Orange Panther of the Week: Joey Pounds

This Week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior pitcher Joey Pounds. Joey earned this award after several strong performances out of the bullpen during the Hilltop Invitational at the beginning of spring. On March 30, Pounds faced New Hanover, currently ranked #2 in the 4A East Region by MaxPreps, and threw a shutout in the 7th inning with one strikeout to keep the Panthers down 2-1 going into the bottom of the frame. Two days later, the Panthers made a long trip to Wilmington to face Ashley, currently ranked #9 in 4A East. Pounds came into the game in relief of starter Cross Clayton and threw a perfect 6th inning with two strikeouts. It allowed Orange to go into the 7th down 4-3. On April 12, Pounds earned his first win of the season against Northwood in Hillsborough. In the eighth inning with the game tied 2-2, Pounds struck out two Chargers. Cross Clayton delivered the game-winning hit in the eighth inning. This season, Pounds came out of the bullpen to throw four-and-two-thirds consecutive scoreless innings. He continues to be a reliable presence for Coach Jason Knapp and has been a valuable presence for an Orange team that captured its first outright regular season championship since 2018. Pounds uncle, Larry Pounds, was a 1991 Orange High graduate and the greatest kickball player in Cameron Park Elementary School history, Orange will return to action in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs on Tuesday.