East Gaston baseball, Kings Mountain softball surging in latest Gastonia, Shelby rankings

Here’s a look at the pecking order for high school baseball and softball in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties going into the start of the week of March 25, 2024, including teams whose stock is surging as well as those worth keeping an eye on.

Surging stocks

East Gaston baseball: Following an 11-1 rout of Kings Mountain, the Warriors completed a two-game series sweep of Shelby via mercy rule. East Gaston begins the week on an eight-game win streak, during which it is averaging better than 11 runs per game.

Kings Mountain softball: The Lady Mountaineers have been a force thus far, outscoring opponents 72-5 on their way to a 6-0 start. After allowing five runs in its first two games — wins over Butler and Chase — Kings Mountain begins the week without allowing a run in its last 26 innings.

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Muted stocks

East Lincoln softball: The reigning NCHSAA 3A state champs have scored at a staggering clip of late, averaging 11.4 runs in their last five games. However, the Lady Mustangs are allowing nearly as many these days, a troubling sign as revealed in last week’s 15-11 setback to North Iredell, their first loss in Western Foothills 3A play.

Stuart Cramer baseball: The Storm made history last week, earning their first series sweep of North Gaston in program history. It can create more in coming days by knocking off an old nemesis in South Point. However, which Cramer club will we get this week — the one that struggled in losses to Kings Mountain, or the laser-focused one in wins over North Gaston?

Baseball

1. Burns (9-0, 2-0 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A): The beat rolled on last week for the Bulldogs, outscoring Bessemer City and West Lincoln by a combined 13-0 tally.
2. Gaston Christian (7-2, 1-1 NCISAA Metrolina): Standouts Meridian Leffew and David Nicks have combined for 28 hits, 18 RBIs, seven doubles and two home runs this season.
3. East Gaston (9-1, 6-0 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A): The Warriors remain undefeated in league play, though competition ramps up starting this week with a two-game set against Highland Tech.
4. North Lincoln (6-3, 3-1 Western Foothills 3A): Following back-to-back losses to Burns and Foard, the Knights rebounded last week with wins over East Lincoln and Hickory.
5. East Lincoln (7-3, 2-2 Western Foothills 3A): The Mustangs earned a much-needed victory Friday, snapping a three-game losing skid with a 10-0 win over North Iredell.
6. South Point (5-3, 4-0 Big South 3A): After a slow start, the Red Raiders have won five consecutive games, reaching double figures in each of the last four.
7. West Lincoln (6-2, 4-1 Catawba Valley 2A): The Rebels’ only losses this season have been to undefeated Burns and a one-loss Bandys team.
8. Kings Mountain (6-3, 3-0 Big South 3A): Embarrassed last Monday in an 11-1 loss at East Gaston, the Mountaineers bounced back the following night with a 19-4 victory over Ashbrook.

Softball

1. Kings Mountain (6-0, 3-0 Big South 3A): Top hitters Kayla McSwain, Maddie Huffman and Kali Weaver have combined for 34 hits, including five home runs and 20 RBIs this season.
2. Crest (7-1, 4-0 Big South 3A): Since an 11-1 loss to South Caldwell, the Chargers have outscored opponents 40-5 during a three-game win streak.
3. Cherryville (6-1, 2-0 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A): During its six-game win streak, the Lady Ironmen are averaging better than 15 runs and 16 hits per game.
4. East Lincoln (4-4, 3-1 Western Foothills 3A): An early week matchup with Foard could reveal the long-term trajectory of the Lady Mustangs this season, particularly when it comes to its hopes of another Western Foothills 3A crown.
5. East Gaston (5-2, 3-1 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A): The Warriors got back on the right track following a 12-9 loss to Shelby, scoring in double figures against North Gaston and in a return matchup with the Lady Lions.
6. Lincoln Charter (6-4, 5-0 Catawba Shores 1A/2A): Lincoln Charter has been up and down of late, following a pair of dominant wins over Mountain Island Charter and Bradford Prep with an 8-7 loss to Metrolina Christian.
7. North Lincoln (4-3, 1-2 Western Foothills 3A): Following a 3-0 start, the Knights have lost three of four games, including setbacks to Foard and East Lincoln in league play.
8. Forestview (5-4, 2-2 Big South 3A): The Lady Jaguars snapped a three-game losing skid in a big way last Thursday, earning a 17-4 rout of league foe South Point.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: East Gaston baseball, Kings Mountain softball surging in latest Gastonia, Shelby rankings