Charlotte defeated Dallas Baptist 5-2 on Sunday to take the Conference USA title.

HOUSTON — The Charlotte 49ers’ baseball team will head to the NCAA Tournament after securing the first Conference USA title in program history.

Charlotte defeated the Dallas Baptist Patriots 5-2 on Sunday in the 2023 C-USA Baseball Championship Game in Houston. The 49ers were seeded third in the tournament, meanwhile, the Patriots were the C-USA regular season champs and held the top seed.

Dallas Baptist took a 2-0 lead after a home run in the first inning and a fielder’s choice got home a run in the third inning.

Charlotte answered back with a three-run fourth inning and a two-run sixth inning to secure the victory.

Brandon Stahlman homered in the fourth for Charlotte’s first score before Austin Knight reached home on a fielder’s choice and Spencer Nolans singled to give the 49ers the lead.

Right fielder Cam Fisher drove in a run on a single in the sixth inning and left fielder Blake Jackson scored on a wild pitch to give Charlotte some crucial insurance runs and a 5-2 lead.

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On the mound, Charlotte’s Wyatt Hudepohl put in six solid innings of work to slow down the potent Patriots offense. Hudepohl allowed just five hits and threw five strikeouts. Collin Kramer closed the last two innings and earned a save.

Charlotte’s run at the title came after the team dropped their first game to Louisiana Tech 13-8, forcing the 49ers to play in the loser’s bracket to back their way into the championship game. 

The 49ers defeated UTSA, Louisiana Tech, and Middle Tennessee before reaching the final. 

Charlotte will now play in the NCAA Regionals in the NCAA Tournament against an opponent yet to be determined. It’s the first time the program has qualified for the tournament. The NCAA Baseball Selection Show will take place on Monday at noon.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

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The Coca-Cola 600 is still set for Sunday, albeit without a practice and qualifying race.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you’re looking to kick off summer with a Memorial Day weekend trip to the beach or a day on the lake, you better have a backup plan. A storm system is already bringing rain, wind and unseasonably cold temperatures to the Carolinas.

Rain, breezy winds, and cooler temperatures are expected again for Sunday. These are not the most ideal conditions for the holiday weekend. A combination of much cooler air coupled with a coastal storm system is wreaking havoc on outdoor events and plans.

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🌩️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte Weather Team on their Emmy Award-winning Weather IQ YouTube channel. 🎥

Cool, wet, and gusty into Sunday

Widespread rain lingers Sunday morning, but eventually becomes more scattered in the afternoon and evening. Although some breaks are possible, rain will be an issue for the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

If you plan to be outdoors, keep your umbrella, poncho, and rain jacket close by throughout the day. Rain will eventually taper off overnight into Monday.

WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich explains in his Weather IQ YouTube weather vlog on Friday. “What’s interesting is this big plume of moisture. There’s going to be like a firehose of moisture on the north side, that’s going to drive the heaviest rainfall amounts, especially when you interact it with the mountains and the cold air trapped over the western Carolinas.”

The Alsco Uniforms 300 race, part of the Xfinity series was postponed on Saturday due to the rain. The race will now happen on Monday at noon, with spectator gates at the Charlotte Motor Speedway opening up at 10 a.m. that day. Fans who can’t make that race can exchange them ticket-for-ticket for equal or lesser value toward any other Speedway Motorsports NASCAR or NTT IndyCar race during the next calendar year. 

Its official now. https://t.co/93wkiIqMwR— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 27, 2023

NASCAR also canceled Saturday night’s Cup Series practice and qualifying. The starting lineup for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday will be set per the rule book, meaning William Byron will start from the pole. 

Fan festivities at the Circle K Speed Street are set to start at 10 a.m. Sunday before the Coca-Cola 600. Spectator gates will open at 2:30 p.m., and the race starts at 6 p.m.

🌩️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte Weather Team on their Emmy Award-winning Weather IQ YouTube channel. 🎥

Sunday NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 forecast

A few dry patches are possible on Sunday ahead of the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, it will be a close call or possible weather delays. For race fans heading to the Coca-Cola 600, the race remains on schedule for 6 p.m.

Our team is cautiously optimistic. Although heavy rain chances shift northward, there will be patchy drizzle and light mist in play. Stay tuned for updates!

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Flooding potential

Watch for some areas of localized flooding possible, but the risk is higher toward the mountains and foothills today. Saturday’s rainfall accumulation was pretty light overall, but a few spots received 0.75″ to one inch in Gaston, Cleveland, Anson, and Richmond counties.

Additional accumulation will occur Sunday, so please use caution if you encounter a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown – and take an alternate route while driving.

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For those firing up the grill, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has some tips to keep safe.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start of summer.

For those firing up the grill, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has some tips to keep safe.

For propane grills, it’s important to check the gas tank for leaks before use and keep grills clean by removing grease or fat buildup.

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Also, “making sure you have a clear zone around the grill,”  Michele Steinberg with NFPA said. “You don’t want it right up against the house. You don’t want it under a roof line. You certainly don’t want it inside. Sorry if it’s raining, but please don’t put it in your garage. That’s really, really dangerous both for fire and for the carbon monoxide fumes that come off of it.”

As for charcoal grills, the NFPA says never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to a fire, and keep these liquids and other heat sources away from children.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

“Keep kids and pets away from those grills and those hot things because they move quickly,” Steinberg said.

Data from NFPA shows U.S. fire departments responded to more than 11,000 home fires on average annually involving grills, hibachis, or barbeques from 2017 to 2021.

It’s why they encourage grilling safely each season. 

To find more grilling safety tips visit NFPA online.

Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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The founder hopes to shine a spotlight on the Carolinas rich history and highlight the significance of NPHC organizations and HBCUs.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Making its debut in the Queen City, Carolina’s Greek Picnic marks an exciting first for the community, bringing together the National Pan Hellenic Council and historically black college and university communities in a memorable experience.  

RELATED: The history of Black sororities and fraternities

Having graduated from college less than two weeks before, Rock Hill native Jonah Gilyard Jr., along with two others, organized the first Carolina’s Greek Picnic for North Carolina and South Carolina.

The event takes place from May 26 through May 28, 2023. Details can be found here.

The idea originated from Gilyard’s own experience at South Carolina State University’s Alpha Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity incorporated. 

After attending a similar event, the 2021 Atlanta Greek Picnic, Gilyard envisioned a gathering that would be closer to home. 

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“I went to the AGP the first year and I loved it, but I just thought about all the people who just may want something closer to home, something a little bit more easily accessible to them,” Gilyard said.

After discussing the idea with co-founder Mustafia Love, Carolina’s Greek Picnic was born.

Gilyard expressed his excitement about the event’s first year and the potential impact on the Charlotte community, and the NPHC among the Carolinas. The team has worked tirelessly for over a year and a half, planning this event. With over 2500 tickets already sold, the team expects a turnout of around 3500 attendees. 

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Gilyard aims to shine a spotlight on the Carolinas and their rich history, which often takes a backseat to larger cities like Atlanta, or New York. Additionally, the event aims to highlight the significance of NPHC organizations and HBCUs, emphasizing their contributions to education and culture. 

“The Carolinas are really historic, and I feel like this event [will give] the Carolinas more shine because we can kind of be overshadowed by bigger cities like Atlanta and New York and Florida,” Gilyard said.For Gilyard, this event holds personal importance as a recent graduate of South Carolina State University. Having graduated earlier this month, he believes that the Carolina’s Greek Picnic will not only provide a memorable experience for attendees but also establish a legacy that will continue to grow in the coming years. 

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“This started for everybody to have a good time [and] to make history. I can only imagine how big it’s going to be three to five years down the road.” Gilyard said.

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Police posted a video of the burglary on their YouTube page and are hoping someone can identify the suspect.

This time, the dragon helped extinguish a fire.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Knights mascot Homer the Dragon flipped the script Tuesday: he helped put out a fire. 

When a small brush fire broke out in a flower bed near Truist Field and Romare Bearden Park, the Charlotte Fire Department said, “Homer was in the neighborhood and assisted Charlotte Fire Engine 4 with putting the fire out.”

Walter Hawkins, who shared photos of the event with WCNC Charlotte, said he was at Romare Bearden park Tuesday around noon when he noticed the fire. Hawkins said while waiting for a fire engine to arrive, multiple people stopped to help — among them, Charlotte’s favorite dragon. 

Homer the Dragon told WCNC Charlotte he was shooting a video in the team store when the team store manager noticed a fire across the street. Homer ran over, and when he noticed an extinguisher in use had emptied, he said he knew it was time to step up.

At that point, Homer said they pulled the pin on their extinguisher, working to get the fire out. When Engine 4 pulled up, Homer said the firefighters had big smiles and let Homer use the fire hose to cover the fire in water. 

“I’m so thankful for the brave citizen that started putting the fire out, those that called 911, and the Engine 4 crew!” Homer said in a statement. “It was an honor to protect and serve the neighborhood and city that I love.” 

RELATED: Charlotte Knights announce season delayed until May 4

RELATED: Long lines at Spectrum Center COVID-19 vaccine clinic […]

Gaston County Commissioners voted Tuesday to create an intergovernmental agency task force on homelessness.

GASTONIA, N.C. — Gaston County commissioners met Tuesday and voted unanimously to create a homelessness task force. The task force will review how many people are homeless, what barriers people face seeking help, and review potential solutions.

John Mills, the director of social services for The Salvation Army in Gastonia, is optimistic about the possible changes resulting from a task force.

“Just more collaboration and communication as far as our services because really no one agency can do it all,” Mills said. “I think it’d be much more stronger focus as far as our clientele and just trying to help them more.”

Dwayne Burks is the director and chaplain of The Gateway, which connects people with chronic crises to relief programs to lift themselves out of homelessness.

He said there are two challenges with Gaston County’s homelessness issue: affordable housing, and government services and non-profits in the county that are siloed in their efforts yet have overlapping responsibilities.

Gaston County commissioners will be meeting tonight to discuss forming a homelessness taskforce. Today at 5:30 p.m. @wcnc, the unique challenges to solving Gaston County’s homelessness, and how the promise of big projects could exacerbate the issue. pic.twitter.com/8MzhpLSNze
— Brandon Goldner (@BrandonWCNC) March 9, 2021

Burks said in The Gateway’s last count, they had 5,600 people receiving Supplemental Security Income from the federal government, which is under $900 a month.

But he said, at any given time, the county only has about 2,200 rental units total, with a median price of $800 a month.

“It’s wonderful to see the growth that we’re seeing in our community,” Burks said. “But we’re also gentrifying because we’re not planning ahead for that.”

He said Gaston County has a unique challenge because outside of Gastonia, there are few options for people seeking help.

“We need a pathway for those folks that’s clearly delineated, ‘This is how you get yourself out of homelessness,'” Burks said.

The number of people in Gaston County on the verge of homelessness is also on the rise.

Crisis Assistance Ministry in Gastonia helps people facing an emergency crisis situation by providing food, financial assistance, or limited medications.

Kim Wheeler, the nonprofit’s director, said the pandemic’s placed more people on the brink of homelessness.

“Most of the people we’re seeing are new applicants who have never been in this position,” Wheeler said.

From March 2020 to February 2021, the non-profit distributed $365,000 in emergency rent and utility payments, which was more than double the amount during the same period in 2019 to 2020.

Here’s a breakdown of who will be on the task force: 

A member of the board of commissioners who will chair that task force
A representative of the elected board or council of each of the cities or towns
A local faith community representative that geographically represents the county
A county health department representative appointed by the county manager as well as a social service representative
A Gaston County police department representative 
A United Way county representative 
Aston County Salvation Army representative 
Gaston/Lincoln/Cleveland Continuum of Care planning committee 
A Catherine’s House Sisters of Mercy representative

Commissioner Tracy Philbeck was approved as the chairman of the task force. […]

The attacks happened in Greensboro but several Charlotte-area neighborhoods report recently spotting coyotes too.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The start of spring signals the middle of the mating season for coyotes. They’ve recently been spotted all across the Carolinas from Greensboro and Charlotte to Fort Mill.

Guilford County Animal Control reports six coyote attacks in just two days at Lake Brandt Park in Greensboro. Four people were bitten.

Biker Derik Broach says he was riding the trails when he noticed a coyote start to charge at him.

“He started running towards me and that was terrifying,” Broach said.

He used his bike as a shield and fortunately was not hurt in the attack, but he said he certainly felt the coyote’s threat and strength.

“He had very strong teeth and jaws because he just popped my tire like nothing.”

Neighbors in Charlotte and Fort Mill have recently taken to the NextDoor app to share their warnings about coyote sightings in the area too. In one case, Rachael Hudson says she came in contact with two coyotes while taking her dog out at night.

“First they looked like dogs because it was kind of hard to see, but she was very guarded — she was barking and growling,” Hudson said.

Thankfully she and her dog were not hurt. But wildlife experts say now during the breeding season you should not be surprised to see a coyote at any time — day or night. 

It’s important you keep an eye specifically on your small pets. If you’re approached by a coyote, yell, wave your arms, or throw something.

For more tips on how to protect yourself in a coyote attack, click here.

RELATED: A bird rescue wants you to take down bird baths and feeders to keep birds from getting salmonella

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A limited number of fans will be allowed to return to Spectrum Center for the second half of the season

The Charlotte Hornets are set to return to Spectrum Center later this week to begin the second half of the season and when they do, they’ll be able to host a limited number of fans.

However, prior to this announcement, 13-year-old Preston Pruitt missed interacting with the team so much that he and his other Janelle made their way to Spectrum Center so that Preston could possibly get an autograph or at least a wave from some of his favorite players as they were leaving the arena postgame.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, the autographs didn’t happen, but he did have some special moments that evening.

“I just really miss being able to have the experience to be able to see the players up close like I was able to do at games and stuff. It was cool to see all of the players being able to wave at me, even though they weren’t able to sign autographs just that interaction with people I feel like is pretty cool,” Preston Pruitt explained.

Preston has been a lifelong Charlotte Hornets Fan, from attending games to the team’s summer ball camps and his first NBA autograph was from the one and only Kemba Walker.

“I’m kind of a Kemba fan. I love Kemba,” Preston said as he showed a large stack of Kemba Walker cards he’s collected.

Since then collecting autographs has become a passion of his and it’s led to some pretty cool experiences with players and coaches, including Hornets guard Devonte Graham who gave him a pair of shoes at a game.

“I was almost in tears. I looked up to my mom like ‘Mama, I got the shoes!'”

Preston’s support for the Hornets has already gotten the attention of rookie LaMelo Ball and his team, who sent him a hoodie after they heard about Preston’s efforts to still show his support even though he couldn’t attend a game.

“I was ecstatic. I was so excited,” Pruitt said. “Watching him at Chino Hills and whatnot and being able to see him and seeing him getting drafted I was very excited. When I got the hoodie I was like wow this is so crazy.”

Preston, like many other fans, can’t wait to be back at Spectrum cheering the Hornets on to hopefully many more victories and possibly even the playoffs this season. For those looking to get an autograph from their favorite player, Pruitt says the biggest key to having success is simple, just be kind to the players. […]