Here’s a look at the top matchups on deck this week for high school baseball and softball teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.
Crest-South Point baseball
Records: Crest is 9-4 (5-1 Big South 3A). South Point is 10-3 (6-0).
Dates: Tuesday, April 1 and Friday, April 4
The scoop: So far, so good for the South Point baseball team, which goes into this week atop Big South 3A with a 6-0 record. The Red Raiders are on a nine-game win streak in which they are scoring better than 11 runs per game.
Crest trails South Point by a game in the league standings, this following an 11-3 loss to Stuart Cramer last Friday night. The loss snapped its six-game win streak.
South Point outscored the Chargers 22-2 in sweeping their regular season series last spring. However, Crest took the most important of their matchups, earning a 12-7 win in the first round of the 2024 NCHSAA 3A playoffs.
Crest at South Caldwell softball
Records: Crest is 11-1. South Caldwell is 13-1.
Date: Thursday, April 3
The scoop: Crest is back in a familiar spot in the Big South 3A softball pecking order, a 2-1 win last week over rival Kings Mountain placing it back atop the conference.
This matchup won’t further solidify its standing in league play, but a good showing against powerhouse South Caldwell could do wonders for the Chargers as the season goes down the stretch. South Caldwell is 13-1 this season, its only loss to Alexander Central. The Spartans are averaging just shy of 11 runs per game.
Last season’s meeting between the teams ended in South Caldwell’s favor, the Spartans taking an 11-1 win.
East Gaston-Burns softball
Records: East Gaston is 11-2 (7-1 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A). Burns is 8-3 (5-1).
Dates: Tuesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 3
The scoop: East Gaston has been one of the more pleasant surprises this spring, overwhelming opponents under a relentless wave of runs.
The Warriors are averaging 16 runs per game, with six players hitting better than .400 this season. Though boasting a powerful lineup, East Gaston also has given up its share of runs as well, allowing 29 runs in three games this past week.
Meanwhile, Burns has won three straight and eight of its last 10 games. Last week was particularly impressive, outscoring Bessemer City 36-4 in their two-game set.
In its three losses, Burns is allowing 11 runs per game, as opposed to the 2.5 runs permitted on average during Bulldog wins.
