The rivalry game between Orange and Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Territory was suspended by rain in the bottom of the second inning on Friday night, but it sure had some fireworks early.
Orange’s Ryan Hench drilled a two-run homer to put the Panthers ahead 2-1. The game was stopped in the bottom of the second inning. In Cedar Ridge’s side of the first inning, shortstop Bryce Clark laced a solo homer to left field. He became the first person to score a run off Hench this year. Hench entered the game with 17 scoreless innings over three games this season. He had yielded only four hits with 30 strikeouts and seven walks.
The rain interrupted a night that Cedar Ridge Head Coach Bryson Massey had prepared weeks for. The game was a Vs. Cancer benefit where Major League Baseball memorabilia would be raffled off. Anyone who purchased tickets for the raffle should keep the tickets. The game will be rescheduled at a later date.
Cedar Ridge will travel to Northern Durham on Wednesday night. Orange travels to Northwood Tuesday night at 7.
Wrestling:
Cedar Ridge 49, Greensboro Grimsley 19; Cedar Ridge 39, Montgomery Central 36
Despite competing during a pandemic, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team eclipsed its win total from the previous season on Friday night.
The Red Wolves defeated Greensboro Grimsely 49-19, then held off Montgomery Central 39-36. It was the Red Wolves’ second tri-match sweep of the week. They’re now 12-6 on the year.
The victory over Montgomery turned out to be the most dramatic win of the season for the Red Wolves. The match was tied 36-36 with only the heavyweight bout between Cedar Ridge’s Aidan Kearns and the Timberwolves’ Jordi Bello remaining. Kearns earned a 6-1 decision to put Cedar Ridge ahead 39-36. The only remaining match was a double forfeit at 106 pounds, so Cedar Ridge took its fourth straight victory.
Kearns, who was the starting goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge lacrosse team this season, is now 10-8. He earned a forfeit win over Grimsley earlier in the night.
Sophomore Fernando Martinez earned his 50th career win against Grimsley. At 120 pounds, Martinez opened the dual match against the Whirlies with a 13-4 major decision over Zachary Swearington. Martinez, who is 15-1 on the year, pinned Tarian Tanner of Montgomery in 35 seconds. It was his eighth pinfall victory of the year.
Senior Daina Pritchard pinned Montgomery’s Cain Arzate in 1:00 for the 70th win of his career. Pritchard, who is 15-1, suffered his first loss of the season against Grimsley’s Toure Moore.
Senior James Rosati-Brown improved to 18-0 at 152 pounds with two forfeit wins.
Against Grimsley, Gavin Mintz earned a decision over Login Goodwin 6-2 at 170 pounds. At 182 pounds, Thomas Bradley pinned D.J. Diggs in 2:54.
Kearns, Kady Watkins, Kaden Tatro, Mac McGhee and Zoey Moreno also had forfeit wins for Cedar Ridge against Grimsley.
Against the Timberwolves, Tatro pinned Emmanuel All-Gonzalez in 2:31, which evened the dual match 24-24. Mintz then put Cedar Ridge in the lead after he finished off Jamira Jackson via pinfall in 3:10.
Bradley also had a forfeit win against Montgomery Central.
Last season, Cedar Ridge finished 11-8. In the absence of individual tournaments like the Jim King Invitational at Orange High, the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill and the Buccaneer Cup at Bartlett-Yancey High Schoo, Cedar Ridge has been able to schedule more dual matches this year. Cedar Ridge also hosts its own individual tournament each year, the Red Wolf Invitational, every November.
Cedar Ridge still has six more dual matches scheduled before the 3A Mideast Regional championships, which will be the first individual tournament for wrestlers across the state, next month. The regionals will be held at Eastern Guilford High School in Gibsonville.
On Wednesday, Cedar Ridge will host powerful Uwharrie Charter Academy at Red Wolves Gymnasium.