Month: June 2019

After the Orange men’s tennis team made the 3A state playoffs for the first time since 2016, three members of the Panthers have been named to the All-Big 8 Conference team.

In addition, two players from Cedar Ridge were honored in the season-ending awards.

Orange’s Colin O’Hagerty, Joshua Van Mater and Ronan Towell were named to the All-Big 8 team. Cedar Ridge’s Cameron Koehler and Grayson Ramos were also named All-Big 8.

Koehler became the first athlete in Hillsborough this season to make All-Conference in two different sports while qualifying for regionals in a third sport. In the fall, Koehler was named All-Big 8 in men’s soccer. In the winter, he joined Devin Bunner, Gabriel Castaneda and John Garcia on a 200 meter relay team that qualified for the Central Regional Swimming Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center with a time of 1:37. 89. He played four different sports at Cedar Ridge. After graduating last month, Koehler plans to major in naval architecture.

O’Hagerty and Towell qualified for the 3A Mideast Regionals after beating a team from Northwood in the Big 8 Men’s Tennis Tournament at East Chapel Hill on April 24.

Van Mater qualified for the Mideast Regionals after pulling an upset over the 3-seed in the opening round 10-8. He defeated a player from Hillside in the 2nd round to advance to the semifinals.

On the final day of the regular season, Orange defeated Northwood 5-4 to finish 3rd in the Big 8 with an 8-4 record. After losing to Terry Sanford in the opening round of the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs, the Panthers finished the season 14-5, its best record in three years.

Orange opened the season with a 6-3 win over Southern Alamance. After losing consecutive matches to East Chapel Hill, the Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance on March 7 to start a four-match winning streak, which helped propel them to the playoffs.

Last season, the Orange women’s basketball team won 19 games with an experienced starting front court that consisted of seniors Icez Barnett, Lauren Cates and Kate Burgess. Next year, the Lady Panthers will be considerably younger after the graduation of those three players, along with three-year starting point guard Grace Dively. Last week, Orange women’s basketball coach B.J. Condron got a glimpse of his new team during a series of summer games against Eastern Alamance, Jordan and Chapel Hill. The good news for Condron is several freshmen got on-the-job training last year. Guards Aaliyah Harris, Mary Moss Wirt and Jarmil Wingate all were in the regular rotation and will look to help a younger Orange team this November.

The postseason honors continue to roll in for Cedar Ridge and Orange softball.

The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association have named Cedar Ridge centerfielder Taylor Ruhl, 2nd baseman Tori Dalehite and shortstop Tionna Carter to the 3A All-State Team. In addition, Orange junior shortstop Maddie Bartlett and freshman catcher Lauren Jackson were also named to the All-State squad.

It’s the first time that Carter, Ruhl, Bartlett and Jackson have made the All-State squad. Dalehite was named the 2018 Big 8 Conference Hitter of the Year.

Two weeks ago, Carter, Ruhl, Bartlett, Jackson, and Dalehite were named to the 3A All-District team.

Ruhl was the Big 8 Player of the Year and the District 3 Player of the Year. Cedar Ridge won a school record 21 games and tied with Orange for the Big 8 Conference Championship. The two teams played a tiebreaker game for the top-seed for the state playoffs, which the Red Wolves won 8-3 at Orange Softball Field on May 2.

Ruhl’s emergence as a hitter paved the way for the Red Wolves to have its most successful season in school history. From the opening game of the season against Bartlett Yancey on February 28, she went 2-for-2 and scored three runs with 2 RBIs. Ruhl hit safely in 22 of Cedar Ridge’s 24 games. The only exceptions came in the season-ending loss to eventual 3A state champion Eastern Alamance and, of all teams, Southern Durham.

Ruhl had 21 hits and 18 RBIs in 2018. This season, she had 53 hits and 36 RBIs.

Carter had the game-winning hit against West Johnston, which scored Ruhl, in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs. She hit a career-high .549 with 50 hits and 41 RBIS to conclude her four-year career.

Despite suffering a broken hand at the end of the 2018 season in a playoff loss to West Brunswick, Dalehite continued to play three sports at Cedar Ridge during the 2018-19 academic year. This season, Dalehite hit .544 with 43 hits and 41 RBIs. In Cedar Ridge’s 6-3 win over West Carteret in the 2nd round of the 3A state playoffs, Dalehite laced a two-run double in the 3rd inning. She went 2-for-4 against the Patriots.

After Orange struggled to find a replacement for the incomparable Mia Davidson in 2018, Jackson stepped behind the plate in 2019 and quickly established herself. Jackson led Orange with a 439 batting average and 21 RBIs. She was second on the squad with 25 hits.

Bartlett, the daughter of Jeff and Tonya Bartlett, led Orange with 27 hits. In Orange’s 4-1 win over Jacksonville in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs, Bartlett went 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Bartlett, whose uncle Eddy coached Orange to the 3A State Championship in 2017, was named to the Big 8 All-Conference team for the first time ever.

Hannah Weigle of Northwood was the only other player from the Big 8 Conference to make the 3A All-State team.

For the second year in a row, Grey’s Creek Jaden Pone was named the 3A All-State Player of the Year. Eastern Alamance freshman MaKenna Raye Dark was named the 3A Pitcher of the Year after leading the Eagles to its first state championship in softball.

It was a Good Friday for Derryl Britt. His beloved Los Angeles Lakers secured more salary cap space to potentially sign another superstar. Closer to home, his Orange men’s basketball team defeated Wakefield 71-51 to end summer basketball camp. Wakefield won earlier in the day. Veterans Joey Mcmullin and Jason Franklin drained 3-pointers in the second half to put the Panthers comfortably ahead. Britt was also pleased with the development of J.J. Thompson, who played on the JV team last year. Plus, center Hunter Birch continues to improve in the paint. Orange also played Jordan, Chapel Hill and Eastern Alamance on Tuesday. 

It’s been just over a year since Anna Seethaler was named Cedar Ridge’s volleyball coach. This week, she presided over her first Cedar Ridge summer volleyball camp, which attracted many middle schoolers from western Orange County. Even though graduation was only two weeks ago, Seethaler’s second season as volleyball coach is six weeks away. Among the returning players that helped Seethaler with this week’s camp is rising senior Tori Dalehite, along with Cailyn Thornton. Cedar Ridge will also return 5-11 sophomore Lydia Wood and junior Marlee Rakouskas. 

For the third time in less than a year, former Orange pitcher Bryse Wilson has been called up by the Atlanta Braves.

On Thursday afternoon, Wilson will pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He will take the spot of Mike Foltynewicz, who was demoted to Gwinnett of the AAA International League last weekend.

Wilson’s promotion had been rumored since Foltynewicz was sent down on Sunday, but was confirmed by Atlanta manager Brian Snitker on Wednesday.

In his last start, Wilson threw six shutout innings for the Gwinnett Stripers in a 2-0 victory over Syracuse on Saturday. He struck out seven and walked two. It was Wilson’s first win since May 26.

Wilson started the season with Atlanta. On March 30, Wilson started against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park. Wilson scattered five hits over three-and-one-thirds innings, yielding four runs. He struck out three and walked one in a no decision. The Phillies went on to win 8-6.

On April 26, Wilson worked a shutout inning of relief against the Colorado Rockies at SunTrust Bank in Atlanta. He has been in Gwinnett ever since, making a homecoming trip to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on May 5.

Wilson is 4-6 with a 3.79 ERA with Gwinnett this season, but has thrown six innings in four of his last five starts.

Wilson became the first Orange Panther to reach the Major Leagues on August 20, 2018 when he was called up to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. He pitched five scoreless innings with three hits allowed, winning his Atlanta debut 1-0. Wilson struck out five and walked three.

He also nearly had a base hit, but was thrown out at first from right field by Gregory Polanco.

Wilson was 20 years and 243 days old when he made his debut last summer, the youngest player to appear in a Major League game in 2018. He returned to Gwinnett after the game.

Wilson was promoted to Atlanta when the Major League rosters expanded on September 1. He appeared in two more games, both relief appearances, in the final weeks of the regular season. On September 3 against Boston, Wilson gave up three runs off two hits in one innings. In another relief appearance against St. Louis on September 18, Wilson threw one inning. He surrendered two runs off three hits with one strike out. Wilson was left off Atlanta’s postseason roster as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Braves 3-1 in the best-of-five National League Divisional Series.

Wilson started 2018 with the Single-A Florida Fire Frogs of the Florida State League, but had a meteoric rise through the Braves system. Within one month of the season getting underway, he was called up to the Mississippi Braves of the AA Southern League.

Atlanta currently leads the National League East by five games over Philadelphia. After starting the season 12-14, the Braves went into Wednesday night’s game at Chicago with a season-best 47-33 record.

In the offseason, Wilson was no stranger to Hillsborough. He was a frequent visitor to Orange Panther football games last fall and spoke to the Stanford Middle School wrestling team, where he competed ten years ago.

Bryse Wilson: On Saturday, Wilson earned his fourth win of the season as the Gwinnett Stripers defeated the Syracuse Mets 2-0 at Coolray Field in Gwinnett, GA. Wilson allowed five hits over six shutout innings, walked two and struck out seven. He was his first win since May 26. Wilson, who graduated from Orange High in 2016, has thrown six innings in three of his last four starts. In Gwinnett’s 7-6 loss to Syracuse on June 16, Wilson gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out seven and issued no walks. On June 5 against the Charlotte Knights, Wilson gave up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Wilson is now 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts with Gwinnett this season. He’s scheduled to start at Charlotte either Wednesday or Thursday.

Jamar Davis: While N.C. State’s track & field season is over, Davis’ year is not. Over the weekend, Davis finished 3rd in the triple jump during the USATF U20 Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Miramar, FL. Davis’ jumped of 15.49 meters placed him behind the champion, Treyvon Ferguson of Kansas at 16.13 meters. Davis also finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 7.61 meters. Phillip Austin the Third of Arizona won the long jump championship at 7.74 meters. In his freshman season at N.C. State, Davis was a NCHSAA second-team All-American in the triple jump.

Will White: The 2018 Orange High graduate recently wrapped up his freshman season with the Division III Greensboro College Pride baseball team. White made nine pitching appearances out of the Pride’s bullpen. He finished 0-1 with a 6.28 ERA. White earned his first college save on March 18 against the University of Maine at Presque Isle. White entered the game with two out in the sixth inning and the Pride holding a 9-4 lead. White gave up one hits in three-and-two-thirds innings, giving up only one hit. He struck out seven and walked four. White also threw one-and-two-thirds shutout innings in Greensboro’s 21-7 win over Piedmont International in Mocksville on April 10.

Johnny Flynn: After two seasons at Danville Community College in Virginia, Flynn recently completed his junior season at Division III Brevard College. Playing right field, Flynn compiled a .224 batting average in 26 games, including 25 starts. He tallied 19 hits, eight runs and six RBIs. In Brevard’s opening game of the season against William Peace on February 8, Flynn went 2-for-5 with three runs scored as the Tornadoes defeated the Pacers 12-5. The following day, Flynn went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base as Brevard shutout Peace 5-0 to win the series. On February 16, Flynn went 2-for-4 in a 12-7 loss to Toccoa Falls. Brevard finished the year 10-26, 2-21 in the USA South Atlantic Conference.

Jordan Toney: After completing his college career with UNC Pembroke last month, Toney is still keeping his heart in the game of baseball. Last month, he started as an intern with the Morehead City Marlins of the Coastal Plain League. Toney started his career at Pfeiffer University before transferring. The Coastal Plain League is a league for college-eligible players. In the past, former Orange Panther Chris Maples played for the Durham Braves, which claimed the 2001 Coastal Plain League Championship. Maples went on to play for the Toledo Mudhens of the AAA International League.

Cedar Ridge’s 4×800 relay team, consisting of Sarah Tucker, Zoe Wade, Jill Myler and Allison Musty, finished 10th in the  NCHSAA 3A State Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T University on May 17. They had a time of 10:10.70. It was the team’s best run of the season, shaving a second off their previous best set at the Mideast Regionals at Southern Lee High School in Sanford. It concluded a strong running season for Cedar Ridge. Wade, Myler and Musty are members of the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team that qualified for the 3A State Championships last November. Last season, Cedar Ridge’s 4×800 team, which included Musty, set the school record with a time of 10:08.78 during the Mideast Regionals.

As the 2018-2019 fades further into the rear view mirror, two recent Orange High graduates are set to continue their athletic careers at the college level.

Orange women’s basketball guard Lauren Cates is set to attend Wake Technical Community College starting this August. Also, former Orange football running back Morgan Paschal will attend Louisburg Junior College in the fall.

Cates scored 1,043 points in her Orange career. On February 6, she scored 19 points in a 56-16 win over Northern Durham, when she reached the 1,000 point plateau. She became the first Orange player to score 1,000 points since Bria Berry Holly in 2011.

After being held to seven points against Granville Central on November 30, Cates went on a run of eleven consecutive games with double figures scoring last season. She had a season-high 26 points against Vance County in the opening round of the Granville Central Holiday Tournament in Stem on December 27. She scored 21 points in a 59-43 victory over Lee County in Hillsborough on December 14.

Orange finished 19-7 last season and hosted Eastern Alamance in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs.

Cates will be the second Orange player in as many years to play at Wake Tech. Bethlyn Early, a 2017 Orange graduate who was a member of the Lady Panthers’ 2016-17 Big 8 Championship team, completed a two-year stay at Wake Tech last month. She’s set to transfer to William Peace University in August.

Cates is the second Orange player to commit to play college basketball. Icez Barnett, who graduated with Cates on June 14 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, signed with Division II Chowan in March.

Orange’s senior class of Cates, Barnett, Grave Dively, Kate Burgess and Nam Chapman graduated with a record of 58-24 since 2016.

Paschal was a running back for the Orange football team for two seasons from 2016-2017. Each year, he was the backup to Marvante Beasley. After Beasley suffered a career-ending injury against Hillside in 2017, Paschal and Hunter Pettiford stepped in as replacements to help the Panthers win the 2017 Big 8 Conference Championship with victories over Cedar Ridge and Chapel Hill.

Against Chapel Hill on November 3, Pachal had a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns. In a 21-20 loss to Northwood, Paschal had 116 yards and a touchdown.

Paschal’s first 100-yard game came on October 7, 2017 in a 14-0 win at Northern Vance in Henderson, the last-ever game between the two teams (the new Vance County High is a separate entity from Northern Vance). He scored the opening touchdown for the Panthers. The 2017 Orange team finished with a perfect regular season. They lost to Havelock 14-7 in the state playoffs.

Paschal was also a linebacker for then-Defensive Coordinator Van Smith, who is now the Orange head coach.

In his sophomore season, Paschal rushed for 464 yards and four touchdowns while playing regularly in Pat Moser’s Double Wing offense. In his junior year, Orange changed to a spread offense after Moser’s retirement.

Paschal was also a sprinter for the Orange men’s track & field team in 2017 and 2018.

Last season, Paschal transferred to Southern Durham, but returned to Orange before the fall semester ended. He graduated with the 2019 Orange senior class last week.

After leading the Cedar Ridge softball team in hitting this spring, Red Wolves centerfielder Taylor Ruhl has been named the 3A District 3 Player of the Year by the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association.

Orange County is considered within district 3, along with Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Durham, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Person, Northhampton, Vance, Warren, Wake and Wilson Counties.

Ruhl led Cedar Ridge with a .596 batting average as the Red Wolves tied Orange for the Big 8 Conference Championships. Cedar Ridge defeated the Lady Panthers in a special tiebreaker game to determine the #1 seed for the 3A State Playoffs on May 2. Cedar Ridge finished 21-3 overall, reaching the third round of the 3A State Playoffs for the second year in a row.

Ruhl also led the team with 53 hits and tied for the team lead with three triples.

Joining Ruhl on the All-District 3 squad were four Cedar Ridge Red Wolves and five Orange Lady Panthers.

Tori Dalehite: The 2018 Big 8 Hitter of the Year made the All-Big 8 Conference team for the second year in a row. Dalehite led Cedar Ridge with 41 RBIs in 2019 with a .544 batting average and a team-high 17 doubles. She committed to UNC Greensboro last winter.

Tionna Carter: A fourth-year varsity shortstop, Carter had the game-winning hit in the opening round of the 3A state playoff victory over West Johnston on May 7. Carter hit a career-high. 549 (149 points above her previous high) with 50 hits and and 41 RBIs. She played in all 24 of the Red Wolves games.

Takia Nichols: One of three freshmen from Hillsborough to make the All-District team. Nichols led Cedar Ridge with eight home runs, including a monster blast to left field in the 2nd round of the state playoffs against West Carteret on May 10. Nichols started at 3rd base from the season-opener against Bartlett Yancey. She hit .509 with 36 RBIs.

Kara Wagoner: A senior 1st baseman, Wagoner hit .408 with 31 hits, 31 RBIs and 13 doubles. Wagoner committed to play at Montreat last winter. She had a career-hight 35 runs scored. Leaves Cedar Ridge with a career .406 batting average and 23 career doubles. A honor role student and president of the Cedar Ridge Future Farmers of America.

The five players from Orange High included two freshmen, as well as two players who won a state championship in 2017.

Olivia Ruff: Ruff, the only senior from Orange to make the All-District team, hit .389 this season. She had career-highs in hits (21) and RBIs (16). Ruff went 3-for-3 against East Chapel Hill on May 1, which ensured the Lady Panthers a share of the Big 8 Championship for the third time in four years.

Jayden Hurdle: A starter at first base since her freshman season, Hurdle overcame a torn ACL last summer to hit .385 in 2019. Hurdle led Orange with 22 RBIs. Went 4-for 4 with two home runs against East Chapel Hill on March 12 in a 12-0 victory, the Lady Panthers first win of the year. Also earned two pitching wins this season.

Maddie Bartlett: A junior shortstop, Bartlett hit .409. She led the team with 27 hits and eight doubles. Went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Orange’s win over Jacksonville in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs in Hillsborough. Had ten multi-hit games this season. Daughter of former Orange player Tonya Bartlett.

Lauren Jackson: Led the team with a .439 batting average in her freshman season. Provided the most dramatic moment of the season for Orange with a game-winning single in the 8th inning to drive in Bartlett and defeat Northwood 7-6. The Panthers were down to its last out, trailing 6-5 in the 7th inning before Emma Puckett drove in Ruff. Also led the team with five home runs.

Gracie Walker: The other end of Orange’s all-freshman battery, Walker became the established pitcher as the season stretched on. Walker finished 8-5 with 82 strikeouts and a 2.90 ERA. Her biggest win of the season came against Cedar Ridge, where he gave up five hits and four runs in a complete game win, which led Orange to tie the Red Wolves for 1st place in the Big 8.