Cedar Ridge Baseball

“Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now.”–Echkart Tolle 

From the time he stepped into Cedar Ridge, Quinn Finnegan has lived in the moment.

On the mound. In the outfield. Inside the classroom. At the Barn. Even in the bleachers where he’s a regular for Cedar Ridge sports events, including basketball games where his sister Kate played for the varsity her freshman year.

It all paid off on Wednesday night inside Cedar Ridge’s J-wing. Flanked by his mother Maria, his father Tim, Kate and his younger brother Reese, Finnegan formerly signed with Wagner College based out of Staten Island, New York.

It speaks to Finnegan’s character that his signing ceremony packed the J-Wing with parents, well-wishers, administrators and faithful from the Cedar Ridge and Orange baseball communities, two sides that have had its share of contentious moments. On this night, they gathered as one to speak highly of a senior who has overcome obstacles, both abroad and within, and turned it into a Division I opportunity.

Finnegan, a pitcher with Cedar Ridge’s varsity since his freshman year, is a three-time co-Captain. He has been named All-Central Conference three times. A founding member and President of Cedar Ridge’s DECA Club, Finnegan was inducted into the National Honor Society last year, was the Student Class President his freshman year and has a 4.38 grade point average, 31st in his class.

Finnegan, known as “Q” for short, didn’t get a chance to lead as a middle school student because he lost two full athletic years due to the pandemic. By the time he walked into Cedar Ridge head coach Bryson Massey’s office as a freshman in 2020, he knew what his objective would be: to become a Division I college pitcher.

“I knew he could be a captain the first day he stepped inside of Cedar Ridge,” Massey said. “There was no doubt in my mind as a freshman. There was a reason why I put him on varsity. I knew he had it in him. He was a hard worker. He’s the type of guy who embodies what Cedar Ridge baseball is since I’ve been here and what we’re building.”

When Maria Finnegan was pregnant with Quinn, he was due on December 1. He arrived ten days late. That’s why his uniform number is #11.

Tim and Maria, speaking jointly in front of a crowd for the first time since their wedding vows in 2001, discussed their oldest son’s hard work and dedication.

“It’s so easy to just throw those words around,” Maria Finnegan said. “But it’s another thing to literally live it and see hour-by-hour what that looks like.”

For Quinn, there was school daily from 9AM-to-4PM. In the fall and the spring, he would stay after school for practice and games. After practice, there were workouts at the Barn to train from 90 minutes to two hours. He would come home at around 9PM to stretch, shower, ear and go to bed. He would set the alarm for 3AM so he get up to start working out again.

Six days a week.

And that’s just the physical side.

The mental battle Finnegan has endured emboldens the old saying that it’s darkest before the dawn.

Last year, just before the start of his junior season, Finnegan was on the verge of quitting the sport.

“I was really down on myself,” Finnegan said. “I couldn’t do a single thing right in my mind. Nothing was enough for me. I even hated training each day.”

Finnegan credited sessions with sports psychologist Mike Halpern, along with encouragement from Massey and assistant coach Robert Hege, to regain a mindset that would lead to the best season of his career.

When he was in his cradle, Maria and Tim placed little toys to see if a precursor to his young adult life would take shape. There were basketballs, soccer balls and footballs.

Quinn took a liking to a small, green plastic bat, which Tim carried with him to the podium on Wednesday night.

Ryan O’Keefe, who is the public address announcer for Orange baseball, coached Finnegan for the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association’s Hawks team ages 8-12 team, where the batters faced a pitching machine.

They went 1-18 his first season.

“Somehow, Quinn decided to stay,” O’Keefe said. “Because he was one of the guys who got it. I really believe when you’re good at T-ball, you’ll be good when you’re 16, too. The best kids on my tee ball team are signing to play in college.

O’Keefe required his players to do well academically and asked them to bring their report cards to practice one day. When he was eight, Finnegan attended Montessori School of Durham, which didn’t submit standard letter grades. Finnegan was frantic and asked his mother to intervene. Finnegan asked his teacher to give a letter grade to submit to O’Keefe.

Hege, who has been Finnegan’s travel coach with the Southern Baseball Academy, is as responsible for his physical development as anyone. Behind his house, Hege runs “The Barn,” a gym that started as a carport where plays worked out. Now, it’s a training facility where players from various schools work out.

Finnegan was among the original members of the Barn, starting when he was in the 7th grade. During winter nights, they had to put plastic around the carport to keep the heat inside. When he isn’t at home or at a Cedar Ridge game, his parents correctly assume he’s at the Barn.

“Quinn was one of the OGs at the Barn,” Hege said. “Now, we have about 20 people constantly there.”

Hege talked with several college coaches during Finnegan’s recruitment. When they asked what type of person Quinn was, Hege would tell them a story about Finnegan’s workouts during the COVID-19 lockdown when kids had to stay home from school. Finnegan would show up at the Barn with matchbox cars to give to Hege’s 3-year-old child to break the boredom of the interminable quarantine.

By the time Finnegan turned 16, Hege allowed him to drive from Cedar Ridge practices to the Barn. In between, they would pick up Hege’s youngest son, Shep, from daycare.

Shep and Quinn quickly grew into a first-name relationship. One day, Hege picked up Shep while Quinn was absent.

“Where’s Quinn?” Shep asked his father. “Are we going to his house? Why didn’t he come get me today? You know he’s a better driver than you are.”

Robbie Liner, Orange High’s junior variety men’s basketball coach who coached Finnegan in baseball and basketball, also spoke during the ceremony.

“Everywhere we went, he had a great time,” Liner said.

During one particularly intense basketball game, Finnegan had some choice words for an official as he walked off the floor. It didn’t escape the attention of Liner or Finnegan’s parents. The following day, Quinn emailed a letter of apology to the entire team and their parents.

“That reaffirmed to me that he had parents that were going to keep him on the right path,” Liner said.

Many of Finnegan’s teammates were at Wednesday’s ceremony. So were Landon Dalehite and Mason Cates, both of whom graduated last June and all played with Finnegan for three years.

Following a season where the Cedar Ridge baseball team made the state playoffs for the third straight year, four Red Wolves were named to the All-Central Conference team.

Senior pitcher/utility man Mason Cates, junior Quinn Finnegan, sophomores Nick Aitkin and Ian McGuffey were honored after a vote of Central Conference coaches.

Cates, who committed to Catawba Valley Community College last winter, opened the Central Conference season by earning a win over Walter Williams in Burlington on March 12. Cates threw five innings with five strikeouts as the Red Wolves defeated the Bulldogs 7-6. In addition, Cates had an RBI single in the fourth inning. In the first inning, he had an RBI triple that reached the right field gap as Cedar Ridge stormed out to a 2-0 lead.

Cates also earned the save in a win at Chapel hill on April 24.

Against Orange in the state playoffs on May 7, Cates slammed a two-run homer over the centerfield fence that gave the Red Wolves a lead that would carry through for almost the entire night. Cates final game as a Red Wolf was one of his very best. he went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. In addition, Cates had a two-run double in the opening inning of a 15-5 win over Jordan-Matthews on March 13.

Cedar Ridge was one of only two teams from the Central Conference to beat Williams in Burlington this season.

Finnegan, in his third year as a starter, earned the save against Williams. He threw four shutout innings in a win over Chapel Hill at Tiger Field in April. Finnegan, who often started in right field when he wasn’t pitching, laced an RBI double. Later, John Grove would drive Finnegan in for a 3-2 win. It was a victory that paved the way to a six-game winning streak to conclude the regular season.

Against Eastern Alamance on April 19, Finnegan had a season-high five RBIs  in a 12-6 win in Mebane.

Ian McGuffey hit a walkoff single to help Cedar Ridge defeat Person March 19 in Hillsborough. The Red Wolves trailed 4-1 going into the seventh inning, but Cedar Ridge rallied to hand Person what was its first loss of the season. McGuffey wound up earning the win on the mound, striking out four over two shutout innings.

On Senior night against Western Alamance on April 26, McGuffey earned another win on the mound, allowing only two hits across six-plus innings as the Red Wolves defeated the Warriors 3-1. McGuffey also drove in Cedar Ridge’s opening run with an RBI line drive single down the left field line. In a 13-5 win over Carrboro on May 1, McGuffey had two RBIs.

Aitkin, the younger brother of former Cedar Ridge three-sport athlete Olivia Aitkin, threw three-and-one-thirds innings of shutout baseball in a 2-1 win over Western Alamance in nine innings at Elon. Aitkin, who played regularly as a freshman, often started at shortstop. Aitkin also scored the first run in the state playoff win over Orange during the Cates home run. Aitkin filled many roles for a Cedar Ridge team that made the state playoffs in a deep league. All seven teams from the Central Conference made the state playoffs.

After a disappointing start to April, Cedar Ridge rebounded and played its best baseball of the season during May. The Red Wolves started to turn the tide with its victory over Eastern Alamance on April 19, its third straight win over the Eagles in Mebane. From there, Cedar Ridge swept a two-game series against Western Alamance, including a marathon win in Elon that went ten innings. In the final week of the regular season, they defeated Carrboro, who claimed the #12 seed in the state playoffs, and Knightdale.

It’s finally Cedar Ridge’s off week from Central Conference play. The Red Wolves played its penultimate game of the regular season by dominating the best 3A team from the Northern Lakes Conference.

And they did it on the road.

Ian McGuffey continued to murder the ball, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double while Hudson Kelly slammed a triple in the late innings as the Red Wolves defeated Carrboro 13-5 at Jaguars Field on Wednesday afternoon. Junior Quinn Finnegan earned his third win of the season, striking out three over four innings.

It was a strong all-around game for senior Mason Cates. He threw two shutout innings in relief of Finnegan, allowing only two hits. Starting the game at first base, Cates had an RBI double during a three-run second inning that put the Red Wolves ahead for good.

Cedar Ridge took advantage of four Jaguars errors. The Red Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Landon Dalehite drew a leadoff walk. Ian McGuffey lined the first pitch he saw to left field. Dalehite moved to third after Carrboro was called for a balk. Nick Aitkin lined a ball to Carrboro’s shortstop, who tried to double up McGuffey at first. But the ball was thrown away and Dalehite scored. Grant McGuffey followed when he dropped a single into right field, scoring his twin brother.

After the Jaguars tied the game with two runs in the first inning, David Schoof opened the second with a line drive to center field. Hudson Kelly walked. After Schoof was thrown out trying to steal third, Finnegan walked. Carrboro was called for another balk, sending Kelly to third. Kelly would score off a groundout to the shortstop by Dalehite. Ian McGuffey drilled a double to centerfield to bring in Finnegan. Cates delivered the big blow of the game, a double that reached the right field fence, plating McGuffey.

Carrboro reduced its deficit to 5-3, but the Red Wolves immediately responded with two more runs in the fourth inning. Finnegan reached second base on a two-base error to start the inning, then went to third after yet another Carrboro balk. Dalehite drove in Finnegan off an error by the Jaguars third baseman. Dalehite generated a run with his legs, stealing third and eventually scoring off a sacrifice fly by Ian McGuffey.

In the sixth inning, Kevin Jones hit an RBI single to left field, bringing in Aitkin. Earlier in the frame, Cates knocked in Kelly with a sacrifice fly.

Cedar Ridge will play its final home game of the season against Knightdale on Thursday night at 6.

On Cedar Ridge’s senior night, it was the McGuffey twins who paved the way for a Red Wolves win.

Grant McGuffey hit the game-winning single to score Nicholas Aitkin as the Red Wolves scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Western Alamance 3-1 at Red Wolves Field. The Red Wolves outhit the Warriors 9-3, but finally got timely hitting in the sixth to push across the elusive run.

Ian McGuffey was the star of the night for the Red Wolves. The sophomore earned the win allowing only two hits over six-plus innings, conceding just one run. In the sixth inning, Ian helped his own cause with a line drive single to left field with one hit as Cedar Ridge trailed 1-0.

After Ian reached, John Grove walked. It led to Aitkin belting a line drive down the left field line to score McGuffey to tie the game. Grant McGuffey sent a 1-1 fastball dead up the middle to put the Red Wolves in the lead for the first time, scoring Grove. Aidan Ryan reached on an infield single.

In his final at-bat on Senior Night, Mason Cates sent a grounder to left field for a crucial insurance run, bringing in Aitkin.

Ian McGuffey walked Nicholas Sykes to open the seventh, but Gabriel Davis lined out to Aitkin at short. Junior Quinn Finnegan, who earned the win for Cedar Ridge on Wednesday night against Chapel Hill, replaced McGuffey on the mound and struck out Johnny Curtis. Cooper Marks grounded into a fielder’s choice where Aitkin touched second base to retire Marks for the final out.

It was Finnegan’s second save of the season. Finnegan had a save in Cedar Ridge’s conference opening win at Walter Williams on March 15. The victory over the Warriors was Cedar Ridge’s final conference game of the year. They finished with a sweep in the two-game series over the Warriors, finishing 6-6 in the Central Conference, which appears set to have all seven of its teams make the 3A State Playoffs.

The Warriors scored its only run in the first inning when Marks touched the plate following a single by Sykes. After that, Hudson Kelly turned a 5-4-3 double play to wrap up the first. McGuffey was dominant on the mound for the remainder of the game, not allowing another hit until the seventh inning.

Up until the fifth inning, the game had been frustrating for the Red Wolves. They were never retired in order but were blanked in the opening six innings. Its biggest threat came in the fifth when senior Kevin Jones drew a leadoff walk. Kelly drilled a one-out double to left field, but Jones was thrown out at the plate to keep the Warriors ahead.

Seniors Mason Cates, Landon Dalehite, Kevin Jones, Joel Davis and Rayshawn Page were honored before the game by head coach Bryson Massey.

Any trip to Western Alamance is long enough for a team from Hillsborough.

It’s about a 35 minute trip and baseball games usually start at 7PM. On a decent night, coaches drive the team bus back to the Orange Transportation Garage at around 10.

It wasn’t a decent night on Tuesday. It was nine innings long. Cedar Ridge worked well into the night for what turned out to be a rewarding win in Elon.

Sophomore Nick Aitkin threw three-and-one-thirds innings of relief to earn the victory as the Red Wolves defeated the Warriors 2-1 in nine innings. Caden Thompson, serving as a pinch runner for freshman Hudson Kelly, scored the game-winning run off a passed ball in the top of the ninth. With one out, Kelly got a board off an error by Western shortstop Cooper Marks. After Landon Dalehite drew a walk against Western’s Eli Abbott, Thompson replaced Kelly and immediately stole third.

The Warriors mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth when Noah Huffine drew a leadoff walk. Following a fly out by Jackson Rippy to Mason Cates in right field, Fred Harrelson walked sending Colton McCoy (replacing Huffine as a pinch runner) to second. Aitkin struck out a Warrior for the second outlet. Ian McGuffey took a grounder at third base and chunked it to first for the final out.

It was a long wait between runs for the Red Wolves, who scored in the first. McGuffey sliced a single to left field, then stole second with John Grove at the plate. Aitkin, who started the game at shortstop, slammed a hard grounder up the middle to bring in McGuffey.

McGuffey started as pitcher and threw five-and-one-thirds innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out six.

The Warriors only run was unearned. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Harrelson started with a single to left field. Bryce Renner laid down a sacrifice bunt to third base. Harrelson went to third off the bunt, then scored off a passed ball with William Patillo at bat.

The Warriors threatened to take the lead in the sixth when Marks hit a leadoff single. Huffine walked with one out, which led to Aitkin replacing McGuffey on the mound. Rippy grounded into a double play with Kelly throwing to Grant McGuffey at second. McGuffey threw to Quinn Finnegan for the double play.

On Wednesday night, the Red Wolves won a pitcher’s dual with a 3-2 win over Chapel Hill at Tiger Stadium. Cedar Ridge junior Quinn Finnegan earned the win by throwing four shutout innings. Mason Cates picked up his first save of the season, blanking the Tigers in the final two-and-two-thirds innings, striking out three.

Finnegan helped his own cause in the third inning with a double that went over the head of right fielder Sam Elston. After Ian McGuffey walked, John Grove stroked a grounder to shortstop that reached shallow left field. McGuffey, who stole second, scored along with Finnegan.

Dalehite walked to open the fifth inning. Ian McGuffey lined a double across the third base line, scoring Dalehite from second base.

Chapel Hill made a threat with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Teagan Coynesmith and Bryan Castevens each drew walks. Then Tyler Oliaro was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Asher Harward, running for Castevens, scored off a passed ball. James Staats grounded out to Grant McGuffey, which scored Conyesmith to trim the Red Wolf lead to 3-2. Mason Cates struck out Austin Campos, while Oliaro was tagged out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch to end the inning.

Cates retired the final six Tigers in order in the sixth and seventh inning.

Cedar Ridge will host Western Alamance tonight for Senior Night in Hillsborough. Seniors Landon Dalehite, Mason Cates, Rayshawn Page, Joel Davis and Kevin Jones will be honored.

Following a disappointing stretch of games, the Cedar Ridge baseball team got its groove back just in time for its third straight win over Eastern Alamance in Mebane.

The Red Wolves scored seven runs in the first inning, headlined by a two-run double by junior Quinn Finnegan, and went on to defeat the Eagles 12-6 at Eagles Field on Friday afternoon. Finnegan finished with a season-high five RBIs as the Red Wolves (7-10, 4-6 in the Central Conference) ended a seven-game losing streak.

Eastern Alamance won the opening game of the series 7-1 in Hillsborough on Tuesday night. Cedar Ridge has beaten the Eagles three straight times in Mebane since the two teams became league rivals in 2022.

Despite a tough start to April, the Red Wolves are still on solid ground to make the state playoffs for the third straight season. They’re currently #21 in the 3A East RPI rankings as of Sunday night going into its final two-game conference series of the season against Western Alamance this week. The Red Wolves will celebrate Senior Night against the Warriors on Friday night in Hillsborough.

Cedar Ridge had its first seven batters reach against the Eagles. Landon Dalehite, who finished 4-for-5, led off with a ground ball that rolled into left field. Ian McGuffey sent a comebacker to Eagles pitcher Conner Horner that was thrown away. Following a walk to pitcher John Grove, Nick Aitkin reached on an infield single to shortstop Tate Yount, allowing Dalehite to score. McGuffey scored when he brother, Grant McGuffey reached on a fielder’s choice where Aitkin was thrown out at second. David Schoof sent a fly ball to left field that dropped for a single, bringing in Caden Thompson, who was running for Grove. Senior Mason Cates lined a 1-1 fastball to left field to score Grant McGuffey. With two out, Finnegan skied a fly ball over the head of right fielder Jarrett Newell and landed just shy of the fence. Schoof and Cates scored easily. Dalehite, the tenth batter in the inning, lined a single to right field for the seventh run.

Eastern’s Christian Vieau singled in Rett Page in the bottom of the first to narrow the Red Wolf lead to 7-1.

Cates reached on an error to start the third inning. Hudson Kelly bunted Cates over to second base on a sacrifice. With Finnegan at the plate, Cates stole third. Finnegan knocked in Cates with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to increase the Red Wolf lead to 8-1. Dalehite lined a double to right field to send Finnegan to third, but Eastern’s Zack Merchel got a strike out to end the inning.

The Eagles whittled the Red Wolf lead down to 8-5 going into the fifth inning, but Kelly led off with a single to left field. Kelly stole seconda and went to third after a groundout by Finnegan to third base. Dalehite laced an RBI single to centerfield to score Kelly.

Eastern’s Jarrett Newel homered to right field to cut Cedar Ridge’s lead to 9-6. Once again, Finnegan came up with a key hit, this time in the sixth. After Schoof lined a single to right field, Cates reached on an error at shorstop. With two out, Finnegan doubled to centerfield to bring in Schoof and Cates.

Ian McGuffey was credited with the win, throwing 2-and-one-thirds innings. It was McGuffey’s second win of the season. Cates closed out the game throwing the final three-plus innings for his first save of the year. Cates allowed only four hits and one run, striking out two.

Last week, the Red Wolves were supposed to face Eastern Guilford, but the Wildcats canceled at the 11th hour. Chapel Hill agreed to come in as a late replacement. The Tigers, who lead the 4A DAC-VII Conference, won 9-6. Aitkin went 2-for-2 with two RBIs for the Red Wolves. Finnegan finished 1-for-2.

While the Cedar Ridge baseball team took a sojourn from Central Conference play during spring break, they suddenly went from being in second place to vaulting up to first.

As they return to standard life this week, it is suddenly game on in a wide open league race for the championship.

The Red Wolves took its blend of experience and youth to the Pitt County Easter Tournament at Farmville Central High School last week and got the best of both worlds in the opening game of a doubleheader against Southwest Edgecombe.

Despite a dry start offensively, Red Wolves senior pitcher Joel Davis and sophomore Aidan Ryan  held the Cougars without a hit in the final three innings as Cedar Ridge put up four runs in the fifth inning to win 5-2.

Davis earned his second win in as many weeks, striking out seven over five-and-two-thirds innings. He limited the Cougars to four hits as Cedar Ridge improved to 6-4.

Cedar Ridge went into spring break trailing Southern Alamance by one game for first place in the Central Conference. Person, who Cedar Ridge swept in a two-game series the week prior, bounced back to sweep the Patriots last week, including a 2-1 pitcher’s dual in Roxboro where the Rockets won despite registering just two hits.

The Red Wolves are now atop the Central Conference with a 3-1 league mark with a two-game series against crosstown rival Orange starting on Tuesday at Red Wolves Field. Cedar Ridge is scheduled to travel to Orange on Friday. Orange is 1-1 in league play.

The Cougars put runners in motion to jump ahead in the first inning. After leadoff batter Trent Nichols drew a walk, he stole second and third base. Right fielder Logan Webb knocked in Nichols after a Red Wolf error. After Red Wolf first baseman Mason Cates retired Parker Gay with a groundout, Webb advanced to second, then stole third. Tyler Mears hit a sacrifice fly to Quinn Finnegan to score Mears.

Cedar Ridge struggled offensively in the early going. While they did draw five walks in the opening four innings against Gay and Blayde Hinton, who came on in the second inning on the mound, the Red Wolves failed to get a hit.

Despite early hiccups, Davis contained the Cougars to just four hits over the next four innings. Cedar Ridge broke through in the fifth when sophomore Nick Aitkin drew a leadoff walk. Cates drilled a double down the left field line. Ian McGuffey sent a bouncing ball to Gay at third base, who threw it wide of first base, allowing Aitkin to score. Freshman John Grove sent an RBI single to left field to bring in Cates and tie the game. With one out, designated hitter Kevin Jones lined a single to left field to score McGuffey and Grove.

After Tyson Ayers drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning, Ryan replaced Davis on the mound and induced a pop-up from Hinton to escape the inning with Cedar Ridge maintaining a 4-2 lead.

McGuffey stroked a double to start the seventh inning. Grove sent a bouncing ball to Turner Cooke at second, allowing McGuffey to advance to third. Finnegan sent a sacrifice fly to right field to score McGuffey and extend the Red Wolf lead.

Ryan earned his first career save when Gay lined out to second baseman Grant McGuffey, who easily doubled up Logan Webb at first.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Farmville Central jumped out to a 5-1 lead and wound up winning 6-2. It ended Cedar Ridge’s four-game winning streak. Grove finished 2-for-4, including an RBI single in the third inning. Finnegan scored the opening run after a double steal from senior Landon Dalehite.