Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The week ending June 6, 2026, saw two big upsets in American Legion Baseball in NC Area IV: one in the senior division and one in the junior division. Although the season is young and teams are just getting their full complement of players, every game matters and can have a significant impact on playoff seeding in July. This week, a previous top 3 team lost and tumbled in the senior standings, and a new first-place team has emerged in the junior division, thanks to a huge upset by a previously winless team. Both divisions have tightened, and it appears to be a very competitive season that will not be decided until late.
These 3 games were played since the last update.
Cherryville 10 East Rutherford County 4 on June 4: The win kept
Cherryville undefeated and in first place. Nate Rollins started the scoring with a solo homerun and went 2-4, scoring 1 run and 1 RBI on the night. Beckett Rinkus did the most damage for Post 100, going 4-4, scoring 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Other top hitters for Cherryville were Cason McGinnis 1-2 with 2 runs scored, Bradyn Bass 1-1 and 2 RBIs, and Talon Dalton going 1-2 and scoring 1 run. Cherryville will have its full team available for the next game. Rutherford County was led by N. Thomas, who went 2-2 and scored 1 run, S. Waugh 1-4 with 3 RBIs, and Z. Loven 1-3, scoring 1 run.
Gaston Braves 14 Shelby 1 on June 4: The Braves picked up their first win of the season at Shelby in a blowout after starting the season 0-3. Parker Stafford gave an outstanding performance on the mound. He struck out 11, allowed 1 run, on 4 hits, and 1 walk over 7 innings. They were also strong at the plate as they collected 14 hits. Parker Stafford helped his own cause as he hit a home run and went 2-4, scored 1 run, and had 3 RBIs. He had help from Gavin Smith, going 3-5, scoring 2 runs and 2 RBIs; Zeke Pruitt went 2-4, scoring 1 run and 2 RBIs; and Brody Crawford went 2-4, while scoring 3 runs. The Gaston Braves were very aggressive on the base pads as well, totaling 11 stolen bases in the game. Gavin Smith had 4, Brandon Washington 2, Danny Okoniewski 2, Gavin McElhinny 2, and Zeke Pruitt added 1.
Shelby 7 Asheville 1 on June 6: The boys from Shelby Post 82 bounced back in a big way as they earned a huge upset over Asheville Post 70. The loss was Asheville’s second in Area IV play after only losing 3 all season last year, including an appearance in the American Legion World Series. It also sent them tumbling in the standings, although there are still plenty of games left to be played; a team cannot afford to fall too far behind early in the season. The game was scoreless after 1 ½ when Shelby took an early 1-0 lead. A big 3rd inning where they scored 5 runs was the key to their victory. Asheville scored its only run in the 4th, and Shelby added 1 in the 6th. Shelby only out-hit Asheville 9 to 8; however, Asheville seemed to be able to scatter their hits, with most coming after 2 outs. Shelby had more timely hits. Shelby was also aggressive once they reached base, stealing 6 bases with Brock Melton and Drew Dixon each stealing 2. Wyatt McSwain earned the win, allowing 1 run, 6 hits, striking out 4, and walking 1 in 4 innings pitched. Luke Rayfiled allowed 0 runs,4 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 2 hits in 3 innings of relief. Landry Ohmstead went 2-2, scored 2 runs, and 1 RBI, leading Shelby, along with Luke Heavner 2-3, 2 RBIS, Max Davis 2-4, scoring 1 run, and Drew Dixon 2-4, scoring 1 run and 1 RBI. Asheville was led by Jordyn Brown 2-3 and Boone Carver 2-4.
Cherryville 3-0/4-0
Caldwell County 2-1/ 2-1
Hickory 1-1/1-1
Shelby 1-1/2-2
Gaston Braves 1-1/1-3
Asheville 1-2/3-2
Rutherford County 0-1/01
Burke County 0-1/01
Gastonia 0-1/01
Sunday- June 7 - Gaston Braves at Gastonia
Monday - June 8 - Gaston Braves at Cherryville, Hickory at Gastonia, Shelby at Burke Co.
Wednesday - June 10 - Gaston Braves at Burke Co., Cherryville at Asheville, Rutherford Co. at Gastonia, Shelby at Hickory
Thursday - June 11 - Hickory at Rutherford Co. (Double Header), Burke Co. at Gastonia
Friday - June 12 - Gaston Braves at Asheville, Hickory at Rutherford Co.
The Junior division is already showing fierce competition, with 3 teams leading the way early: Burns, Cherryville, and Shelby. The biggest news this week is the previously winless Lincolnton Post 30 Lions upsetting the previously undefeated Cherryville Post 100. Burns was able to leapfrog Cherryville and take over first place.
Post 100 returning to the home dugout - Day 4 - Legion Junior Tournament - Fraley Field - Cherryville, NC - July 22nd, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Lincolnton 7 Cherryville 6 on June 5: These two teams have long been rivals, dating back to at least the 1950’s. Lincolnton had a rough start to their season at 0-3, but made up for it with a huge upset over Cherryville on Friday night. After 2 innings, Lincolnton led 3-0. Cherryville added 2 in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th as Lincolnton also added 1 in the 4th for a 5-4 Cherryville lead. After each team posted an additional run in the 6th, Cherryville led 6-5 heading into the last half inning. There were no outs when they intentionally walked Max Petty to load the bases. The next batter, Brock Bynum, was out on a foul tip. The first pitch to Ariyon Allen was a ball, and the following pitch slipped by the catcher, allowing Ryder Carrigan to score on the passed ball for a walk-off 7-6 win.
Cherryville had 6 hits. Chandler Wooten went 2-3 and scored 2 runs, Gracen Walker went 1-4 with 2 RBIs, and pinch runner Ethan Johnson scored 3 runs. Lincolnton collected 13 hits. Ethan Tucker went 3-4 and 1 RBI, Lane Davis 3-4 and scored 1 run, Ariyon Allen 2-3, scoring 2 runs, and Maddox Garrett 2-3, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI.
Burns 3-0/3-0
Cherryville 4-1/4-1
Shelby 2-1/5-1
East Rutherford 1-1/1-1
Gaston Braves (Red) 3-3/3-3
Gaston Braves (Blue) 2-3/2-3
Gastonia 2-3/2-3
Lincolnton 1-3/1-3
Bessemer City 0-5/0-5
Monday - June 8 - East Rutherford at Cherryville, Gaston Braves (Blue) at Burns, Gaston Braves (Red) at Lincolnton, Shelby at Bessemer City
Tuesday - June 9 - Gaston Braves (Blue) at Gastonia, Burns at Shelby, East Rutherford at Gaston Braves (Red), Bessemer City at Lincolnton
Thursday - June 11 - Cherryville at Gaston Braves (Blue), Gastonia at Burns, Lincolnton at Shelby
Friday - June 12 - Burns at Cherryville, Gastonia at Shelby, Gaston Braves (Red) at Gaston Braves (Blue).
Saturday - June 13 - Cherryville at Shelby
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