How many fathers and sons can claim that distinction? Marty Mincey and his son, Blake, know what it feels like to hoist a championship trophy on a baseball diamond, accomplishing this feat exactly 30 years apart.

Marty Mincey relived his own history as he watched Blake play first base for North Lincoln High School during its run to the NCHSAA 3A title in late May at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs. In 1995, Marty played on a Lincolnton High School team that captured the 2A crown at Mudcat Stadium in Zebulon, about 40 miles away.

The parallels are hard to ignore. Marty was a junior for the 1995 Wolves, while

Sunday

Cherryville 5, Gastonia 1

Post 100 won its fifth straight game on Sunday with a 5-1 Area IV win over Gastonia Post 23 at Fraley Field in Cherryville.

Kellen Karr (North Lincoln) picked up the win on the mound, throwing five solid innings.

The lefthander allowed just one run on three hits, while walking only one and striking out 10.

Landon Jenkins (West Lincoln) closed out the game with two shutout innings.

Wednesday, June 18

Cherryville 4, Caldwell County 0

Collin Chappel (Maiden) pitched six scoreless innings and Post 100 defeated Caldwell County Post 29 by a score of 4-0 in Granite Falls.

Chappel allowed just two hits, while walking just two and striking out 6.

Cherryville got RBIs from Nate Rollins (Lincoln Charter), Talon Dalton (Cherryville) and Tucker Sigmon (North Lincoln). Dalton, along with Evan Matile (East Lincoln), had two hits.

Post 100 completed a sweep of the two-game regular season series with

Allen Hoyle was on vacation recently when his family shared some news that packed a wallop.

The 73-year-old coach and retired educator learned that the Lincoln County Board of Education planned to vote on naming the softball park at West Lincoln High School in his honor.

The board made the decision official at its June 10 meeting, cementing Hoyle’s legacy at West Lincoln for future generations.

In a statement released by the district, they acknowledged Hoyle’s extensive contributions: “The impact he has made on our students, student-athletes, and the West Lincoln community has been immeasurable.”

Cherryville 6, Gastonia 5

After Cherryville built a five-run lead through the first 2-½ innings, Post 100 held off a furious rally from Gastonia Post 23 for a 6-5 Area IV win on Thursday at Sims Legion Park.

Landon Jenkins provided a big 2-run single in a 5-run third inning that helped Cherryville go up 6-1.

But Gastonia wouldn’t go away.

Post 23 scored once in the bottom of the third to make it 6-2, then closed the

American Legion Baseball

Area IV Current Standings

(thru June 9, 2025)

                         Area   Overall

Shelby                     3-0     7-0

Asheville                  3-0     5-0

Gastonia                  5-2     5-2

Burke County           2-1     2-1

Cherryville Post 100 went 2-1 in the June Classic that took place over the weekend at both Fraley Field and Keeter Stadium in Shelby.

Nate Rollins (Lincoln Charter), Preston Henson (East Rutherford), Landon Jenkins (West Lincoln), Evan Matile (East Lincoln), Talon Dalton (Cherryville) and Eli Webb (East Rutherfor) all hit safely for Post 100.

Jenkins drove in two of Cherryville’s five runs. Rollins, Matile and Eli Black (Crest) also had RBIs.

Wayne Co. 206 000 0 - 8 7 1

Cherryville 000 110 3 - 5 6 1

The North Lincoln Knights are the 2025 3A Baseball State Champions.

After dropping Game 1 of the best-of-3 series in Holly Springs on Friday evening, North Lincoln came back to win two games over Greenville-Rose on Saturday, both by shutout.

The Knights got stellar pitching in their two wins.

After senior Kellen Karr tossed a five-hit shutout early on Saturday to force a deciding Game 3, Cason McGinnis took the mound in what would be the final game of the season for both the Knights and the Rampants.

McGinnis was absolutely dominant.

North Lincoln baseball is going to the 3A state championship series.

After eking out a 5-4, walk-off win in Game 1 last Tuesday in Pumpkin Center, the Knights offense exploded in Game 2 for a convincing 16-1 victory over the Black Knights to sweep the best-of-3 series at North Davidson.

Tucker Sigmon belted two home runs in the series finals, driving in 4 runs and scoring four times.

Senior Eli Sipe had a big game as well, driving in 5 North Lincoln runs. Sipe did his damage at the plate with three base hits, while scoring four times.

Sophomore Greyson Evans also delivered three hits in the contest, while

Salisbury—-The North Lincoln Knights outlasted defending 3A state champion East Rowan in a 9-5, 14-inning marathon Friday night in Salisbury.

After seven innings of play that left the two teams knotted at 5-5, the Knights and the Mustangs went scoreless over the next six innings.

But in the top of the 14th frame, North Lincoln exploded for four runs to take control.

Eli Sipe led off with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt from Elliott Dellinger. Following a fly ball for the second out, Chad Matthews drew a walk.

Beckett Rinkus then doubled home Sipe with the go-ahead run.

PUMPKIN CENTER—Chad Matthews experienced the thrill of a “walk-off” victory on Friday

night.

The senior center fielder delivered a game-ending, two-out RBI hit that propelled North Lincoln

to a 5-4 win over North Iredell in the second round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs.

Matthews jumped on the first pitch from Hunter Baldwin, the Raiders' third pitcher of the night,

driving the ball down the left field line to score Eli Sipe in the bottom of the

Claremont—The Lady Rebels pounded out 14 hits and got a complete game from pitcher Gabby Wright on their way to defeating Bunker Hill 9-3 in the championship game of the Catawba Valley 2A Conference softball tournament on Friday in Claremont.

Trailing 3-1, West Lincoln exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take control.

Wright drew a walk, and Abree Sutton along with Quinlyn Avery followed with singles to load the bases. Melony Hoffman then delivered a 2-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

After Cailey Capps drew a two-out walk, Kaitlyn Carpenter’s base hit scored Holyn Lingerfelt to give the Lady Rebels a one run lead. Stacia Cowan followed

After West Lincoln won a hard-fought 7-6 game against the rival Wolves earlier in the week, the Rebels cruised in the regular-season finale.

West Lincoln closed out the regular season with a convincing 12-1 win over county-rival Lincolnton on Thursday evening at Jonathon Brookins Field.

Braden Helms drove in a run and scored a run in the top of the first inning to give the Rebels the early lead.

Hayes Kiser’s RBI double in the third inning drove home Dre Jefferies, and Kiser would later score on a wild pitch. Darren Ponder’s sacrifice-fly RBI scored Jenkins with the Rebels fifth run of the game.

The Wolves lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning when

West Lincoln defeated R-S Central in a nonconference softball game on the road on Monday.

Trailing 2-0 after five innings of play, the Lady Rebels scored seven times in their final two at bats.

Cowan went 3 for 3 at the plate with an RBI to lead West Lincoln. Kaitlyn Carpenter added a pair of hits and drove in a run.

Gabrielle Wright went the distance on the mound for the win. Wright allowed just 2 runs (1 unearned) in seven innings, walking only one and striking out six.

With the victory, the Lady Rebels improved to 12-8 on the season. R-S Central,

The Cherryville Ironmen scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held off a West Lincoln rally in the bottom of the inning to squeak out a 3-2 nonconference win over the Rebels on Thursday evening at Fraley Field.

The Ironmen took an early lead in the top of the third inning when Kenan Fowler singled and came around to score on a two-out RBI double off the bat of Brock Bumgardner.

The Rebels tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a run-scoring single from Landon Sain. Sain’s RBI single scored Ryder Dellinger who had reached on a one-out single.

However, the Ironmen took the lead for good in the top of the seventh.

Friday, April 5

East Lincoln 4, North Iredell 0

Winning pitcher: Jordyn Aungst pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up 3 hits, a walk and striking out 5.

Losing pitcher: Chelsea Patton.

Leading hitters: East Lincoln: Taniyah Thomas - single, run scored, walk, 2 stolen bases; Kaitlyn Gust - single, run scored, RBI, stolen base; Gabby Vaughn - 2 singles, run scored, RBI; Brylee Belcher - single, run scored.

North Iredell: Kynlie Moss - single; Alyson Dickerson - single; Emily Lowman

Softball

West Lincoln 11, Maiden 7

Quinlyn Avery belted a 3-run homer, driving in three of the Lady Rebel 11 runs in Friday’s 11-7 win over Catawba Valley 2A Conference rival Maiden in Vale.

Abree Sutton added a solo home run and Stacia Cowan delivered two hits including a double. Payton Hood, Gabrielle Wright (3 RBIs) and Abree Sutton each had two hits.

Wright picked up the win on the mound.

For Maiden, Olivia Wray hit a Grand Slam home run in the top of the fourth

SOFTBALL

North Lincoln 5, East Lincoln 3

Winning pitcher Maysen Reames pitched a complete game, giving up 2 earned runs and 1 unearned run on 7 hits, 4 walks while striking out 7.

Jordyn Aungst took the loss for East Lincoln. Aungst pitched one inning, giving up 2 earned and 2 unearned runs on 3 hits and a walk. Kaitlyn Gust finished the game giving up one earned run on 4 hits, striking out one.

Leading hitters: East Lincoln: Taniyah Thomas - 2 singles, homerun, RBI, 4 stolen bases; Gabby Vaughn - single, triple, run scored; Keylee Donaldson -

The Lincolnton Wolves baseball team won their third straight game with a 10-0 win over West Caldwell Friday night at Jonathan Brookins Field.

Senior Karson Cloninger pitched a complete-game one-hitter for Lincolnton, striking out nine Warrior batters.

Devin Leonard had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Wolves, while Yoryi Urena delivered a hit and drove in 3.

Max Buckley added a base hit and an RBI, and Tyler Gates had a pair of hits and two RBIs.

Bradyn Bass had a double and drove in a run, and Treylen Bost delivered a

North Lincoln’s magical season came to an end on Monday with a 62-38 loss to Stuart Cramer in the 3A West Regional Finals at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

North Lincoln was led by 13 points and nine rebounds from Ashlyn Black.

As for Stuart Cramer, they punched the first ticket to the State Championship Games on Monday afternoon.

The Storm (29-2) was led by 22 points from Hadley Womack and 21 points and 14 rebounds from Shauna Holland.

North Lincoln finishes the season with a remarkable 29-2 record. The team won 29 straight games after a season-opening loss to Lake Norman.

PUMPKIN CENTER—It’s uncharted territory for North Lincoln basketball.

The Lady Knights punched their ticket to the Final Four Friday night with a 72-54 win

over Oak Grove in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs.

Their next game is the Western Regional final Monday at 2 p.m. against No. 1 seed

Stuart Cramer at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem. The winner advances to the state

championship game at the same venue next weekend.

North Lincoln 72, Ben L. Smith 55

The North Lincoln girls basketball team advanced to the fourth round of the 3A State Playoffs with a 72-55 win over Ben L. Smith High School of Greensboro on Tuesday night in Pumpkin Center.

The Lady Knights, who took a 36-34 lead into halftime, broke the game open in the third period, outscoring Smith 17 to 10.

With the win, North Lincoln will next face Oak Grove at home on Friday night. Oak Grove upset No.2 Pisgah 52-48 on Tuesday. 

.

2A Boys:

For the Lincolnton Wolves men’s basketball team, the third time was the charm.

L.J. Smith made good on a 10-foot floater as time expired to give Lincolnton a 70-69 come-from-behind victory over the Maiden Blue Devils in front of a capacity crowd at East Burke High School in Icard.

The Wolves trailed 68-66 in the waning moments of the game when the Wolves fouled Maiden’s Raheim Misher with just 4.4 seconds remaining.

However, a technical was called on the Blue Devils when a bench player came onto the court.

After Misher made one of his two free throw attempts to put Maiden up 69-66,

At the end of a bittersweet senior season, Mikalister Anderson went out with a bang, not a whimper.

In West Lincoln’s CVAC quarterfinal game against Lincolnton on Feb. 17, the 6-foot-5 wing played like someone with something to prove. Even though the Rebels were eliminated from the tournament, Anderson had the biggest stat line of his career—40 points to go with 24 rebounds.

That exceeded his previous high of 39 points and 18 boards against West Caldwell.

It was a hard-luck 2024-25 campaign for Anderson as well as the team. He contracted pneumonia just before the season opener, and his fever spiked to

Catawba Valley 2A Conference Tournament

MONDAY

GIRLS - First Round

Bandys 70, Lincolnton 50

East Burke 80, West Lincoln 15

Newton-Conover 68, Bunker Hill 37

Maiden 65, West Caldwell 30 

February 7 - Girls

East Lincoln 65, St. Stephens 36

Emma Montanari had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 assists and 4 blocked shots to help lead the Lady Mustangs to their 18th victory on Senior Night in Denver.

Lane Pethel recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 15 points, 13 rebounds and added 2 assists and a steal. Taniyah Thomas chipped in with 11 points, 3 steals, 3 assists and 2 rebounds and Harper Ledford added 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and a steal for East Lincoln.

North Lincoln High School has announced that Chris Hinson has been hired as head football coach at the school.

Hinson replaces Nick Bazzle, who retired after six seasons as the leader of the Knights.

Hinson served as defensive coordinator at Maiden last season, where his unit allowed just 15 points per game.  

More details to come.

The North Lincoln boys moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Foothills 3A Conference with a dominating 75-42 home win over North Iredell on Friday night in Pumpkin Center.

Ben Heavner poured in 20 points to lead the Knights to their eighth straight victory.

Kellen Karr scored 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, and Ty Sanders added 10 points for North Lincoln.

The Knights haven’t lost since January 3, a two-point loss at Hickory.

Girls: North Lincoln 73, North Iredell 58

The Burns Bulldogs rolled past host Cherryville 79-31 on Tuesday, Feb. 4, moving closer to a Valentine’s Day date with rival Shelby for the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference regular season title.

Josiah Guyton dropped a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds Friday, Jan. 31, to lead host Bessemer City to a come-from-behind 66-59 win over rival Cherryville.

The Lincolnton High School wrestling team picked up a key Catawba Valley 2A Conference win over West Lincoln on January 21, while sweeping all three county teams.

The Wolves edged past West Lincoln 34-33, before defeating East Lincoln and North Lincoln in nonconference action.

Lincolnton’s results are listed below.

Lincolnton 34, West Lincoln 33

106: Christopher Thomas (LHS) over Anderson Wise (WLHS) (Dec 5-2); 113: Bladen Ingle (WLHS) over Jayden Starr (LHS) (Fall 2:51); 120: Anthony Williams (LHS) over Kade Hullette (WLHS) (Fall 3:14); 126: Aleq Sweet

Boys: North Lincoln 71, East Lincoln 49

The North Lincoln boys and girls won the first of at least two meetings with rival East Lincoln on Tuesday, January 21 in Denver.

The Knights outscored the Mustangs 15-4 in the second quarter of the boys contest to take a 28-18 lead into the lockerroom at the half. North Lincoln continued to play well after the break, on their way to the key 71-49 Western Foothills 3A Conference win in Denver.

The Knights had four players in double figures, led by Ty Sanders and Ben Heavner, with 18 points each. Kellen Karr added 16 points and Beckett Rinkus

SHELBY—Shelby won the battle of tempo in a 73-54 Southern Piedmont Conference win over Cherryville Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Boys

Lincolnton 68, West Lincoln 62

   The Wolves squeaked out a 68-62 Catawba Valley 2A Conference win over rival West Lincoln on Tuesday. Nehemiah Thompson (17), Cameron Smith (16), Tucker Robinette (16) and Tyler McClain (15) all scored in double figures for Lincolnton.

Lincolnton     15 18 14 21 - 68

West Lincoln 15 13 12 22 - 62

Lincolnton (68) Nehemiah Thompson 17, Cameron Smith 16,Tucker Robinette

Gryphons eventually prevail 78-53 

The Lincoln County Sports Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for the upcoming banquet.

The 2024 Class, in alphabetical order by last name, will include Bill Clemmer, a longtime PGA Tour rules official, member of Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame and general manager at Cowans Ford for twenty years.

Steve “Toe” Gantt, first and only barefoot kicker/punter at Lincolnton High School and Appalachian State University.

Joe Don Haney, 3-sport athlete for East Lincoln High School (baseball, basketball and football). Haney played baseball at Wake Forest University, and

The Lincolnton boys dropped their first Catawba Valley 2A Conference contest on Friday night, falling to Maiden 86-76 at Lincolnton High School.

After a very competitive opening quarter of play that saw each team scoring 23 points, the Blue Devils created a little space between themselves and the Wolves to take a 42-37 lead into the lockerroom at the break.

Maiden built a ten-point lead by the end of the third quarter, and held off any threat of a Lincolnton rally down the stretch.

The loss puts the Wolves (11-4, 5-1) a game behind the Blue Devils (13-2, 6-0) in the conference standings, with last night’s games completing the first