Month: March 2025

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The Orange baseball team is off to a 3-1 start. Last week, the Panthers earned its first win of the season with a 9-5 victory over Chapel Hill at Panther Field. Orange scored four runs in the first inning, starting with a single by sophomore Kayden Bradsher, who later scored off a base hit by Oliver Van Tiem. Bradsher would finish 3-for-4 with three runs scored. It’s the second year in a row that Bradsher has been at the top of the Panther line-up following a solid freshman season in 2024, when Orange won a share of the Central Conference championship and reached the third round of the 3A State Playoffs. Senior Garrett Sawyer earned his first win of the year. In his first career start, Sawyer struck out four over four innings. After a shaky first inning, Sawyer didn’t allow another run in his final three innings of work. Sawyer also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double. Sawyer had an RBI single in the fourth inning to score Van Tiem as the Panthers added four more runs in the frame. Van Tiem, a sophomore, finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Orange will face Millbrook in Hillsborough on Friday night. Last year, the Wildcats defeated the Panthers in Raleigh.

Orange baseball’s Kayden Bradsher and Garrett Sawyer discuss win over Chapel Hill

The Orange baseball team is off to a 3-1 start. Last week, the Panthers earned its first win of the season with a 9-5 victory over Chapel Hill at Panther Field. Orange scored four runs in the first inning, starting with a single by sophomore Kayden Bradsher, who later scored off a base hit by Oliver Van Tiem.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore swimmer Christopher Seawell. This season, Seawell won the Central Conference championship in the 100 yard backstroke at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. As a freshman, Seawell won the conference championship in the 50 meter freestyle. Also in 2024, Seawell teamed with Nikhil Agans, Phillip Cauwels and Jacob Olmstead to win the 200 yard freestyle relay championship. This season, Seawell finished 2nd in the 50 yard freestyle. He qualified for the 3A State Championships after finishing third in the Central Regionals with a time of 1:00.02 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on February 1. Also at regionals, he finished 6th in the 100 yard freestyle at 51.39 seconds. Seawell finished 14th in the 100 yard freestyle at the State Championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. In the 100 yard backstroke, Seawell finished 17th at 1:00.02. Seawell’s performance helped Cedar Ridge swimming to a strong all-around year. Cedar Ridge finished 2nd in the Central Conference behind the leadership from Seawell, senior Phillip Cauwels and freshman J.E. Sandor. Through early morning workouts at the SportsPlex, Seawell continued to improve through his sophomore season. Next year, he will be among the leaders of a Cedar Ridge swimming team that will look to take a step forward in a brand new league.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Christopher Seawell

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore swimmer Christopher Seawell. This season, Seawell won the Central Conference championship in the 100 yard backstroke at the Orange County SportsPlex in Hillsborough. As a freshman, Seawell won the conference championship in the 50 meter freestyle.

From the moment he made his debut as a varsity member of the Orange baseball team, Garrett Sawyer has understood what pressure is. In 2023, he stepped up to the plate with the bases-loaded and Triton leading Orange 8-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning. Sawyer drew a walk, leading to a run scoring. It was his first varsity at-bat. The Panthers would go on to win 9-8 in an improbable comeback. On Wednesday night, Sawyer formally signed with Ferrum College with his stepfather Andrew, his mother Ashley and brother Silas. Sawyer has been a member of the varsity for two years on the baseball team. He hit .297 in his junior season. On the mound, he made 12 appearances and earned a win in relief over Topsail. Sawyer finished with a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 31 strikeouts and 15 walks. Sawyer also played football for two seasons. In the season-opener last year, he threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to Kingston Purefoy-Farrington against Southeast Alamance. Swayer made 76 tackles with three sacks in 2024. In his junior season, he finished with 48 tackles with four sacks and an interception. Sawyer will join former Orange wrestlers Braden Homsey and Braden Crawford in going to Ferrum, which is in the process of transitioning from Division III to Division II. They will join Conference Carolinas.

Orange baseball’s Garrett Sawyer formally signs with Ferrum College baseball

From the moment he made his debut as a varsity member of the Orange baseball team, Garrett Sawyer has understood what pressure is. In 2023, he stepped up to the plate with the bases-loaded and Triton leading Orange 8-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Carson Bradsher: Last Saturday, the Division III Averett University softball team swept Meredith University in a doubleheader at Meredith Softball Complex in Raleigh. Bradsher factored in heavily as the Cougars came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Avenging Angels. In the 3rd inning, Bradsher had an RBI double to score Hannah Jones. In the seventh, Bradsher reached an infield single and scored the game-tying run off a bases-loaded double by Kadence Woodlief. Averett completed the sweep with a 12-3 win in six innings. Bradsher went 2-for-3 with an RBI single during a seven-run 2nd inning. She also had a stolen base. On Tuesday, Christopher Newport University swept Averett in a doubleheader at Captains Park in Newport News, VA. Bradsher went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in the opener, which Newport won 6-1.

Mary Moss Wirt: On March 2, Wirt started for the Elon softball team against UNC Greensboro in the second game of a doubleheader at UNCG Softball Stadium. Starting at catcher, Wirt drew three walks. UNC Greensboro defeated the Phoenix 16-4 in five innings. Last Saturday, Wirt went 1-for-4 as Sacred Heart defeated Elon 4-1 at Hunt Softball Park in Elon. The Phoenix are 7-11.

Takia Nichols: On Tuesday, Nichols had an RBI single for North Carolina Central against Gardner-Webb. The Runnin’ Bulldogs wound up winning in five innings.

Ava Lowry: North Carolina Wesleyan dominated Valley Forge 25-1 in five innings at North Myrtle Beach Softball Complex during the FastPitch Dreams Spring Classic on Monday. Lowry, starting at shortstop, drew a walk and scored a run. Also last weekend, Waynesburg defeated Wesleyan 4-1 Monday. Lowry finished went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly RBI. N.C. Wesleyan is 3-5 and will play at Walnut Creek Park in Raleigh. They will open with Oberlin on Friday afternoon.

Brianne Foster: The former Orange catcher went 1-for-2 for Wake Tech’s softball team on Tuesday. Louisburg defeated the Eagles 11-1 in the opening game of a doubleheader. Foster started at catcher. Last weekend at Brunswick Community College, Foster went 1-for-3 in the second game of a doubleheader. The Dolphins defeated the Eagles 5-3 in the back end of a doubleheader. Foster also played second base in the opening game of the twin bill.

Olivia Aitkin: As Amherst softball prepares to start its season on March 16, Aitkin was recently the subject of a behind the microphone segment from the university.  

Jackson Berini: Currently, Berini is in his sophomore year at Gaston College in Dallas, North Carolina. Next year, he will move on to play at Wichita State of the American Athletic Conference. Through 12 games this year, Berini is hitting .261 with the Rhinos. Among the highlights of Berini’s season so far is going 1-for-3 with three runs scored in a 10-0 win over Hartford Community College on February 14. On February 9, Berini went 2-for-4 with a double in a 13-6 win over Catawba Valley Community College. Gaston is 15-6-1 overall, 3-3 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Jackson’s older brother, Joey, has joined the Orange baseball staff as an assistant coach.

Cross Clayton: Clayton made his college debut with Gaston College against Wake Technical Community College on February 25. Clayton threw two-thirds of an inning and allowed two runs off three hits. Gaston won 11-3. Clayton graduated from Orange last year and was the first Panther pitcher since Wilson to win 20 games in a career.

Wyatt Hedrick: The Wake Tech baseball team fell to the North Carolina Wesleyan junior varsity squad 6-5 on February 27. Hedrick made his debut for the Eagles and threw a perfect fourth inning, striking out the side. Wake Tech is 9-10 overall, 6-3 in Region X.

Bryse Wilson: So far in spring training, Wilson has thrown in two games for the Chicago White Sox. On Wednesday, he started against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he played the past two seasons. Wilson allowed one run off three hits in three innings. He also had three walks and three strikeouts. On February 26, Wilson threw two shutout innings against the San Diego Padres. He struck out one and allowed two hits.

The Cedar Ridge seniors that ended their wrestling careers at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro did more than just reach the 3A State Championships this year.

They were part of a group that started with Fernando Martinez and Kaden Tatro which transformed a program.

As sophomores, Ryan Rakouskas and Pierce Prescod were instrumental in Cedar Ridge winning the Central Conference Tournament at Orange High School. A year later, Cedar Ridge defeated crosstown rival Orange for the first time ever. The Panthers’ shadow within the local wrestling community loomed large not just across Hillsborough, but the entire region having won five state championships and 16 consecutive conference championships.

Together in 2023-2024, Rakouskas, Prescod, Tatro, Martinez and a freshman named Favio Jaramillo Esparza would help the Red Wolves march through the Central Conference undefeated to its first regular season championship as a 3A team. It was just the second conference regular season title in school history.

Between 2001-2022, there had only been four wrestlers in Cedar Ridge history that had won 100 matches. Since 2022, that number has doubled between Martinez, Tatro, Prescod and Rakouskas.

In all likelihood, Ezparza will join the group at the first event next November.

At the 3A State Championships, Rakouskas and Prescod ended their accomplished wrestling careers with the Red Wolves inside First Horizon Coliseum. Prescod, at 120 pounds, pinned Ethan Brownlee of South Johnston to reach the quarterfinals and win his 161st career match. He finished tied with Tatro for second place all-time in school history.

Kane Bryson of Pisgah defeated Prescod in the quarterfinals. Bryson would go on to claim the state championship with a 63-1 record for the season. Prescod ended the year 49-10. In the consolation round, Davey McKoy of Smoky Mountain won over Prescod.

Rakouskas came the closest to placing among the three Red Wolves who reached the state championships. At 150 pounds, Rakouskas, the Mideast Regional champion, pinned Eligah Brown of West Charlotte in 46 seconds. James Weaver of Northern Guilford defeated Rakouskas in the quarterfinals.

In the consolation round, Rakouskas defeated Brock Smith of Jacksonville in 2:40. It was Rakouskas’ 147th career win, putting him in 5th place all-time in school history. John Schulz of West Carteret defeated Rakouskas 20-9 to reach the consolation semifinals. Rakouskas ended the season 49-8.

Esparza, in his first state championship appearance at 113 pounds, lost a heartbreaking opening round match to Brayden Reid of Hibriten 12-10. Esparza led 10-9 with time running out before Reid earned a takedown with one second remaining in regulation for the margin of victory.

In the consolation round, Esparza scored a major decision over Bryson Wilhelm of West Rowan 15-3. It was Esparza’s 98th career win. Abrey Verhow of White Oak defeated Esparza in the next match. Esparza  has a career record of 98-45 going into his senior year.

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DURHAM–In the dead cold of an early Monday afternoon, Orange sophomore Kayden Bradsher delivered a shot of lightning.

On the first pitch of the game, Bradsher jolted a fastball to the centerfield fence at the new Northern Durham baseball field. While the dimensions aren’t posted, Bradsher nearly lifted it over the deepest part of the young park for a stand-up triple, easily the hardest hit ball on a day that lacked fireworks.

From there, Orange’s young but promising pitching staff did the rest.

Bradsher would score off a passed ball, which would be all the offense the Panthers needed. In his second start, Ryan Sawyer struck out eight in just three innings as Orange blanked Northern Durham 6-0.

Sawyer improved to 2-0 as the Panthers won its third straight to improve to 3-1.

It was just the second game at Northern’s new campus ballpark. Last week, the Knights defeated Roxboro Community School 10-0 in its long-awaited debut on its own field that was delayed over a year. Last spring, the Knights had to play games at its longtime location along Latta Road.

Garrett Sawyer, starting in right field, scored two runs. In the opening frame, following Bradsher’s triple, Sawyer walked, then stole second. Following the passed ball, Sawyer took third. Dominic O’Keefe sent a grounded into the faded grass along Northern’s infield that hasn’t been wetted due to the lack of sprinklers. O’Keefe legged out an infield single to score Garrett Sawyer.

Of Northern’s nine outs in the opening three innings, Ryan Sawyer struck out eight of them. Northern loaded the bases in the opening inning behind singles from J.P. Rodio and Liam Hawkes, followed by a walk from Mason Wilkins. Sawyer struck out J.D. Williams swinging to shut down the Knights only threat while the margin was close.

Orange sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning. Camryn Raspberry stroked an RBI single to right field to score Garrett Sawyer, who drew a one-out walk. Henry Hoffman, who also walked, came home after a dropped ball at second base hit by Mason Bullard. Hunter Albert, who just finished indoor track & field season, sent an RBI single to right field to bring in Raspberry.

Orange is scheduled to face Grimsley at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, on Wednesday night at 6.

Cedar Ridge 11, South Granville 1, six innings: Ian McGuffey attacked South Granville on the mound and at the plate in the Red Wolves first win of the season on Friday night in Hillsborough.

McGuffey finished 3-for-3 with a double. He also earned the win by striking out five over five innings as the Red Wolves earned a run-rule victory over the Vikings. Cedar Ridge improved to 1-2.

McGuffey doubles in the opening inning, then created his own run. He stole third and took home after a wild pitch while Walker Holmes was at-bat.

Cedar Ridge scored five runs in the third to bust the game open. Sophomore John Grove reached on an error. Grant McGuffey sent a double down the left field line to bring in Noah Heckman, a courtesy runner for Grove. McGuffey stole third and Aidan Ryan stoked a RBI single to left field. Hudson Kelly lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Ryan to score. Quinn Finnegan sent a cue shot up the line which the catcher threw away. After Finnegan advanced to second, Ian McGuffey lined a single to centerfield to score Finnegan.

Finnegan would hit his first home run of the season over the deep centerfield fence at Red Wolf Stadium.

On Monday night, Wake Forest defeated Cedar Ridge 12-1. The Red Wolves are scheduled to travel to Chatham Central on Wednesday in Bear Creek. On Thursday, Cedar Ridge will host East Wake Academy.

Cedar Ridge and Orange women’s soccer scored so many goals on Monday night, they may as well have enacted rules from the old Major Indoor Soccer League, put up walls around the goals and sidelines, allowing rebounds to turn the game into human pinball and be done with it.

Sophomore Kate Finnegan scored a career-high four goals as Cedar Ridge outscored Northwood 9-6 in its home opener at Red Wolves Stadium. Cedar Ridge (1-1) also received two goals from Fleury Nicholson, who has started her senior season strong.

Nicholson has played varsity at Cedar Ridge since her freshman year. She enters her senior season with 42 career goals and 18 assists.

Alex Tong added a goal for the Red Wolves. Ava Smith, who just finished basketball season, added her first goal at the varsity level. Junior Peyton Decker also scored her first varsity goal.

Cedar Ridge bounced back from a season-opening loss to Riverside at Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham last week.

Junior Ellamarie Perel had some crucial saves late to earn her first win of the season.

Just two games into the season, Finnegan already has five goals. The Red Wolves are scheduled to face Durham School of the Arts at Red Wolves Stadium on Wednesday night. They will face Southern Nash on Saturday.

This season, Cedar Ridge will go without its leading scorer from 2024. Katie Paulakonis, who scored 43 goals last season, committed to Division I Bellarmine last fall. Paulakonis, who was on the sidelines rooting on her teammates Monday night, recently underwent a medical procedure and didn’t want to risk further injury before she starts her college career in August. Paulakonis’ 43 goals is a single-season school record.

Orange 9, Durham School of the Arts 3: In the heart of downtown Durham, Orange forward Caroline Cathey scored four goals and racked up nine points in a dominant win over Durham School of the Arts.

Sullivan Gaddy, another senior, added two goals and two assists as Orange took its lid lifter over the Bulldogs. Gaddy scored the opener off an assist from Cathey in the 11th minute on an assist from Cathey. Two minutes later, Cathey notched her first goal.

Less than a minute later, Gaddy notch her second goal off a pass from Lucy Mignosa. Then Mignosa added her first goal of the season off a pass from Emma Edwards.

In the 22nd minute, Evelyn Gover scored off a pass from Gaddy as Orange led 5-3 at halftime.

Cora Bailey scored the opening goal of the second half in the 45h minute. Cathey scored separate goals in the 47th and 49th minutes, the ladder assisted by Cora Beth Bailey.

With 15;00 remaining, Cathey scored her fourth goal on an assist from Gaddy. Cathey, a senior, had her first four-goal game. Last year, she had a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Durham School of the Arts in Hillsborough. She also had a hat trick in a 10-1 win over Southern Alamance in 2024.

Last year, Gaddy had seven multi-goal games. It’s the second straight year she scored two goals against DSA. Last year, Gaddy scored 20 goals as Orange finished 9-6-2 overall, 6-4-2 in the Central Conference.

Right away, Orange will face a crucial conference contest this week. On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers are scheduled to face Eastern Alamance in Hillsborough. Last year, the Eagles split the season series with Orange. The Lady Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 4-3 in Hillsborough behind two goals from Gaddy, along with tallies from Cathey and Bailey. Eastern Alamance would gain revenge, beating Orange 3-2 in Mebane in the regular season finale.

Eastern Alamance would defeat Orange 4-1 in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs behind a hat trick from junior Abby Brinker.

The game against Eastern Alamance on Wednesday may fall victim to rain, which is in the forecast.

The Lady Panthers will host Carrboro in Hillsborough on Friday night.

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