Five teams from Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln counties have advanced to the NCHSAA regional championships in baseball and softball. Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Lincoln Charter, North Lincoln, and South Point are now two wins away from competing for state titles.
Key points
Five teams advanced to NCHSAA regional championships
Teams from Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln counties
Kings Mountain, Cherryville, Lincoln Charter, North Lincoln, and South Point are in contention
Regional championship games on May 15, 2026
Two wins needed for state title appearance
NCHSAA baseball, softball regionals to have Gastonia, Shelby flavor
Eight teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties vied for spots in their respective regional championship series Friday, May 15, with five of them accomplishing their goal. Kings Mountain softball, as well as Cherryville, Lincoln Charter, North Lincoln and South Point baseball teams now find themselves two wins away from playing for state titles.
Here is how area teams fared in the regional semifinal round.
Baseball
5A West
(1) North Lincoln 4, (5) East Rowan 3: Down three runs before taking their first swings, the Knights (26-2) scored the game’s last four runs to advance to their second straight regional final. Blake Mincey’s sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth brought in Beckett Rinkus for the go-ahead run, with Cason McGinnis earning the game’s final outs.
Cole Nemire was 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Rinkus had a hit and scored three runs. Caleb Hancock also provided an RBI base hit for the Knights.
Q&A
Which teams advanced to the NCHSAA regional championships in 2026?
The teams that advanced are Kings Mountain softball, Cherryville, Lincoln Charter, North Lincoln, and South Point baseball.
What counties are represented in the NCHSAA regional finals?
The counties represented are Cleveland, Gaston, and Lincoln.
When are the NCHSAA regional championship games scheduled?
The NCHSAA regional championship games are scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026.
How many teams from the area are competing for state titles?
Five teams from the area are competing for state titles, needing two more wins to reach the finals.
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South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball's Gavin Smith slides into home plate during the Red Raiders' 5-3 win over Crest on April 23, 2026 in Belmont.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
1 / 19
Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
2 / 19
Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball's Gavin Smith slides into home plate during the Red Raiders' 5-3 win over Crest on April 23, 2026 in Belmont.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
8 / 19
Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
12 / 19
Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
13 / 19
Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Who are Gastonia, Shelby area baseball's top hitters? Here's a look
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Here are our top photos from South Point-Crest high school baseball
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
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Gastonia, Shelby baseball, softball rankings as season enters final week
South Point baseball hosted Crest on Thursday, April 23 in Belmont. The Red Raiders won 5-3 to pull even in the Big South 5A/6A title race.
(2) South Point 5, (3) Crest 4: A five-run third inning by the Red Raiders erased an early four-run deficit, helping the program to its first regional championship series since 2011 — coincidentally the last time South Point (23-4) claimed NCHSAA state baseball gold.
Jacob Somers, Cole Hendrickson (double, RBI, run), and Jayden Faircloth (double, run) each finished 2-for-3. Red Raider pitcher Brody Crawford allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Jackson Swenson, Brock Melton , J.M. Knapp and Blayne Richardson each had RBI base hits for Crest, which finishes with a 20-6 record.
4A West
(4) Lincoln Charter 5, (1) West Stanly 1: Adam Rodgers allowed one run on one hits with nine strikeouts over 6 ⅔ innings, helping the Eagles to their first regional championship series since 2018.
Scoreless through four innings, Lincoln Charter broke things open in the fifth with four runs, punctuated by Reed Osborne’s three-run homer. Osborne finished 2-for-2 with the aforementioned home run, while Christian Cherry was also 2-for-2 with a run scored.
2A West
(1) Cherryville 12, (4) Corvian Community 2: The Ironmen are back in the regional final round for the first time since 2022 after making light work of 4-seed Corvian.
Up 4-2 through three, Cherryville broke things open with a seven-run fourth inning. Talon Dalton was 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, while Brock Bumgardner (double, home run, five RBIs, two runs) and Kenan Fowler (triple, two RBIs, two runs) had two hits apiece.
Softball
6A West
(1) Kings Mountain 3, (5) Alexander Central 0: Maddie Huffman hurled a no-hitter, in addition to 12 strikeouts as the Mountaineers advanced to their second regional championship series in three years. Huffman also had an RBI base hit and scored a run.
Addison Carpenter and Avery Cruise both contributed a hit and scored a run for Kings Mountain, which will host South Caldwell in the 6A West finals.
5A West
(1) Enka 6, (5) Crest 5: Enka rallied for the game’s last four runs, including a walkoff RBI double courtesy of Reagan Stroupe to send the Sugar Jets to the 5A West regional championship series.
Madison Crocker was 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs, while Allie Summer was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
(3) North Davidson 3, (2) North Lincoln 0: Abigail Brown’s three-run homer in the second proved the difference, catapulting North Davidson into a 5A West regional final matchup with Enka.
Brown’s blast proved enough for North Davidson hurler Rileigh Barker, who allowed no runs on two hits. She outdueled North Lincoln pitcer Maysen Reames, who allowed three runs on six hits with one strikeout.
One remains yet to be played, Stuart Cramer and Burns’ 4A regional semifinal baseball game postponed following the death of Storm assistant Casey McMillen prior to their matchup previously scheduled for Friday, May 15. The game has been postponed until Saturday, May 16, with first pitch at 7 p.m.
