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: What lies ahead for 8 Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball teams in NCHSAA, NCISAA playoffs