Month: May 2021

True to the makeup of a team that achieved success despite limited varsity experience, five Orange softball players were named to the All-Big 8 Conference team.

Most notably, three of the honorees had not played a full varsity schedule before this season.

Junior 2nd baseman/3rd baseman Mary Moss Wirt, junior catcher Lauren Jackson, sophomore shortstop Carson Bradsher, sophomore centerfielder Serenity McPherson and freshman right fielder/pitcher Caden Robinson were all named to the first-team following a poll of the Big 8 Conference’s coaches.

In addition, Orange’s Gracie Walker was named Big 8 Pitcher of the Year.

Orange finished the regular season 12-0 and lost to Southwestern Randolph in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs last Monday. It was the first Orange softball team to ever finish the regular season undefeated.

Wirt, who committed to Elon University before the season started, hit .457 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. She hit home runs in Orange’s opening games against East Chapel Hill and Cedar Ridge, which was the beginning of a season’s worth of domination for Orange. While Wirt’s offensive contributions were impressive enough, her biggest value came on defense. During a three-game stretch where 3rd baseman Emma Puckett was out of the lineup, Wirt took over her spot while freshman Delaney Shaffer played second. Wirt had a team-high five assists in Orange’s 11-9 win over Cedar Ridge in nine innings on April 15, a classic game where the Red Wolves scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after trailing 9-2. Wirt made two huge defensive plays during Cedar Ridge’s rally. The first came after Cedar Ridge’s ShiLi Quade laid down a gorgeous bunt towards third with runners at first and second. Wirt, realizing that discretion was the better part of valor, opted to hold the ball and surrender the hit instead of potentially throwing it into right field.

After Cedar Ridge tied the game 9-9, the Red Wolves had the bases loaded with two out when Wirt fielded a grounder hit by Emma-Rae Sharp. Instead of going to first, Wirt threw to Jackson at the plate to retire Marlee Rakouskas, the potential winning run, and send the game into extra innings. Wirt scored the game-winning run and recorded the final out.

Jackson, a junior, hit .526 in her third year as a varsity starter. She led the team with five home runs and was tied for second with 17 RBIs. She hit four home runs in Orange’s last three games, including two against Northern Durham in a 12-0 win, which concluded the regular season. Against the Knights, she went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Jackson hit safely in eleven of Orange’s 12 games, and it would have been 12, but she was walked and hit by a pitch against Southern Durham in her only two plate appearances. Against Vance County, Jackson had a two-run double in the fourth inning for a victory that officially clinched the conference championship.

In her first full season at the varsity level, Bradsher led Orange in nine offensive categories. She hit .700 with 28 hits, 20 RBIs, 24 runs scored, seven doubles, four triples, 16 stolen bases, a 1.075 slugging percentage, and a .739 on-base percentage. McPherson and Bradsher occupied the top two batting slots in Coach Johnny Barefoot’s batting order in almost every game. The combination triggered an offense that outscored opponents 172-23. In her season debut against Cedar Ridge, Bradsher went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Against Northwood on April 23, Bradsher went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs and three runs scored. Stretching back to her freshman year, limited to four games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradsher has hit safely in 15 of 16 career games. The only exception was a 22-0 win over Chapel Hill, where she was walked three times.

McPherson hit .533 with 24 hits and 22 runs scored. She was second on the team in all of those categories. McPherson also was fourth on the team with 16 RBIs. In Orange’s first meeting with Northern Durham, McPherson started the game with a triple and scored off a sacrifice fly by Bradsher. The following inning, McPherson laced a three-run homer to centerfield to put the Lady Panthers ahead 5-2. In the fifth inning, she threw out Northern shortstop Macey Ellis at the plate trying to score, which secured an Orange win that guaranteed a playoff spot.

Robinson, who usually hit third in Orange’s order, finished with a .429 batting average. She was second on the team with 17 RBIs. Robinson was also the backup pitcher to starter Gracie Walker. In the circle, Robinson was 5-0 in ten appearances with four starts. She had a 0.70 ERA with 34 strikeouts and three walks. In her first varsity game, Robinson went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple against East Chapel Hill. The following week against Cedar Ridge, she went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, including two doubles. She hit safely in all of Orange’s regular season games. Against Northwood on March 25, Robinson had four RBIs during a 12-run second inning. She started with a 2-run double, then drilled a two-run homer to centerfield.

Walker and Kelsey Tackett were named honorable mention. As Orange’s top pitcher, Walker went 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA. She had 37 strikeouts and eleven walks. Walker, who also played right field, hit .407.

Tackett, as a designated player, hit .462. Of her 12 hits, five were doubles.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior wrestler Daina Pritchard. Last week, Pritchard scored three pins as the Red Wolves faced Carrboro, Southeast Guilford and Orange. Pritchard pinned Carrboro’s Berk Kesimer in 57 seconds, pinned Sam Crawford of Orange in 3:50 and defeated Southeast Guilford’s Xavier Jones in 1:36. This season, Pritchard is 6-0 with five pins. Last season, Pritchard finished third in the 132-pound weight class of the Jim King Invitational at Orange High. In the third place match, Pritchard defeated Orange’s Matthew Smith-Breeden 9-1. He also won the 138-pound championship at the Buccaneer Cup at Bartlett-Yanchey High School in January 2020. Pritchard scored three pins to take the championship, ending with a victory over Bartlett Yancey’s Jakob Casselmann in three minutes. Many of the traditional tournament that Daina has competed in over the years, like the Jim King Invitational and the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill, were canceled this year because of the pandemic. In addition to wrestling, Prichard was a linebacker for Cedar Ridge football this season. Pritchard will look to continue his strong senior season tonight when Cedar Ridge hosts a tri-meet inside Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Mia Davidson: The inevitable finally happened this weekend as Mia Davidson became the all-time home run hitter in Mississippi State history. On Saturday, Davidson blasted a solo homer against Georgia for her 68th career home run. She surpassed Rafael Palmeiro for the most home runs in Mississippi State history, softball or baseball. The accolade included a congratulatory video from Palmeiro:

Davidson is now tied in Southeastern Conference softball history with Georgia’s Alyssa DiCarlo for second place on the all-time home run list. The career leader is Florida’s Lauren Haeger with 71. Davidson went 1-for-3 on Saturday. On Friday, Mia finished 0-for-2, but scored a run after she walked in the fourth inning. She was driven home off a single from Jackie McKenna. On Sunday, Davidson went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs. She hit a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning to score Brylie St. Clair. In the first, Davidson had an RBI single.

Montana Davidson: Mississippi State concluded the regular season by sweeping the weekend series from Georgia. On Friday, Montana went 1-for-3 when she reached on a bunt single and stole a base in the third inning. It was her fourth stolen base of the season as Mississippi State won 4-2. On Saturday, Montana drew a bases-loaded walk in the 2nd inning. In the fourth inning, she scored off a fielder’s choice. In Sunday’s 4-3 win, Montana went 1-for-3. Mississippi State finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, which matches the 1999 team for the second-longest SEC winning streak in school history. The Bulldogs are 32-22, 8-15 in the SEC. They will open the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team has claimed the Southern Conference regular season championship. On Sunday, the Spartans completed a three-game sweep of Western Carolina at UNCG Softball Stadium and will host the Southern Conference Tournament this week. UNCG will start play against Mercer on Thursday.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team completed its first full season in the opening round of the Region X Tournament on Saturday. Top-seeded Louisburg swept a best-of-three series from the Red Hawks at Sheila Cotton Field in Louisburg. The Hurricanes won game one 24-5 in five innings and the final game 8-7. Andrews went a combined 0-for-5. It was the first time all year that Andrews went hitless in consecutive games and ended a seven-game hitting streak. In her freshman year at Catawba Valley, Andrews led the team with 41 RBIs and 53 hits. She finished with a .442 batting average (2nd on the team), with eight home runs (also 2nd on the team). Catawba Valley ends the season 23-13 overall, 12-8 in the Region X West Division.

Marvin Jones: Jones earned the gold medal in the high jump during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro on Saturday. Jones, a senior who lettered at Cedar Ridge, leaped 2.09 meters for his first collegiate gold medal. It was his second career MEAC medal. He claimed a bronze in the 2020 MEAC Indoor Track c& Field Championships.

Jaylin Jones: For the first time in school history, the Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team is going to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Falcons defeated Piedmont 17-13 to win the USA South Conference Tournament at Lefko Field in Misenheimer on Sunday. Jones, who was named All-Conference as a defensive midfielder last week, had one ground ball for the Falcons. Pfeiffer will face Lynchburg College in Shellenberger Field for the opening round of the Division III Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Bryse Wilson: After being optioned by the Atlanta Braves last week, Wilson made his first start for the Gwinnett Stripers of Triple-A East on Thursday night. Wilson threw five scoreless innings to earn the victory as Gwinnett defeated the Charlotte Knights 4-0 at Truist Field. He became the first pitcher in Gwinnett history to win seven consecutive starts. Dating back to July 21, 2019, Wilson is 7-0 with a 0.80 ERA for Gwinnett. Against the Knights, Wilson scattered four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in his first Triple-A start of the season.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State baseball team had its season come to an end in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8 Tournament. The Pirates lost to Santa Fe College 10-0 on Friday night in Lakeland, FL. In the opening game last Wednesday, Pensacola State edged Seminole State College of Florida 4-3 in ten innings. Porter entered the game as a pinch hitter. In 18 games this season, Porter hit .256 with one home run and six RBIs. He also pitched in three games. In one-and-two-thirds innings, Porter gave up two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior golfer Josh Frank. Last week, Frank participated in the 3A Mideast Regionals for Orange at Keith Hills Golf Club on the campus of Campbell University in Buies Creek. At Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough on April 13, Frank shot a 79 on April 13. That helped push his nine hole average for the year below 42, which qualified for the regionals. He also had a solid finish during the final regular season meet at Umstead Pines at Willowhaven Golf Club in Durham. Frank plays golf 3-4 times a week at courses throughout Orange, Durham, and Alamance Counties, including Occoneechee Golf Course. He will graduate from Orange next month and plans to attend Alamance Community College in August. He plans to work towards his electrical license, along with some weekend golf outings as time allows.

BURLINGTON–There had not been a Hillsborough representative in the NCHSAA 3A State Men’s Tennis Championships, singles or doubles tournaments, since 2014.

This year, there will be two.

For such a lofty accomplishments that took years for anyone to accomplish, Cedar Ridge sophomore Josh Mayhew didn’t exactly survive a thriller to clinch a spot in the 3A Mideast Regional Semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Burlington Tennis Center. Mayhew cruised past East Chapel Hill’s Rama Varanasi 6-0, 6-0 in the second round. Earlier in the day, Mayhew defeated Western Alamance’s Will Geiger 6-0, 6-2 in the opening round.

The four semifinals in the regionals, scattered across four different tournaments in North Carolina, automatically qualify for the 3A State Championships.

Mayhew is the first Cedar Ridge singles player to qualify for the 3A State Singles Tournament since 2014, when Zac Marion faced George Lovitt of Marvin Ridge in the opening round. Lovitt won by default.

Mayhew has made up for lost time after the pandemic prematurely halted his freshman season. In addition to regular practices with his teammates, he often stays afterwards to practice his serve, often with softball and baseball games going on around him. His father, Steve, and sister, Cameron, occasionally play pickle ball at Cedar Ridge Tennis Courts after workouts.

“I’ve been practicing a lot,” Mayhew said. “There’s some good people in this tournament like Dennis Perumov (of Chapel Hill) and Eddy Ferreria of Chapel Hill. That’s my goal for this tournament, to beat them.”

While Mayhew has played offseason events in South Carolina and Georgia, the state tournament will offer a new challenge.

“I think it will be some good competition,” Mayhew said. “I can’t wait to play them.”

Mayhew will face Ferreria in the regional semifinals on Monday. The regional title match will also be held later that afternoon.

While Mayhew won easily, Orange’s doubles team of Colin O’Hagerty and Brandon Gwinn pulled the upset of the tournament. In the second round, the unseeded Panther tandem defeated Northern Guilford’s Duncan Moore and James Harrington 6-3, 6-4 in the second round. Moore and Harrington arrived into the event as the #2 seeded doubles team.

“I didn’t know what to expect at the beginning,” Gwinn said. “We turned out to have the upper hand in the end.”

O’Hagerty and Gwinn are the first representatives, singles or doubles, to reach the 3A State Tournament since Justin Webb became Orange’s coach in 2013.

Gwinn and O’Hagerty didn’t start the season as a doubles team. O’Hagerty teams with Justin Conover, Orange’s top singles player. Webb decided to adjust at midseason.

“I thought Colin and Brandon were a better pairing and it worked out for us,” Webb said. “They went from not being a doubles pairing to being in states. So that’s pretty impressive. They came in very focused and towards the end of the season they started to play some of their best tennis.”

Gwinn and O’Hagerty have their contrasts. Gwinn shows up for matches with a pumpkin logo designed on the bottom his racket and will gladly show it off for anyone who requests it.

“Colin is definitely more of a serious player,” Webb said. “Brandon brings a little more laid back nature. They tend to offset each other.”

In the opening round, Gwinn and O’Hagerty defeated Isai Gutierrez and Francisco Urieta of Harnett Central 6-1, 6-0. On Monday, O’Hagerty and Gwinn will face Kabir Grewal and Michael Gannon of East Chapel Hill in the semifinals.

Orange junior Justin Conover defeated Western Alamance’s Zach Allred 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. It was one of two matches in the opening round to go three sets.

Terry Sanford’s Jordan Miller defeated Conover in the second round with a spot in the state championships on the line.

The Mideast Regionals was a final show of domination for the Big 8 Conference, which will disband next month. Of the eight qualifiers for the state championships, seven were from the Big 8.

The event was originally scheduled for Friday, but was rained out and postponed until Saturday morning.

The 3A State Championships are scheduled to start Friday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

For the first time since 2014, Cedar Ridge has had a singles player qualify for the 3A State Tennis Championships. For something that took such a long time, sophomore Josh Mayhew accomplished the feat in anti-climatic fashion at the Burlington Tennis Center on Saturday. Mayhew defeated East Chapel Hill’s Rama Varanasi 6-0, 6-0 in the second round of the 3A Mideast Regionals. Mayhew, who went 7-2 in his first full varsity season at Cedar Ridge this season, became the first Cedar Ridge player to qualify for the 3A State Championships since Zac Marion did it in 2014. Mayhew has been known to commonly stay around practice at Cedar Ridge to continue practicing, or play pickleball with his family, including his younger sister Cameron, a freshman at Cedar Ridge who is a member of the Red Wolves’ women’s team. Mayhew will face Chapel Hill’s Eddy Ferreira in the regional semifinals on Monday. The regional championship will be played that night.