What lies ahead for 8 Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball teams in NCHSAA, NCISAA playoffs
Having survived the first two rounds of the 2024 NCHSAA and NCISAA state playoffs, the title pursuit of eight high school baseball and softball teams in Cleveland and Gaston counties remains in play.
Burns’ pursuit of back-to-back NCHSAA 2A state titles continues, this after the 2A West bracket’s top seed picked up wins over No. 32 East Burke and 16-seed McMichael.
After a sluggish effort in its playoff opener against East Burke, junior Marshall McGowan set the tone with a leadoff home run in the Bulldogs’ 10-0 win over McMichael. Pitcher Jackson Toney took over from there, striking out six en route to a five-inning perfect game. McGowan and Toney also earned multiple base hits, along with teammates Camden Mackall and Nick Williams.
Winners of 35 consecutive games, the Bulldogs (27-0) take on No. 9 Bandys for a berth in the 2A West semifinal round. The Trojans scored four runs in the seventh inning Friday, earning a hard-fought 7-3 win over Lincoln Charter.
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Big South 3A rivals Crest and Kings Mountain are marching into the playoffs’ second week.
After hurling a no-hitter in an 8-0 first round win over Southern Guilford, Maddie Huffman struck out 17 to lead the unbeaten Lady Mountaineers past Pisgah, 5-2. Kayla McSwain continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .625 with a home run, three doubles and six RBIs through two playoff games.
Crest’s road to Round 3 required it to hit the road, the Chargers leaving Hendersonville with an 8-3 victory over West Henderson. The Chargers (17-4) have 11 extra-base hits through two playoff games, including six home runs with Maddie Bowen and Sara Rose Warlick hitting two apiece.
No. 12 Crest again hits the road for third-round competition, traveling to fourth-ranked Piedmont, 6-0 winners Friday over North Iredell. Meanwhile, second-ranked Kings Mountain (20-0) is at home against No. 7 Foard, the Western Foothills 3A champions advancing courtesy of 13-2 win over Parkwood.
Cherryville baseball and softball have advanced to the “Sweet 16” in their respective brackets.
The Ironmen made short work of South Stokes on Friday, fifth-ranked Cherryville winning 10-0 in five innings. Meanwhile, Cherryville softball needed three runs in the sixth to rally for a 3-2 win over No. 12 Eastern Randolph. It is the Lady Ironmen’s 12th win in a row.
Both will take their show on the road Tuesday, Cherryville baseball (18-9) taking on No. 4 Draughn, while the fifth-ranked Lady Ironmen (22-2) vie for a 1A West semifinal berth against Robbinsville.
Mountain Island Charter softball (11-6) is also in the 1A West bracket, earning 12 hits in an 11-0 win over Polk County on Friday. The eighth-ranked Raptors travel to No. 1 Uwharrie Charter on Tuesday.
Gaston Christian has its baseball and softball teams in contention for NCISAA titles.
David Nick’s two-run homer in the fifth proved enough for the Eagles (16-4) on Saturday, pulling out a 2-1 victory over High Point Christian. Fellow senior Aaron Main pitched a gem, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts.
Gaston Christian's softball team (9-8) made light work of Thales Academy Rolesville in a 10-0 win.
Both will be on the road Tuesday, traveling to Sanford for matchups with Grace Christian.
Third round playoff schedule
Baseball
2A West: (9) Bandys at (1) Burns; Monday, 7 p.m.
1A West: (5) Cherryville at (4) Draughn; Tuesday, 7 p.m.
NCISAA Class 2A: (4) Gaston Christian at (1) Grace Christian; Monday, 6:30 p.m.
Softball
Games Tuesday at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted
3A West: (7) Foard at (2) Kings Mountain; (12) Crest at (4) Piedmont
1A West: (8) Mountain Island Charter at (1) Uwharrie Charter; (5) Cherryville at (4) Robbinsville, Monday, 6 p.m.
NCISAA Division II: (3) Gaston Christian at (2) Grace Christian, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 8 Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball teams left in state playoffs
