Cedar Ridge Baseball

Now this was worth waiting over a pandemic for.

Entering Tuesday night, Cedar Ridge had lost in six consecutive trips to Northwood. Even the most accomplished Cedar Ridge baseball teams had faltered in Pittsboro in recent years. In 2020, the Chargers pounded the young Red Wolves 15-0. The 2018 Cedar Ridge team, which finished 2nd in the Big 8 Conference, started the league slate with a 19-7 loss at Northwood in five innings.

A year removed from playing just three games because of COVID-19, the Red Wolves didn’t let a lack of game experience bother them in Pittsboro this time.

Cedar Ridge charged out to a 2-0 lead and never trailed, beating the Chargers 8-2 at the Ronald Horton Baseball Complex. It was the first time Cedar Ridge won at Northwood since 2014. It was also the first Big 8 Conference win for Cedar Ridge Coach Bryson Massey, who had a lone league game against Northwood last year before the pandemic hit.

“We remember that game last year,” Massey said. “The guys talked about that. I prepared them and I felt like they were prepared to come out tonight and show who they really are. I challenge these guys to get 1% better every day. If you do that, you’ll get to where you want to be at the end of the season.”

Junior Will Berger earned the win on opening night. He gave up only one hit in two-and-two-thirds shutout innings, with five strikeouts and four walks. Among several revelations on the night was junior Christian Macias, who drove in the game’s opening run with a line drive to centerfield to score Aidan McAllister. Macias would replace Berger with two out in the third inning. Macias threw three-and-one-thirds innings and yielded just three hits and one walk. He struck out three.

B.J. Thornton closed out the game in the seventh inning.

After Macias’ single in the first inning, he advanced to third on a throwing error. Tucker Cothren sent a line drive to center field to knock in Macias.

Senior Grady Ray opened the second inning with a bunt single. After Thornton, who started in right field, walked, Braedyn Jacobson looped a single to right field to score Ray. Northwood Coach David Miller put Zach Barnes in to pitch, but Bryce Clark knocked in Thornton with a sacrifice fly to left field to increase Cedar Ridge’s advantage to 4-0.

The Red Wolves added another run in the fifth inning when Thornton hit a one-out single to right. Jacobson advanced Thornton to second base on a fielder’s choice. Clark then got aboard off an infield error, sending Jacobson to the plate.

Luke Smith scored Northwood’s opening run in the fourth inning off a groundout by Nate Ortiz. Smith started he inning with a line drive single to left.

Cothran reached on an error to start the sixth inning, followed by another error that allowed Ray to reach first. With runners at second and third, Thornton squared to bunt for a squeeze play attempt, but Cothan scored anyway off another Northwood miscue for an insurance run. Ray added another tally off a sacrifice fly by Jacobson.

The Chargers, which lost eleven seniors on a 19-player roster last season because of the pandemic, doesn’t have a senior on its current roster. They have nine sophomores with eight juniors and one freshman. The youth was painfully apparent as the Chargers committed seven errors.

Nonetheless, Cedar Ridge has waited years for a breakthrough victory. With the Big 8 Conference counting only the first meetings between conference opponents in the league standings, this was a vital Cedar Ridge win on several levels.

Now, Cedar Ridge will prepare for its home opener against Chapel Hill on Friday night. The Tigers earned a forfeit win over Vance County on Tuesday when the Vipers had COVID precautions.

“It’s always awesome when you come to Northwood,” Massey said. “You know what you’re going to get. I hope on Friday, we can have the same type of intensity. We want our fans to support Cedar Ridge. Our guys deserve that. They’ve really brought in here. We have a great group of seniors here and they took their lumps from Northwood over the years. They knew what they wanted to do when they came out here tonight and I feel like they succeeded in that.”

Everything ends where it began.

Tonight, Cedar Ridge baseball will return to the spot where last season abruptly ended. When the team bus pulled out of Pittsboro onto 15-501 on March 10, 2020, Red Wolves Coach Bryson Massey was focused on the challenge of getting his team to move forward after losing to the Northwood Chargers.

No one on board had any idea they had just played its final game as a team together. Certainly not seniors Cameron Hartley, Francisco Martinez, Grant Fox, and Chris Pearce, who tried to move on to their next game against Northern Durham, which would never see the light of day.

The following night, Rudy Govert of the Utah Jazz would give an infamous press conference where he mocked the coronavirus. Within hours, the NBA suspended its season and the dominoes across the sports world, from metropolitians to small communities, all collapsed with warp speed.

Massey had just started his head coaching career. After spending two years as an assistant at A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis, Massey hadn’t even started to form the shape of his new team’s foundation before it all ended. Without any games, Massey found himself just like many other baseball coaches across the state. He spent the subsequent weeks traveling down sparse roads to take care of his field, usually in complete solitude.

There were just no players to play on it. Massey’s Zoom sessions with his team were better than nothing, but they were no substitute for infield drills.

A year later, as Massey stands outside the batting cage as his young Red Wolves prepare for the most unusual season opener in school history, he reflects on last spring, a surreal memory that he would just as well forget.

“We talked about it a lot,” Massey said. “It’s not just about baseball. It’s about life. When you come out on this field, you never know what could be your last moment. Last year taught these kids a big lesson in life. You’ve got to take every moment like it’s your last.”

Massey will spend the next month trying to create stability, something Cedar Ridge baseball has lacked since the departure of Jamie Athas as head coach in 2018. Before he left for Walter Williams, Athas led Cedar Ridge to a combined 35-13 record in 2017 and 2018. The heart of the pitching staff was Phillip Berger, who won a school-record 21 games in his Red Wolf career. Berger is now a starting rotation pitcher for Division III William Peace University.

Now, Berger’s younger brother Will is the leader of the Cedar Ridge staff. Will Berger, who was a varsity starting quarterback for the football team in the fall of 2019, skipped the gridiron this winter to focus on baseball.

“Will has worked very hard this offseason,” Massey said. “He’s brought in trying to get his arm stronger and just develop into a better baseball player. That’s what he focuses on this offseason. He continued to work while we were shut down.”

Because of the pandemic, many of the teams across the Big 8 Conference lost a chance to field experienced teams last year. Of Chapel Hill’s 18 players, 12 were seniors. Orange lost the 2019 Big 8 Conference Player of the Year Joey Berini, now at East Carolina, along with six other seniors, including starting left fielder Tucker Miller, first baseman Dayne Watkins and pitcher Cooper Hench.

In that regard, Cedar Ridge has a step ahead of the rest of the league. They lost only four seniors. On the other hand, the returning players missed out on a year’s worth of playing experience.

“We didn’t lose 12 players and we have a lot coming back,” Massey said. “But we don’t have varsity experience. We have JV experience and there’s a big difference between JV games and varsity games. And just trying to get these guys used to the speed of the varsity game. We’re trying to get them as many games as they can.”

Another player that Massey will rely on is Matt Hughes, who has committed to Brunswick Community College. Hughes, a senior, started four games as a freshman. Marco Velasquez will also see time on the mound.

“We have a lot of guys that are going to go out there and compete on the mound and give us innings,” Massey said.

Cedar Ridge starts with a tough stretch. They open with Northwood tonight, who reached the 2019 3A State Playoffs. Its home opener is against Chapel Hill on Friday, then they travel to Orange.

Win or lose, the point is Cedar Ridge is competing again. And Massey’s message to his team, after a dormant and empty ten weeks last spring, is to treasure every moment.

“On the first day back to practice, our guys had some butterflies because they hadn’t practiced together as a team. for a year,” Massey said. “We had everybody out here on that first day. You take it for granted sometimes. I looked up and was thankful just to be on a field again.”

Jaylin Jones: Former Orange lacrosse, football and track & field star Jaylin Jones had a special moment on a rainy day for the Division III Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team on Saturday. Jones scored a goal for the Falcons, who defeated William Peace University 24-11 at Lefko Field in Misenheimer. Jones, on his senior day, scored an unassisted goal during a 12-0 Falcon run in the second quarter. It was Jones’ first goal of the season. He also scooped up two ground balls. Pfeiffer set a school record with its ninth consecutive win. The Falcons finished the regular season 10-1, 8-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference. Next Saturday, Pfeiffer will host Greensboro College for the USA South Athletic Conference Eastern Division Championship.

Wyatt Jones: Jones, the first Orange player to suit up for a Division I lacrosse team, returned to action for Mercer on Saturday. #14 Richmond defeated the Bears 21-8 at Five Star Stadium in Macon, GA. Jones entered the game and fired one shot on net. Mercer is 5-7 overall, 2-3 in the Southern Conference.

Bryse Wilson: In his second start with the Atlanta Braves this season, Wilson suffered a loss on Sunday. The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Atlanta 5-0 in seven innings in the opening game of a doubleheader at Truist Park in Cumberland, GA. Wilson surrendered three runs and four hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked two. Wilson is 1-1. The Braves didn’t score a run in the doubleheader. They were no-hit in the second game by Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner in a 7-0 loss.

Landon Riley: The Liberty Flames defeated Coastal Carolina 6-4 on Sunday to clinch the series at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, VA. Riley worked the ninth inning for his fifth save of the season. Against five batters, Riley allowed two hits, but also struck out the side. The Flames are now 27-10 after taking two-out-of-three against the Chanticleers. They are 16-2 at home.

Joey Berini: In a weekend series against UCF, Berini entered two games for #9 East Carolina as a pinch hitter. In a 10-5 loss to the Knights on Friday, Berini picked up his second hit as a Pirate with a leadoff single the sixth inning. On Sunday, UCF defeated the Pirates 6-1. Berini struck out to end the game. East Carolina is 28-7, 10-2 in the American Athletic Conference.

Phillip Berger: The Division III William Peace baseball team had its season come to an end after losing to Greensboro College on Sunday. Berger started for the Pacers and suffered the loss. The Pride defeated the Pacers 5-4 at Ted Leonard Park in Greensboro. Berger started and threw four innings. He surrendered seven runs off eleven hits. Berger struck out three with zero walks. On Friday, Greensboro edged Peace 5-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader. Berger threw one inning of relief and surrendered two runs off two hits and two walks. He ends the year 5-4 with a 4.85 ERA. Berger recorded 39 strikeouts and 25 walks in his sophomore season.

Cooper Porter: Porter threw one-thirds of an inning for Pensacola State in its 12-3 win over Gulf Coast State College on Sunday in the opening game of a doubleheader. He struck out the only batter he faced. Pensacola State is 24-16. Porter has played 15 games for the Pirates this season. He is hitting .265 with one home run and six RBIs. He has two pitching appearances this year.

Mia Davidson: On Friday night, Davidson tweeted that she had been accepted to Graduate School. On Saturday, Davidson’s Mississippi State softball team won its first game against an Southeastern Conference opponent this year when they defeated Texas A&M 8-1 at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Davidson hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, her 14th of the year. Davidson is now one home run shy of the all-time baseball and softball home run record in Mississippi State history, set by Rafael Palmeiro. Davidson has 66 career homers. On Saturday, she went 1-for-2 with 4 RBIs and a run scored. She also threw a runner out at third to end the fifth inning. Texas A&M defeated Mississippi State 7-5 on Friday. Davidson went 0-for-3. On Sunday, the Aggies clinched the series over the Bulldogs with an 8-1 win. Davidson finished 1-for-3 with the first single of the game.

Montana Davidson: On Sunday, Montana started at third base for Mississippi State and finished 1-for-2 with a walk. In Friday loss, Montana went 0-for-2. On Saturday, she finished 0-for-3. Mississippi State is 25-21 overall, 1-14 in the SEC. The Bulldogs travel to South Carolina next weekend.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team swept Samford in a three-game series this weekend at UNCG Softball Stadium. Dalehite entered the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, a 1-0 Spartan victory, as a pinch runner for designated player Kayleigh Willis. UNCG is 25-14 overall.

Jaden Hurdle: The Patrick Henry Community College softball team swept a doubleheader from Florence-Darlington Technical College on Friday. The Patriots have won six of its last seven. In the nightcap, Hurdle earned the win in the pitching circle as PHCC prevailed 8-5. Hurdle replaced starter Brianna Taylor in the fifth inning. Hurdle tossed three innings of shutout ball. She conceded two hits and one walk with one strikeout. At the plate, Hurdle went 1-for-4. Patrick Henry won the opener 4-3 in ten innings. Hurdle finished 1-for-3 with two walks. Through 30 games, Hurdle is 3rd on the team in batting average (.369), RBIs (22), home runs (6) and hits (31). She’s second on the squad with 15 extra base hits.

In terms of pitching, Hurdle is now 4-1 with a 5.12 ERA. She has 26 strikeouts and ten walks.

Kayla Hodges: For the first time since they joined the Colonial Athletic Association in 2014, the Elon women’s soccer team won the CAA Tournament championship on Saturday. The Phoenix defeated UNC Wilmington 1-0 at Tiger Field on Towson, MD. Hodges earned the start on an Elon defensive back line that held the Seahawks to two shots on goal. In addition, Hodges was named 2nd-team All-Colonial Athletic Association for the season as a midfielder. Elon is 6-3 and will await their selection to the NCAA Women’s College Cup. The selection show will be Monday night. The tournament begins April 27.

Mia Davidson: Mia Davidson reached another milestone for the Mississippi State softball team over the weekend. During Sunday’s game at Missouri, Davidson reached 200 hits for her Bulldog career with a home run to left field. It was Davidson’s 63rd career home run, which leaves her four behind Rafael Palmerio on Mississippi State’s all-time home run list, baseball and softball. Missouri swept the three-game series against Mississippi State. On Sunday, the Tigers held on for a 6-5 win. Davidson went 1-for-2. In a doubleheader on Saturday, Missouri won the opener 5-2 and the nightcap 4-3. Davidson went 0-for-3 in each game. This season, Davidson is hitting .304 in 41 games. She has eleven home runs and 25 RBIs.

Montana Davidson: Montana started both games of Saturday’s doubleheader for Mississippi State at third base. She went 0-for-2 in both games. Mississippi State is 22-19 overall, 0-12 in the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs will host Jackson State in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team swept a three-game series against Chattanooga at Frost Stadium in Tennessee. The Spartans swept a doubleheader on Saturday against the Mocs. In the opening game, Dalehite entered the game as a pinch runner and scored off a groundout by Maycin Brown to help the Spartans win 6-3. In the second game, Dalehite scored another run as a pinch runner. Dalehite touched the plate off a three-run homer from Kayleigh Willis. UNC Greensboro battled back from a 5-0 deficit to win 8-6 in nine innings. The Spartans are 21-14 overall, 6-3 in the Southern Conference.

Jaden Hurdle: Two former Orange High teammates found themselves on opposite sides on Saturday. Hurdle, a first baseman for Patrick Henry Community College, faced Catawba Valley Community College, led by former Lady Panther second baseman Grace Andrews in Martinsville, VA. Patrick Henry swept the doubleheader, capturing the opener 3-2 in eight innings, where Hurdle went 0-for-3. Patrick Henry edged the Red Hawks in the second game 7-6. Hurdle pitched the nightcap, earned the victory and added a two-run home run. She threw a complete game, allowing six runs off six hits. Hurdle struck out three to improve to 3-1.

On Sunday, Patrick Henry split a doubleheader with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Caldwell won the opener 3-2. Hurdle went 1-for-3. The Patriots earned the split with a 10-9 walkoff win in the nightcap. Hurdle hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. She finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Hurdle also started the second game as pitcher and came away with a no decision. Hurdle threw four-and-one-thirds innings and surrendered eleven hits and eight runs with two walks. Patrick Henry won off a walkoff home run from Carley Gravely. In 26 games, Hurdle is hitting .385 with six home runs and 22 RBIs. Patrick Henry is 12-15 overall, 7-5 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Grace Andrews: As for Andrews, she went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Red Hawks in the opening game against Patrick Henry. In the second game, Andrews went 2-for-3 with another home run and a double. She scored twice. On Sunday, Catawba Valley swept a doubleheader against Surry Community College in Dobson. In the opening 3-1 win, Andrews went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. The Red Hawks won the second game 6-5 in ten innings. Andrews went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Currently, Andrews is fifth in Region X of the NJCAA with a .488 batting average. She is tied for 10th (along with Hurdle and several others) with six home runs. Andrews leads Catawba Valley and is 7th in Region X with 42 hits. Catawba Valley is now 17-9 overall, 8-6 in Region X.

Phillip Berger: Berger earned two wins in a three-game series for Division III William Peace over Methodist. On Saturday at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, Berger came on in relief and threw the ninth inning. He set down the Monarchs in order with one strikeout. Peace got a walkoff single from Alec Seaton in the bottom of the ninth. Berger improved to 4-2. On Sunday, Berger made his regularly scheduled start and earned another win in the Pacers’ 7-5 win to open a doubleheader. Berger scattered four hits in six innings to improve to 5-2. He surrendered four runs, three earned with four walks and three strikeouts. Berger now leads Peace with five wins. He also has a 3.83 ERA. Peace is 18-13, 10-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Pacers are two games behind North Carolina Wesleyan for first place in the USA South Athletic Conference East Division.

Olivia Ward: The Methodist women’s tennis team ended its season with an 8-1 win over Mary Baldwin on Sunday. Ward played #1 singles and defeated Alexis Seymore 6-0, 6-0. Last Thursday, Methodist defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 5-4 in Rocky Mount. Ward defeated Ana Aguilar 6-2, 6-2 at #6 singles. On April 9, Ward won again as Methodist defeated Averett 7-1. Ward, competing at #6 singles, won over Nakia Lee-Goodall 6-1, 6-1. Ward ended her freshman year at Methodist with a five-match winning streak. She ended the year 5-7 in singles, 1-1 in doubles.

Kayla Hodges: On Thursday afternoon, the Elon women’s soccer team surprised top-seeded Hofstra 1-0 in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in Towson, MD. Hodges, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season, started for the Phoenix on defense. Claire Broderdop scored the game’s only goal in the 78th minute. It’s the first time that Elon ever defeated Hofstra. The Phoenix is now 5-3 and will face UNC Wilmington for the Colonial Athletic Association championship on Sunday afternoon.

Taylin Jean: The Division II Limestone women’s soccer team came to an end with a 1-0 loss to Queen’s University in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament last Thursday. Jean, a goalkeeper, didn’t play against the Royals. She earned the victory in net during Limestone’s final win of the season, a 2-1 win over Lincoln Memorial on April 5.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team had its season end against Mary Baldwin on March 26. This season, Rogers started in all eight games for the Pacers. She played 443 minutes. Peace finished 3-5 overall, 2-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Bailey Lucas: The Meredith volleyball team’s season came to an end on Wednesday in the semifinals of the USA Southeast Division Tournament. Averett defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 on scores of 26-24, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20 inside the Grant Center in Danville, VA. Lucas ended her junior season by starting the final game of the season. She compiled 16 assists, 15 digs and one kill. Lucas led the team with 314 assists this year. She was fourth in the squad with 108 digs. Meredith ends the year 9-5.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team won both of its midweek games this week. The Bulldogs defeated Samford 8-5 in Birmingham, AL on Tuesday. Davidson went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the 7th inning. On Wednesday, Mississippi State edged Southern Miss 3-2 in eight innings at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Davidson went 1-for-3 with a single in the 1st inning, and eventually scored.

Montana Davidson: Montana hit an RBI single in the fourth inning for Mississippi State against Samford. In the third inning, Montana scored in the third inning off an RBI single by Fa Leilua. She finished 1-for-2 with an RBI against Samford. Against Southern Miss, Montana went 0-for-2 with a walk. Mississippi State is 22-16 and will travel to Missouri this weekend searching for its first Southeastern Conference win of the season.

Brandon Andrews: The former Cedar Ridge pitcher made his debut for Jacksonville State last month. In one-thirds of an inning, Andrews gave up three runs off two hits as the Gamecocks lost to Kennesaw State 12-10 at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, GA on March 24. After two seasons and 37 relief appearances at Nicholls State, Andrews transferred to Jacksonville State last summer. He redshirted last season with Nicholls State. Jacksonville State is 16-15, 7-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks will travel to Eastern Kentucky this weekend.

Kate Burgess: Burgess, a former center for the Orange women’s basketball team and cross country runner, is now a member of the UNC rowing team. On March 27, UNC’s 1V4+ quad earned its first win of the season over UCF at Virginia’s South Fork River Reservoir in Charlottesville, VA. Burgess was in the 2V4 race, joined by freshman coxswain Isabelle McGimsey, along with Gigi Maroney, Nicole Van Liew and Claire Melgard. They finished the race in 8:10.9. UCF’s team finished in 8:05.7.

Jaylin Jones: The Division III Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team defeated Greensboro College 18-8 at Lefko Field in Misenheimer on Wednesday. Jones, who played football and lacrosse at Orange, had two ground balls for the Falcons. Pfeiffer improved to 8-1 overall, 6-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference. Pfeiffer will face Methodist in Fayetteville on Saturday.

Brittany Daley: The former Cedar Ridge soccer star started for the Greensboro College Pride against Pfeiffer on Saturday. The Pride defeated the Falcons 2-0 at Pride Field to win the USA South East Division Championship. Daley played the full 90 minutes as Greensboro ended its abbreviated spring season with a win. Daley started all eight games that Greensboro played this spring. She played the maximum 740 minutes as the Pride finished 6-1-1. Ordinarily, Greensboro would be preparing to play for the NCAA Division III Tournament, but the event was canceled this year. Daley will start her senior season with the Pride this fall when play hopefully returns to normal.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon Phoenix women’s soccer team defeated William & Mary 2-0 at the Dillard Complex in Williamsburg, VA on Saturday. With the win, Elon clinched a spot in the Colonial Athletic Association postseason tournament. Hodges started her seventh game of the season. The Phoenix is 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the CAA. Elon will face Hofstra, on Thursday in Towson, MD in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament.

Landon Riley: The Liberty baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Lipscomb at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, VA over the weekend. Riley appeared in two games and was used as a setup man instead of the closer role that had been customary so far this year. On Friday in the Flames 4-1 win, Riley faced one batter, who grounded into a double play. On Sunday in the Flames 5-4 win, Riley threw the eighth inning and allowed one hit. He retired the other three batters he faced. Liberty currently leads the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 7-1 record, one game ahead of Kennesaw State for first place.

Phillip Berger: The winningest pitcher in Cedar Ridge history earned his third win of the season for Division III William Peace on Friday. The Pacers defeated Mary Baldwin 14-2 in five innings in the second game of a doubleheader in Stauton, VA. Berger threw four innings. He struck out six and allowed two runs off four hits. Berger is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA for the Pacers this season. The Pacers improved to 13-12.

Mia Davidson: After its weekend series against Tennessee was canceled, the Mississippi State softball team arranged a doubleheader against #1 Oklahoma and Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA on Saturday. Against La. Tech, Davidson went 0-for-3. Mississippi State won 2-0 behind a no-hitter by pitcher Annie Willis. Against the Sooners, Davidson went 0-for-1 with a walk. Oklahoma won 9-0 in five innings.

Montana Davidson: Montana started at third base against Louisiana Tech and went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt. Against Oklahoma, Montana went 0-for-1. Mississippi State is 20-16 and will travel to Samford on Tuesday.

Jalen Hurdle: On Saturday, the Patrick Henry Community College softball team split a doubleheader with Spartanburg Methodist. Hurdle threw a three-hit shutout in the second game as the Patriots won 11-0. Hurdle struck out three over five innings and allowed only one walk. She also went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. It was the second pitching win of Hurdle’s career. The Pioneers won the first game 11-6. Hurdle finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Patrick Henry is now 10-14 overall, 4-4 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Marvin Jones: The North Carolina Central track & field team competed in the Aggie Invitational at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro on Saturday. Jones earned a fourth place finish in the high jump with a 2.05-meter jump. Hoova Taylor of Virginia State finished first with a jump of 2.10 meters.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team ended the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Mary Baldwin in the Physical Activity Center in Stauton, VA on Sunday. The Avenging Angels won the first match 3-1 on scores of 25-17, 17-25, 25-18 and 27-25. Lucas came off the bench in the first match and finished with 20 assists and seven digs. Meredith swept the final match on scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-11. Lucas had three kills, 15 assists and four digs. The Avenging Angels end the regular season 9-4 overall, 6-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference. Meredith now enters the USA South East Division Championship as the #3 seed. They will travel to face second-seeded Averett on Wednesday.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team swept North Alabama in a doubleheader at Hilda B. Anderson Stadium in Florence, AL on Saturday. In the opening game, the Bulldogs trailed 7-1 at the end of five innings, but stormed back to win 9-7 in nine innings. It was Mississippi State’s largest comeback win since 2004. In the third inning, Davidson hit her 61st career home run, tying her with Will Clark on Mississippi State’s career home run list. She’s also now tied for sixth on the Southeastern Conference’s career home run list. In the opener, Davidson went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks. She also drew a key walk that set up a grand slam by Fa Leilua that sparked the comeback. Mississippi State won the second game 9-1 in five innings, where Davidson went 0-for-2 with two walks. Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs edged Southern Miss 2-1 in nine innings. Davidson went 0-for-4 with one walk and one run scored.

Montana Davidson: Against Southern Miss last Wednesday, Montana had an RBI groundout which led to the first Mississippi State run. She finished 0-for-3 with the RBI. Against North Alabama, Montana started both games at third base. In the opener, Montana went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. In the nightcap, Montana finished 1-for-3 and scored off a double by Leilua in the 4th inning. Mississippi State is 18-14 and will travel to Southeastern Louisiana today (Monday).

Jaden Hurdle: The Louisburg College softball team, #4 in the National Junior College Division II rankings, swept Patrick Henry Community College in a doubleheader in Martinsville, VA on Saturday. Hurdle started both games for Patrick Henry and went 0-for-6 combined in both games. Hurdle also started as pitcher in the second game. She threw five-and-one-third innings. She struck out five and conceded three runs and five hits. The Patriots are 8-12 overall, 4-4 in Region X of the NJCAA. Hurdle is hitting .396 over 18 games, which is 4th on the team. She has three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Marvin Jones: Another big week for the former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf. Jones was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week after his performance last weekend at the Raleigh Relays, where he finished 2nd in the high jump. That was the MEAC’s best mark so far this outdoor season. On Saturday, Jones responded by winning the high jump competition at the VertKlasse Meeting in Dick Very Stadium at High Point University. Jones cleared 1.99 meters to take his first championship of the outdoor season for the Eagles. Tanner Henry of Wofford finished second at 1.94 meters.

Phillip Berger: Division III North Carolina Wesleyan baseball swept a three-game series from William Peace over the weekend at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. Berger threw five-and-one-thirds innings of middle relief for the Pacers in the opening game of a doubleheader on Saturday, which the Battling Bishops won 4-0. Berger gave up seven hits, three runs, three walks with three strikeouts. So far this season, Berger is 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA in nine pitching appearance with four starts. Peace is 12-11 overall, 4-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Dylan Boyer: Boyer tallied another goal for the Queen’s men’s lacrosse team in a 22-6 win over Lincoln Memorial at Dickson Field in Charlotte on Saturday. Boyer scored on an unassisted goal with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter to put the Royals ahead 8-2. Queens, which is ranked #15 in Division II, improved to 6-3 overall, 6-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. Boyer has played in nine games thus far in his freshman season with one start. He has five goals and four assists with the Royals, who will travel to Limestone on Wednesday.

Olivia Ward: The former Cedar Ridge All-Big 8 tennis player won for Division III Methodist University at the Clayton Tennis Center in Fayetteville on Saturday. Ward defeated Hannah Smith of Southern Virginia in #3 singles 5-7, 6-1 and captured a 10-point tiebreaker 10-3 to take the match. Southern Virginia won the team match 7-2. Later in the day, the Lions defeated Pfeiffer 8-1 in its final home match of the year. Methodist is 5-11 overall, 2-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Adam Chnupa: The remaining game of the Elon football team’s season is in question. The Phoenix’s game against James Madison was postponed on Saturday because of COVID-19 protocols at Elon. A decision on rescheduling the contest will be made at a future date. This was supposed to be the regular season finale for Elon, who are 1-5 overall, 0-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Chnupa, a former All-Big 8 Conference linebacker at Cedar Ridge, has played in every game for the Phoenix this year.

Marvin Jones: A former Cedar Ridge track and field star, Jones finished second for North Carolina Central at the Raleigh Relays at N.C. State University on Saturday. Jones had a jump of 2.05 meters in the high jump. Virginia’s Brenton Foster captured the high jump championship. It was Jones’ first event since the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships in February 2020, where he came in 3rd in the high jump. Jones’ personal best is 2.10 meters.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson was optioned by the Atlanta Braves to an alternate training site on Friday. The move came after Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said the Braves wouldn’t use a fifth starter for the first few weeks of the season. Wilson was in contention to be the fifth man in the rotation. So far in spring training, Wilson is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four appearances with three starts. He has struck out nine batters in 13.2 innings.

Landon Riley: The Liberty baseball team won its 13th straight game with a 5-2 win over Bellarmine on Friday. Riley threw one-and-two-third innings, once again not allowing a run. He walked one and struck out one. Liberty’s winning streak ended with an 8-7 loss to the Knights on Saturday, but the Flames captured the series with a 5-1 victory on Sunday at Knights Field in Louisville, KY. Liberty will make another trip to the Triangle on Tuesday. They face Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Joey Berini: #8 East Carolina defeated Elon 15-0 at Latham Park on Friday. Berini came in as a reserve shortstop and went 0-for-2. The Pirates are 17-5.

Phillip Berger: Berger took a no decision as Division III William Peace defeated Averett University 4-3 at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary on Saturday. Berger worked seven innings and surrendered ten hits, but only two runs. He struck out five and walked two. This season, Berger is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in eight appearances. The Pacers have won four in a row after sweeping the weekend series from Averett.

Mia Davidson: Davidson is now eighth in career home runs in Southeastern Conference history. On Sunday, Davidson hit a solo homer in the sixth inning against #12 Arkansas, giving her 60 career dingers. Davidson is already the all-time home run hitter in Mississippi State history. Arkansas swept the weekend series against Mississippi State. On Saturday, Arkansas held off the Bulldogs 8-7. where Davidson hit another home run. She went 0-for-3 in a 2-0 loss on Friday. Through 29 games, Davidson is hitting .337 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. She’s tied for the team lead with 30 hits and leads the squad with seven doubles.

Montana Davidson: Montana started all three games against the Razorbacks at third base. She went 1-for-4 on Saturday. Montana has started all 28 games for Mississippi State and is hitting .287.

Jaden Hurdle: Patrick Henry Community College’s softball team swept a doubleheader against Surry Community College in Dobson on Friday. Hurdle went a combined 5-for-7 with four RBIS and four runs scored. In the second game, Hurdle drilled a 2-run homer in the Patriots’ 15-10 win. Hurdle finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. She also doubled. Hurdle even pitched one inning, where she surrendered three runs (two earned) off two hits. She walked one and struck out one.

In the opening game, PHCC won 10-3. Hurdle finished 2-for-2 with one run scored and two walks. Patrick Henry is in 3rd place in Region 10’s West Division with a 4-4 conference record. The Patriots are 8-10 overall. Hurdle is hitting .447 with 21 hits, both the second-best marks on the team. Hurdle leads the Patriots with eleven extra base hits. She also has three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team’s weekend series against Caldwell Community College was postponed by rain. It will be played today. Last Wednesday, the Red Hawks swept a doubleheader from the Montreat JV on scores of 11-0 and 9-0 in Hickory. In the opener, Andrews had an RBI single and finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. In the nightcap, Andrews also went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In Division II of Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, Andrew is tied for 3rd with 25 RBIs. She’s seventh with a .492 batting average. Andrews also has four RBIs. The Red Hawks are tied with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute for 1st place in Region 10’s Western Division with a 6-2 record.

Adam Chnupa: #20 Richmond defeated Elon 31-17 at Robins Stadium on Saturday in Colonial Athletic Association football action. Chnupa finished with a tackle for the Phoenix, who are 1-5 overall, 0-4 in the CAA.

Dylan Boyer: The former Orange High midfielder played as a reserve for the Division II Queen’s College men’s lacrosse team last week. Queen’s defeated Coker University 12-8 at Queen’s Sports Complex in Charlotte. On Saturday, the Royals defeated Tusculum University 12-8 to improve to 5-3 overall, 5-1 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Jaylin Jones: The Division III Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team drilled Averett 26-3 at Campbell Stadium in Danville, VA on Saturday. Jones scooped up a ground ball for the Falcons, who have won five in a row and are 6-1 overall, 3-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference.