The Orange baseball team is off to its best start since the 2013 season. In a battle of two teams in the top five of the 3A East Region RPI rankings, Orange defeated Lee County 4-1. The Panthers surrendered a home run in the first inning, but recovered quickly. Senior Connor Nordan sent a two-run homer that went under the fair pole down the left field line to put the Panthers ahead. Lee County pitcher Walker McDuffie, who has committed to play at UNC, held Orange without a hit for four innings. In the fifth, senior Jackson Berini lined a double down the right field line to score Ryan Honeycutt and Wyatt Hedrick. Orange is now 15-2. The last time Orange had 15 wins before their third loss, it was the 2013 team that started 16-2. Nordan and Berini are the top two RBI leaders on the team. Nordan’s two-run homer put him at 25 RBIs on the year. Berini’s two-run double gives him 16 RBIs, even though he’s the leadoff hitter. Orange’s win could vault them to either the #1 or #2 spot in the 3A East RPI rankings. The Panthers are slated to play Wakefield on Friday night to wrap up the Hilltop Invitational. Orange will return to conference action against Northwood on Tuesday in Hillsborough.
Orange baseball’s Jackson Berini & Connor Nordan discuss win over Lee County
The Orange baseball team is off to its best start since the 2013 season. In a battle of two teams in the top five of the 3A East Region RPI rankings, Orange defeated Lee County 4-1. The Panthers surrendered a home run in the first inning, but recovered quickly.