In a rivalry game, usually the more desperate team wins.
On Friday, the Northwood Chargers were coming off a 4-3 loss to Orange that put them in sixth place in the Big 8 Conference at 3-4, ahead of only Southern Durham and Hillside. Only the top four finishers in the Big 8 are assured spots in the state playoffs.
It’s a long fall for a Northwood team that returned six starters, including its top pitcher, from a squad that won the Big 8 Championship and advanced to the 3A state quarterfinals in 2017.
Needless to say, Northwood was the more desperate team Friday night. And they won despite being held to four hits and just one run batted in.
The Chargers defeated Orange 5-2 at Ronald Horton Baseball Complex in Pittsboro. Northwood starter Tyler Johnson, who threw the final two-and-two-thirds innings on Tuesday night against Orange, earned the win going four-and-two-third innings, allowing one earned runs and four hits.
Orange (7-9 overall) falls into a tie for third place in the Big 8 with Cedar Ridge at 5-3. East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill remain tied for first at 7–1 after sweeping Hillside and Southern Durham, respectively, this week.
Since losing to Cedar Ridge on March 19, the Tigers have won nine in a row. They host Orange on Tuesday night to start a huge two-game set next week.
The Panthers lack of hits with runners in scoring position was again a problem on Friday night. After going 0-for-9 with RISP last Friday against First Colonial in a 2-0 loss, Orange as 2-for-9 against the Chargers.
Yet Northwood was only 1-of-10 in the same category. But the Chargers scored four runs in the third inning off an assortment of Orange miscues.
Shortstop Bryce Davis, batting ninth, and Max Hundley drew walks to open the inning against Orange starter Dalton Brown. Catcher Jake McNeil sent a 1-2 grounder to shortstop Joey Berini that appeared to be a double play ball. After Hundley was retired at second, the relay throw got past first baseman Drew Clayton and went up the steep hill behind first base, allowing Davis to score and sending McNeil to third. Third baseman Trey Romel reached on an infield hit to second, pushing Northwood’s lead to 2-0 as McNeil scored.
Romel moved to second following a walk to left fielder Duece Powell, advanced to third on a fielder choice’s grounder by 1st baseman Davis Palermo, then scored on a wild pitch, sending Palermo to third. Palermo scored the final run of the inning off a balk by Brown.
Orange got on the board in the 5h inning after right fielder Colin Guentensberger opened with a walk. Guentensberger stole second and scored off an RBI single to right by Jason Slaughter. Johnson was replaced by Johnny Mazurek, but Orange sent the tying run to the plate after Caige Clayton and Cooper Porter loaded the bases. Mazurek got a strikeout to end the inning.
Orange left 12 men on base in the game.
In the 7th, Slaughter scored off a sacrifice fly to center by Mark Willms.
Orange had a chance to score first in the top of the 2nd inning. Porter doubled down the left field line in the 2nd, which was followed by Brown singling to right, sending Naz Powell (running for Porter) to third with one out. Johnson got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout to 2nd baseman Michael Posse.
Orange head coach Dean Dease is now at 498 career varsity victories.