Orange High senior pitcher Ryan Hench has formally signed with North Carolina. Hench is about to enter his fourth season as a Panther under head coach Jason Knapp, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s really only been one full year. As a freshman, Hench made one pitching appearance and that was in relief at Eastern Alamance. His sophomore year it when Hench began to blossom as a Panther. Against Chapel Hill on May 11, 2021, Hench threw a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts as the Panthers won 5-0, sewing up a spot in the 3A State Playoffs. Hench was named the 2021 co-Big 8 Pitcher of the Year. Last season, Hench led Orange in wins as the Panthers won the Central Carolina Conference regular season championship. Hench helps Orange reach the 3rd round of the 3A State Playoffs for the first time since 2017 with postseason wins over Cedar Ridge and Terry Sanford. In 2022, Hench led Orange with a .423 batting average, 26 RBIs, nine doubles and five home runs. Hench had 80 strikeouts and 24 walks last season. During a ceremony last week inside Orange High gymnasium, Hench was joined by his father Jack Hench, his mother Pam Hench and his brother Cooper Hench, a former Orange High pitcher and 3rd baseman who now plays on the N.C. State Club baseball team.