Cedar Ridge Baseball

The Cedar Ridge baseball team has its offense cranking in wins over Northwood and the North Carolina School of Science and Math last week. The Red Wolves defeated Northwood 7-1 at Red Wolves Field. Sophomore Quinn Finnegan became the first player to hit a home run at Cedar Ridge Stadium this season with a solo blast against the Chargers. The following day against NCSSM in Durham, Finnegan had another home run and finished with five RBIs. Against the Unicorns, the Red Wolves tied its season-high with 12 hits. Junior Mason Cates, who played first base, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Red Wolves. Against Northwood, Cates had a double. Finnegan also took the victory on the mound in Cedar Ridge’s season-opener against Knightdale in February. Cedar Ridge enters tonight’s game against Orange with a 6-5 record. They’re fighting for a second straight trip to the state playoffs. Cedar Ridge will also have its annual Vs. Cancer game against Eastern Alamance on April 6th in Hillsborough. Cedar Ridge coach Bryson Massey will have his mustache shaved following the game, along with several players who have grown their own mustaches that pale in comparison to their head coach’s.

No Title

No Description

Next month, the Carolina Hurricanes will start growing playoff beards, an annual ritual for the 16 NHL teams that achieved enough to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Right now around the Cedar Ridge baseball program, it’s Mustache March.

On April 6, the Red Wolves will face Eastern Alamance for its annual Vs. Cancer game at Cedar Ridge Field. In the past, that’s led to head coach Bryson Massey getting his head shaved for charity. This year, Massey is growing a mustache, which will be shaved next week for the home date against the Eagles.

“I told the guys I’ll grow my mustache until April 6,” Massey said after the Red Wolves defeated Northwood 7-1 last Tuesday in Hillsborough. “We’ve had some players join us in jumping on the train. They’ve grown some out, but I think mine’s takes the cake, though.”

Sophomore right fielder and pitcher Quinn Finnegan took the cake at the plate last week against the Chargers. Finnegan skied a solo homer to left field in the fifth inning, his first dinger of the season. That’s no small feat at Red Wolves Stadium, probably the most pitcher-friendly park in the Central Carolina Conference.

Coming off a loss to Person where the Red Wolves notched only two hits on March 17, Cedar Ridge had an offensive explosion last week. The day after they defeated Northwood, the Red Wolves journeyed to the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham and stockpiled 12 hits, tying its season-high set in the opener against Knightdale, in a 18-1 win over the Unicorns in five innings.

“We came out and played really well at Person,” Massey said. “We had our bats hot tonight (against Northwood). As for Person, I told the guys that’s just baseball. We threw a great game in the second game against Person. We just didn’t swing it as well.”

Senior B.J. Thornton, the Swiss Army knife of the Red Wolves, earned the win against the Chargers with eleven strikeouts over six innings. In addition to being Cedar Ridge’s regular starting pitcher in its rotation, Thornton also plays four defensive positions.

Finnegan drove in the opening run against the Chargers on an infield single that scored Grant McGuffey, who drew a leadoff walk. With Thornton at bat, Finnegan added to the Red Wolves lead when Thornton reached on a dropped third strike. On the throw to first, Finnegan came in to score as Thornton won the race to first.

Northwood struggled to gain traction against Thornton, who threw 59 of his 95 pitches for strikes. Northwood only had one runner touch third base in the opening six innings. Jacob Garrett reached on an infield single in the third, but was stranded after Thornton struck out Jackson Shaner to end the frame.

Against Science and Math, Cedar Ridge opened with a RBI single to right field by Mason Cates, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Four Red Wolves had multi-hit games. Finnegan had an RBI double to centerfield to score McGuffey in the third, then belted a three-run homer in the sixth to increase the Red Wolves lead to 18-1.

Finnegan finished the game against the Unicorns with five RBIs.

Sophomore Landon Dalehite opened the fourth inning with a double to right field and eventually scored off a sacrifice fly by McGuffey. In the fifth, Dalehite hit an RBI single that plated Thornton.

In addition to Cates’ single in the third, he doubled to left field in the fifth, bringing in McGuffey. On the day, McGuffey went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. He also earned the victory on the mound throwing three shutout innings. Ian McGuffey took the save throwing three innings of relief. Designated hitter Will Tippin went 1-for-2 with three runs scored.

With the second game of its two-game set for tonight against Orange at Cedar Ridge Field, the Red Wolves are in the thick of the 3A State Playoff hunt with the Eastern Alamance series set to start next Tuesday. Until then, Massey will continue to wear his mustache until it’s time to come off.

“I get some funny looks when I go out in public,” Massey said.

North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Ron Stutts made it a daily routine on WCHL of saying “It’s 67 degrees in Chapel Hill, which means it’s 66 in Carrboro, where it’s always a degree cooler.”

In Roxboro, it’s more live five degrees cooler. Except on nights like Tuesday, where it’s Antartica.

“It was the coldest game I’ve ever been in,” said Cedar Ridge coach Bryson Massey on his way up Highway 57 amidst a jubilant bus ride home after he Red Wolves rallied from a 10-6 deficit to stun Person 11-10 at Rockets Field in Roxboro. “I’m just happy to be where it’s warm.”

It was a major win for a Cedar Ridge team coming off a flat performance against Walter Williams in Burlington. After the Red Wolves captured its conference opener over the Bulldogs 6-2 last Tuesday, Williams defeated the Red Wolves 10-0 in Burlington.

Person (3-2, 2-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) came into the game atop the Central Carolina Conference after they swept Western Alamance in a two-game series last week.

The Red Wolves battled more than the elements against the Rockets. Person started Levi Strader, who tossed five shutout innings in a 4-1 in over Western Alamance last week in Elon. The Red Wolves were able to connect off Strader for two runs in the opening inning. Both teams went deep into their bullpens, but it was the Red Wolves’ sophomore Nick Atkin who provided the steady hand in the end. Atkin picked up his first career win after he threw two-and-two-thirds innings of shutout baseball. He allowed only one baserunner with a walk in the seventh inning.

When Atkin entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Red Wolves trailed 10-7. Issac Anderson and B.J. Thornton started the comeback when they each drew walks to open the top of the sixth. Mason Cates loaded the bases with a line drive single to left field. Peyton Smith was inserted as pitcher and retired two Red Wolves before Grant McGuffey drew a bases loaded walk to score Thornton.

Atkin retired the Rockets in order in the sixth. In the seventh, Landon Dalehite, Anderson and Thornton were all hit by pitches in their respective at-bats. Cates tied the game with a two-run single to right field, scoring Dalehite and Anderson. Ian McGuffey then laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to first base, bringing in Thornton to put the Red Wolves ahead 11-10.

Person put the game-tying run on board in the seventh inning when Keeghan Holmes was hit by a pitch with one out. Atkin got Lee Womack to ground into a fielder’s choice, Ian McGuffey stepped on second base for the second out. After Tyler White was intentionally walked, Dylan England flew out to Anderson in centerfield for the final out.

On Wednesday night, the Red Wolves dominated Northern Durham 18-2 at Knights Field. Quinn Finnegan hit an inside the park home run on a ball hit to left field to score Joe Garbee and Kevin Jones. Leading 2-1, the Red Wolves scored four runs in the third inning. Jones led off the inning with a single to left field. After Anderson walked, Thornton knocked in Jones with a single to right field. Anderson scored off a wild pitch to increase the Red Wolves lead to 4-1. Thornton scored off a balk called against Northern. Cates went on to score off an error.

Joe Garbee threw four innings to take his first win of the season. Anibal Sanchez and Finnegan threw three shoutout innings to ride out the victory for the Red Wolves. Atkin, starting at shortstop, finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Thornton went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Cedar Ridge (4-2, 2-1) will host Person on Friday night.

In the midst of a howling wins and plunging temperatures, the Cedar Ridge baseball team won its home opener on Tuesday night. Senior B.J. Thornton earned the win as the Red Wolves defeated Walter Williams 6-2 in its Central Carolina Conference opener. The Red Wolves got a two-run single from Mason Cates in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Landon Dalehite led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Quinn Finnegan followed with a double to knock in Dalehite. In the third inning, the Bulldogs got a runner at second base with one out. Dalehite made a sliding catch down the left field line that kept the Bulldogs scoreless. Thornton earned the win after he gave up only four hits in five-and-two-thirds innings. He struck put five. Dalehite went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. It was the start of three games over three days for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge will travel to Siler City this afternoonto face Jordan-Matthews. On Thursday, the Red Wolves will go to Burlington to finish its two-game series against Walter Williams. Cedar Ridge won its conference opener for the second time in three years.

Cedar Ridge’s B.J. Thornton and Landon Dalehite discuss baseball win over Williams

In the midst of a howling wins and plunging temperatures, the Cedar Ridge baseball team won its home opener on Tuesday night. Senior B.J. Thornton earned the win as the Red Wolves defeated Walter Williams 6-2 in its Central Carolina Conference opener.

It finally felt like a baseball conference opener.

Cedar Ridge baseball coach Bryson Massey played tennis on Wednesday afternoon with highs reaching the lower-70s. It was several hours before his Red Wolves were set to face Walter Williams in both teams’ Central Carolina Conference opener.

He also knew by the time first pitch rolled around, the early spring conditions would yield to more familiar weather that’s typical for early March. Sure enough, temperatures dipped to 55 degrees by game time and wind gusts were at 35 miles-per-hour by the time the sixth inning rolled around.

Fortunately, senior pitcher B.J. Thornton had enough blood flowing through his body that the cold weather didn’t seem to matter.

In his first start of the season, Thornton allowed only four hits in five-plus innings. Another senior, Mason Cates, had a two-run single in the third inning to propel the Red Wolves past Walter Williams 6-2 on Tuesday night at Red Wolves Stadium.

Cedar Ridge (2-0, 1-0 in the Central Carolina Conference) avenged a bitter loss to the Bulldogs last season when Williams came back from an 8-5 deficit with an inside the park grand slam in the seventh inning.

It’s the first time the Red Wolves won won its conference opener since 2021 when they defeated Northwood in Pittsboro.

Thornton got the starting nod to start a busy week for the Red Wolves.

“Going into the conference, we knew we wanted to hand the ball to a senior,” Massey said. “B.J.’s been through this. He’s played with me for four years and he knows what my expectations are. He told me before the game ‘Coach, I got you.’ I knew he was locked in and ready to go.”

Cedar Ridge stormed out to a 6-0 lead starting with a run in the first inning. Isaac Anderson reached on an infield hit, Thornton was hit by a pitch and Cates walked to load the bases. Junior Kevin Jones was hit by a pitch to bring in Anderson.

With one out in the second inning, Landon Dalehite launched a double to the gap. Quinn Finnegan, who hit a fastball deep into the teeth of a brisk wind that was caught in the first inning, sent an 0-1 curveball over the right fielder’s head to the wall. Dalehite scored easily to make it 2-0. After Thornton was beaned again, Cates lined a single to right centerfield to score Finnegan and Thornton.

Williams, led by former Cedar Ridge coach Jamie Athas, had early chances to score but failed. Tate Jones was stranded at third base in the first inning after Ethan George flew out to Anderson in centerfield. Jones singled and stole second in the third inning. With one out, Dan Mahan sent a flair down the left field line where Dalehite made a sprawling catch to save a run. That started a string of Thornton setting down eight consecutive Bulldogs.

The Red Wolves tacked on two more in the fifth. Jones was hit by a pitch and moved over to second after a sacrifice bunt by Nicholas Aitkin. Grant McGuffey sent a fly ball down the right field line that fell in front of a Bulldog. Jones came home and McGuffey advanced to third base after a throwing error. Dalehite stroked a single up the middle to plate McGuffey.

Jones scored the Bulldogs first run when he led off the sixth with a dribbler up the middle for a single. Ethan George reached on an error. Vince Coker singled in Jones. Coleman Mahan knocked in George with a single to left field.

Joe Garbee replaced Thornton with two out in the sixth inning and finished the game on the hill to secure the win.

Williams (2-2, 0-1) was coming off a victory over Southern Alamance in Burlington, its first win over the Patriots in ten years.

It was the first of three games in three days for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge will travel to Jordan-Matthews on Wednesday, then go to Burlington to face Williams to complete the two-game conference series on Thursday.

“We’re a young team and this is a challenge,” Massey said. “Three games in a row is a challenge and we’ll find out what we’re made of against two good teams. We’ll be ready tomorrow and go down to Siler City and see what team shows up.”

Photo by Maria Finnegan 

Following its first playoff appearance in four years, Cedar Ridge baseball coach Bryson Massey knew there would be some rebuilding within his program when 2022 ended.

He didn’t know the extent would be deeper than he first thought.

Aidan McAllister (now playing at Hofstra University), Garrett Ray, Nick Nolan, Bryan Flores, Cristian Maces, Braedyn Jacobson, and Carlo Garay all graduated last June. Catcher Efrain Morales, who had just finished a sophomore season where he was named All-Conference, transferred to the P27 Baseball Academy in South Carolina during the summer.

That took away the Red Wolves’ leading batter from last season. Morales hit .417 last season and led the team in home runs.

Massey is focused on who is remaining for the Red Wolves and their start to the 2023 season was a successful one.

Junior Nick Atkin went 4-for-4 with a walk while Quinn Finnegan earned the win on opening day as Cedar Ridge rolled past Knightdale 19-8 on Monday afternoon in Wake County. In his first game, freshman Issac Anderson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the Red Wolves jolted the Knights for 12 hits.

Landon Dalehite, a sophomore, hit leadoff and reached base five times, including four walks in his varsity debut.

It’s the third year in a row that Cedar Ridge has won its season opener.

“The strength of our team is on the bump,” Massey said, referring to Finnegan. “We have Quinn back. We have B.J. Thornton back. We have Mason Cates back. We have three horses back and I believe in all three of them. They’ve put their work in. They’ve brought in this offseason and they’re leaders.”

Finnegan, who started the state playoff game against Orange last year, earned the victory after he threw two innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four.

Joe Garbee and Armando Sanchez each threw two innings in relief. Mason Cates tossed a perfect seventh to complete the win, striking out two.

Cedar Ridge struck for two runs in the first inning. Cates, who drew a one-out walk in the first inning, also scored the opening run off an error off a ball hit by Finnegan. Caden Thompson, a freshman who was a member of Stanback Middle School’s Orange Person Athletic Conference championship team last spring, scored as a courtesy runner for Finnegan after Atkin lined a single to centerfield.

After Knightdale got an unearned run in the first, Cedar Ridge struck for two more in the second. With two out, Issac Anderson was hit by a pitch, while Dalehite reached on an infield single. Anderson scored on a passed ball. Mason Cates sent a grounder to left field to bring in Dalehite and increase the Red Wolves lead to 4-1.

Atkin grounded a single up the middle to start a third inning where the Red Wolves added three more runs. Atkin scored off a sacrifice fly by David Shoof to right field. Anderson knocked in Grant McGuffey with another single. Anderson added another run when he stole second base, stole third and came in to score off a throwing error.

Shoof, who was behind the plate, replaced Morales in the starting lineup.

“He’s put some work in this offseason,” Massey said. “He knew that was going to be a spot that was open. I challenged him this summer to put the work in. He’s taken that role. He’s matured a lot and he’s a different guy this year. He was a freshman last year and he’s got a higher maturity level now.”

Cedar Ridge is scheduled to have back-to-back home games on Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, the Red Wolves will host Chapel Hill. On Saturday, they will play A.L. Brown at 1PM.