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Playoff fever raging for Cleveland County spring sports teams
It's a big day for Cleveland County high school athletes in spring sports playoff competition.
Baseball: Shelby and Crest have first-round state playoff games at home Friday while Kings Mountain will be traveling.
Crest (14-7) welcomes Concord's Jay M. Robinson (14-9) in a State 4A contest. The winner takes on either North Davidson or Butler.
Shelby (5-18) is home against Madison (8-12) in a 2A first-round matchup. The victor plays either West Henderson or Maiden in the second round.
Kings Mountain (12-10) journeys to Charlotte to take on Catholic (15-7) at South Mecklenburg High. The survivor plays either Enka or Northwest Cabarrus in the second round.
All three games start at 7 p.m.
Track and Field: The State 2A boys and girls track and field championships are set for the Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T University Friday.
Shelby's Golden Lions boys' team enters as the West Regional champion. North Rowan has been the dominant 2A boys team in recent years, winning four of the last five titles.
Shelby also has several girls' competitors entered. Burlington Cummings is the two-time defending girls champion.
Crest High will have athletes running in the State 4A meet Saturday at the A&T track facility.
Soccer: Burns (16-2-3) ventures into the 3A girls second round for the first time ever as it goes to Skyland to face unbeaten T.C Roberson (24-0) Friday night. The Lady Bulldogs earned that right by beating Olympic 2-1 Wednesday.
The victor goes on to meet either Forestview or Hickory in the third round.
SWC 2A/3A champion Kings Mountain (21-1-2), coming off a 2-1 victory against Statesville, hosts to Asheville (15-5-1 in a second-round 3A encounter ($5 admission). The two teams met once with the Lady Mountaineers claiming a 2-1 win.
The survivor moves on to take on either Charlotte Catholic or North Buncombe in the third round.
Shelby (12-7-4), which got a bye for being the SWC's No. 1 2A seed, waits until Saturday to take on Forest Hills (17-3-1) in the second round. Admission is $5 for the 6 p.m. contest at Blanton Memorial Stadium.
Coming: On Monday and Tuesday, the Shelby High boys golf team will compete in the State 2A championship tournament at the Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The first tee off times each day will be at 8 a.m.
