Cedar Ridge Softball

Olivia Aitkin: Former Cedar Ridge centerfielder Olivia Aitkin hit her first college home run in the second game of a doubleheader for Division III Amherst against Wesleyan (Connecticut) College at Amherst Softball Field on Friday. Aitkin hit a three-run blast during a five-run third inning as Amherst won 9-8. Aitkin went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Aitkin started in centerfield in the opening game, which Wesleyan won 9-0 in five innings. Aitkin is second on the team with a .318 batting average through ten games, nine of which she has started. She is tied for second on the team with five RBIs. Amherst is 4-9 overall, 1-1 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Tori Dalehite: Dalehite hit the game-winning, three-run home run for the UNC Greensboro softball team in its 5-3 victory over Furman on Friday in the opening game of a doubleheader at UNCG Softball Stadium. The Spartans trailed 3-2 before Dalehite lined a first-pitch blast to left centerfield. UNCG swept the three-game series. They won the second game 5-3 in eight innings. Dalehite went 1-for-3 in Saturday’s 6-1 win. She started in right field. UNCG is atop the Southern Conference at 6-0, 22-14 overall.

Takiya Nichols: The North Carolina Central Eagles dropped two out of three games against Coppin State over the weekend. The Eagles won the opening game of the doubleheader 5-0 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. Nichols went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Coppin State won the second game 7-1 in the second game of the doubleheader on Friday. Nichols, started as the designated player, walked twice. Coppin State won the final game 9-3 to take the series. Nichols went 1-for-2. Last week, Campbell swept a doubleheader from the Eagles at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium in Buies Creek. Nichols drew two walks in the opening game, an 8-0 Camels win in five innings.

Mary Moss Wirt: Elon swept a three-game series from the College of Charleston at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Wirt entered the game as a pinch-hitter and was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. Wirt scored two runs off two walks in the Phoenix’s 14-6 win over the Cougars on Friday. She started at catcher. Wirt also started in a 9-1 loss to East Carolina in six innings last Tuesday in Greenville where she faced former Western Alamance pitcher Taylor Apple.

Lauren Jackson: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne Bears defeated UVA Wise in a doubleheader in Wise, VA on Friday. Jackson blasted a two-run Homer to right field to complete a 9-0 win in five innings. Jackson finished the second game 2-for-3 as the designated player. The Bears won the opening game 8-4. Jackson finished 1-for-4 and scored in the second inning off a double by Lora Beth Wood. Jackson also homered in a loss to Catawba last week during the opening game of a doubleheader. The Indians defeated the Bears 9-6. Catawba swept the doubleheader with a 3-2 victory. Jackson finished 1-for-3 with a walk. This season, Jackson is hitting .287 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 20 games.

Grace Andrews: Carolina University lost to North Carolina Wesleyan 8-1 at Edge Field in Rocky Mount on March 25 Andrews finished 0-for-2. She started at shortstop. Wesleyan won 5-0 in the opening game. Andrews went 1-for-3. On March 20, Paine College split a doubleheader against Carolina at Wilson Park in Clemmons. Andrews went 1-for-3 in the opening game. Andrews has started 24 games and is hitting .338 with seven RBIs. Carolina is 15-9 overall.

Breezy Foster: Wake Tech Community College is 9-16 overall, 5-10 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Foster has played in 18 games for the Eagles. She is hitting .185 with three RBIs. Over the weekend, Louisburg College swept a three-game series from Wake Tech in Louisburg. This weekend, the Eagles will travel to Buffaloe Road Athletic Park for a three-game set with Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Cedar Ridge 10, Person 7: It will be a relief to many batters, but not many pitchers, that the fences at Cedar Ridge softball field are no longer the deepest in the Central Conference.

In fact, the old distance of 220 feet down the left and right field lines were longer than most college softball fields. On Tuesday night, Cedar Ridge pitcher Charlotte Lowry didn’t let the shorter fences stand in the way of a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Lowry allowed just five hits as the Red Wolves defeated Person for the second straight time. Last year, the Red Wolves defeated the Rockets 4-2 in Hillsborough.

Junior Kimber Shambley hit her first home run of the season with a solo blast in the third inning, which started a four-run frame. Sophomore Laci Sykes and Rylee Capps each reached on singles. Kaitlyn Nieves entered as a courtesy runner for Capps. Brittani Goodard grounded to pitcher Paisley Rigsbee, which allowed Nieves and Sikes to move up 60 feet each. Senior Cierra Copeland sent a single to right field to score Sykes and Nieves, which Goodard went to third base. Madeline Galindo-Woodring reached on an error by the first baseman, which brought in Goodard and increased the Cedar Ridge lead to 7-1.

Galindo-Woodring, the Red Wolves leadoff batter, legged out an infield single on a grounder hit to Person third baseman Camryn Clarke in the first inning as the Red Wolves grabbed an early advantage. After Shambley earned a four-pitch walk, Lowry reached on a dropped third strike The ball was bounced over the glove of first baseman Makayla Walker, which allowed Galindo-Woodring and Shambley to score the opening two runs. Cameron Copeland reported in for Lowry as a courtesy runner. Capps sent a roller to centerfield, scoring Copeland and giving the Red Wolves a 3-0 lead.

Lowry struck out the side in the first inning, setting the tone for the night.

Cedar Ridge 19, Walter Williams 0 (5 innings): Shambley homered for the second night in a row against the Bulldogs in Burlington as the Red Wolves improved to 6-1 overall, 2-1 in the Central Conference.

Pitcher Mia Best added three doubles. Best, who improved to 3-0, struck out eight over five innings.

The Red Wolves had a season-best 20 hits. They opened with five runs in the first inning. After Galindo-Woodring was hit by Bulldogs pitcher Madison Horner, Shambley sent a screamer to right field that cleared the fence. Best sent a double to centerfield. Capps followed with a RBI single to right field. Lowry stroked another double to left field to score Copeland.

Shambley sent an RBI double to fight field to score Galindo-Woodring to start the second inning. Capps added an infield single to increase the Red Wolf lead to 8-0.

Capps finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Shamlbey went 4-for-5 with six RBIs. Over the course of two nights, Shambley went 6-for-9 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Best finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Goodard registered a lien of 2-for-3. The Red Wolves finished with eight doubles, including one from Victoria Matthews.

Last Friday, the Red Wolves had a tight, 3-2 loss to Western Alamance in Elon. The Warriors are the defending 3A Eastern Regional champions. The Warriors scored all three of its runs in the third inning.

Cedar Ridge fought back with two runs in the fourth inning. With two out, Sykes stroked a single to centerfield. Shambley followed with a double to centerfield that advanced Sykes to third base. Goddard sent a bouncing ball up the middle for a two-run single that reduced the Warriors lead to 3-2.

The Red Wolves will travel to Southern Alamance, the 2021 3A State Champions, for its first conference matchup against the Patriots on Thursday night in Graham. The Patriots are 5-1 and won its Central Conference opener over Williams.

Tori Dalehite: Dalehite hit her first college home run against Massachusetts in a 8-2 win for UNC Greensboro during the UNCG Invitational on March 9 in Greensboro. Dalehite hit a two-run blast to put the Spartans ahead 4-2. It turned out to be the game-winning hit. Dalehite also. had an RBI single in the fifth. She finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Dalehite went 1-for-3 in the Spartans win over Maryland-Baltimore County 7-2 to end the event with a 4-1 record. She started in left field. Dalehite opened the event by going 2-for-3 in a 5-3 victory over Merrimack. In the Spartans only loss of the event, a 2-0 loss to Massachusetts, Dalehite went 0-for-2. On Wednesday, Appalachian State defeated UNCG 6-4. Dalehite went 1-for-2 and scored the game’s final run.

Takiya Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team opened its MEAC slate by dropping two-out-of-three to Howard ate Thomas Brooks Park in Cary over the weekend. Nichols started at first base on Friday, a 3-1 Eagles win. Nichols went 0-for-2. On Sunday, Nichols went 0-for-2 with a walk, but the Bison won 12-3. Nichols had her first home run of the season against North Carolina on February 27. The Tar Heels won 21-1.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team was swept by UNC Wilmington at Boseman Field in Wilmington over the weekend. On Saturday, Wirt drove in the opening run of the game with a bases-loaded walk. Wirt started at catcher in a 8-3 loss. Against North Carolina last Wednesday, Wirt threw out Kayla Lee at second base in the fourth inning. Wirt started at catcher as the Tar Heels won 12-1 in five innings. Elon swept a three-game series against North Carolina A&T at Hunt Softball Park in Elon on March 8th and 10th. Wirt started at catcher in a 6-5 win to finish a doubleheader on March 8.

Carson Bradsher: South Carolina Upstate took two games in a series against Radford to open Big South Conference play over the weekend. On Friday, the Spartans defeated the Highlanders 7-1. Bradsher scored as a pinch-runner in the sixth inning to put Upstate ahead 6-0.

Grace Andrews: The Carolina Bruins of the National Christian College Athletic Association has won nine in a row. The Bruins swept a two-game series from Johnson C. Smith at the Field of Dreams in Charlotte on Saturday. Andrews went 3-for-3 with two doubles as the Bruins won the nightcap 11-1 in five innings. In the opener, Andrews went 1-for-3. Through 18 games, Andrews is hitting .382 with nine doubles and five RBIs.

Lauren Jackson: The Lenoir-Rhyne softball team is now ranked #20 in Division II. The Bears swept a two-game series over Coker over the weekend at Bears Field in Hickory. Jackson started as a designated player in Saturday’s 10-0 win over the Cobras in the opening game. Jackson went 0-for-1 with a walk. Jackson played as a pinch-hitter in L-R’s 13-3 win over Young Harris at YHC Softball Field in Young Harris, GA on Tuesday. She started in the opening game, going 0-for-3. The Bears are 27-5 and have won 13 in a row.

Olivia Aitkin: The former Cedar Ridge centerfielder started her sophomore season with Amherst last weekend. Aitkin played in right field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in the fourth inning, but Wisconsin Eau-Claire defeated the Mammoths 7-5. She started in right field and went 1-for-2 against Rampo College on March 17, but the Roadrunners defeated Amherst 4-3 in Clermont, FL. Aiken started in centerfield in Amherst’s opener, a 5-0 loss to Endicott. Amherst is 1-3 and will face the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Tuesday.

Ava Lowry: The Division III North Carolina Wesleyan softball team lost to Mary Washington on Saturday. Lowry, starting at shortstop, went 2-for-3 with a walk. Mary Washington took the opener 2-1. Lowry also started at shortstop. The Battling Bishops split a doubleheader against Guilford at Edge Field in Rocky Mount last Wednesday. Lowry went 0-for-2 in a 2-0 Wesleyan win in the nightcap. Lowry finished 1-for-3 with a double as Guilford took the opener 11-4. Wesleyan is 7-7.

Breezy Foster: Foster started at catcher as Wake Tech lost to Cleveland Community College 6-1 on Saturday at Buffaloe Road Athletic Park on Saturday. Wake Tech edged Cleveland 8-7 on Saturday. Foster played as a reserve in right field. Foster is hitting .227 over 15 games.

Orange 7, Roxboro Community School 6: In her first year as a starter, Addison Guentensberger came up with the biggest hit of her career in Orange’s first win of the season.

With the Lady Panthers trailing 6-5 going into the seventh inning against Roxboro Community School on Monday night, Guentensberger grounded a single up the middle to score Katie Carden to put the Lady Panthers past the Bulldogs. Earlier in the frame, Carden tied the game with a double to centerfield that plated junior Allie Carden.

Katie Carden, a sophomore third baseman, finished 2-for-4 with a double. Hayleigh Hammond finished with a triple. Guentensberger, in her second career start, came away 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI.

Senior pitcher Caden Robinson earned her first win of the season, striking out seven in a complete game.

Orange (1-1) has had both of its games thus far come down to the final frame. Last week, Wakefield and Orange were tied 3-3, but the Wolverines scored four runs to win 7-3.

On Monday night, there were four lead changes. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning following Emma Brandon drove in Zoe Godard with a groundout to Mia Leathers at first base. Karrie Obie grounded out to shortstop Delanie Shaffer to bring in Katie Mann

Guentensberger led off the third inning with a screamer to right field. Sadie Cecil followed with a single that dropped into left field. After Hammond walked to load the bases, Robinson drew a walk to put Orange on the board. Allie Carden also earned a free pass to plate Cecil. Katie Carden put Orange ahead with an RBI groundout to RCS second baseman Molly Davis, which brought in Hammond.

Davis tied it up with a solo homer to leadoff the fifth. Orange jumped back ahead with a two-out rally in the fifth. Allie Carden and Katie Carden reached on back-to-back singles. Shaffer lined to right to bring in Allie Carden and put Orange ahead 4-3.

Davis responded with her second homer, a two-run blast after Presley Leonard walked in the top of the sixth to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-4. In the bottom of the sixth, Cecil drove a two-out double to left field. Hammond sent a fly ball off the wall in left field for a triple, scoring Cecil to tie the game.

Mann led off the seventh with a single, stole second base and went to third after Emma Brandon grounded out. Obie double on a line drive to centerfield to put the Bulldogs ahead.

Orange is scheduled to face the Morehead Panthers on Wednesday night in Hillsborough.

Cedar Ridge 4, Northern Durham 0: Charlotte Lowry did a little bit of everything as the Red Wolves improved to 2-0 on Monday night.

Lowry drove in the game-winning home run, struck out eleven batters and threw her second career shutout as the Red Wolves won in its first trip to the new Northern Durham High School. Lowry threw a six-hitter to improve to 2-0.

Mia Best finished 3-for-4 with a double for Cedar Ridge.

Lowry broke open a scoreless game with a solo blast to centerfield in the top of the fourth inning. Northern’s Annaclaire Spell led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, but Cedar Ridge’s Brittani Goddard forced a double play when Mason Browning lined to second. Goddard made the catch and threw to Laci Sykes to double up Spell.

Madeline Galindo-Woodirng walked to open the fifth inning, then stole second. Best scored Galindo-Woodring with a line drive to centerfield.

Cedar Ridge pulled away in the seventh inning when Galindon-Woodring opened with an infield single. Galindo-Woodring stole second again, leading to Best sending a double to left field to widen Cedar Ridge’s lead to 3-0. Goddard laid down a bunt and reached when the ball was thrown away. Best scored off the error.

Cedar Ridge will host Northern Durham on Monday in Hillsborough.

Tori Dalehite: The former Cedar Ridge second baseman started her senior year with the UNC Greensboro softball team with three starts during the Carolina Classic on the campus of the University of South Carolina at Beckham Field in Columbia, S.C. Dalehite started in left field in the season-opener against Virginia on Friday  morning, a 6-5 Cavaliers victory where UVA jumped out to a 6-0 lead. After sitting out an 8-4 loss to #23 South Carolina on Friday afternoon, Dalehite went 2-for-3 against Virginia on Saturday morning. Dalehite scored the opening Spartan run off a bases-loaded walk by Maycin Brown. Virginia won that game 7-2. Later on Saturday afternoon, the Spartans earned its only win of the weekend with a 5-4 victory over Jacksonville State. Dalehite went 2-for-3, again starting in left field. In the finale on Sunday morning, Jacksonville St. scored four runs in the second inning to beat the Spartans 6-3. Dalehite finished 0-for-2,  but scored a run after drawing a walk. UNCG will play a doubleheader against Winthrop in Greensboro on Wednesday.

Takia Nichols: The all-time home run hitter in Cedar Ridge history started her second season at North Carolina Central in the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie Moore Complex in Clearwater, FL. Nichols got a pinch-hit single in a 7-0 loss to #13 Utah on Saturday night. Nichols went 1-for-2 with a walk, batting cleanup as the designated hitter, in a 4-1 loss to Iowa on Saturday afternoon. She also started against South Alabama and Indiana. The Eagles defeated Central Arkansas 5-4 on Friday afternoon in eight innings.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team went 3-1 during the Elon Softball Classic at Hunt Softball Park over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, Wirt started at catcher as the Phoenix had a 5-4 walkoff win over Evansville. Wirt scored a run off a walk in a 15-8 loss to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. Wirt drew a walk. She also started as catcher in an 8-7 win over Kent State. Sunday’s game against Appalachian State was canceled due to rain.

Carson Bradsher: In her first college at-bat, Bradsher got a base hit for South Carolina Upstate in its 8-0 win over Towson at Cyrill Stadium in Spartanburg, SC on Saturday afternoon. Bradsher, a former Orange shortstop, scored off a Taliyah Thomas in the fourth inning. It came during the Spartan Classic, where South Carolina Upstate went 2-2. On Sunday, the Spartans defeated South Carolina State 7-1. Against the Bulldogs, Bradsher came on as a pinch-runner and scored off a single by Denver Lauer.

Lauren Jackson: After sitting out last weekend’s doubleheader against Lander, Jackson started her sophomore season for the Division II Lenoir-Rhyne Bears last week. Jackson started in a 7-3 win over Columbus State at Cougar Field in Columbus, GA on Friday. Jackson went 1-for-4. On Saturday, Jackson went 0-for-3 in a 6-5 over Tuskegee. The Bears are 6-2.

Jackson Berini: Last week, Berini started all four games for Gaston College, a stretch where the Rhinos went 3-1. Each time, Berini started at second base (he played shortstop at Orange). In an 8-2 win over Fayetteville Technical Community College, all ten runs were scored after the sixth inning. Berini went 0-for-3 with a run scored. On Saturday, Berini drove in two runs in a 9-1 win over Cleveland Community College in eight innings at Sims Legion Park. He had an RBI single in the eighth and finished 1-for-4. The Rhinos swept the doubleheader with an 8-4 win in seven innings. Berini went 1-for-2 with a stolen base. On Sunday, Cleveland defeated Gaston 6-5 in nine innings after trailing 5-1 going into the sixth inning. Berini went 0-for-4. Gaston College is 9-2.

Abby Dease: The Division III Smith College women’s swimming team defeated Holyoke 161-138 in a dual meet in South Hadley, MA on Saturday. Dease finished 3rd in the 1000 yard freestyle, finishing at 11:49.06. smith is 4-6 this season.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team has won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for the first time ever. Last weekend in Norfolk, VA, the Eagles defeated Coppin State 6-2 in the seventh game of the MEAC Tournament at Norfolk State University. Nichols set the tone early with a solo homer in the second inning and the Eagles never conceded the lead. Nichols finished game seven 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and a stolen base. It was Nichols’ eighth home run of the season. Earlier in the day, Coppin State won an elimination game over the Eagles 6-5. Nichols went 1-for-3. For the tournament, Nichols hit 6-of-14 as the Eagles defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore 2-1 on Wednesday. Later in the day, the Eagles knocked off the #2 seed, Norfolk State, 7-4. Nichols went 1-for-3 against the Spartans. In addition, Nichols was named first-team All-MEAC for her freshman season. She is second on the team with a .346 batting average. She is first on the team with eight home runs. She is second on the squad with 31 RBIs,  behind only Maegan Garrison, who has 32. On Sunday night, the Eagles were placed in the Athens Regional for the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Eagles will face the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at 4:30. Virginia Tech and Boston University are also in the Athens Regional.

Tori Dalehite: For the second time in her career, Tori Dalehite will be going to the NCAA Softball Tournament as a member of the UNC Greensboro Spartans. UNCG captured the Southern Conference championship last weekend at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, TN. The Spartans defeated Samford 7-6 in the seventh game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs forced the extra game with a 2-1 win in nine innings. The Spartans were placed in the Clemson Regional. They will face #16 Clemson on Friday.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team has its season end in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament on Wednesday. Stony Brook edged the Phoenix 2-1 in eight innings at Bill Edwards Stadium in Hampstead, NY. Earlier on Wednesday, Towson defeated Elon 7-5. Wirt ends the season seeing action in 26 games. She started six.

Lauren Jackson: The Lenoir-Rhyne softball team reached the finals of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals at Wingate. The Bears lost to #17 Wingate in consecutive games, ending the Bears season. Lenoir-Rhyne opened the  tournament with a 6-4 win over Carson-Newman on Thursday at the Wingate Softball Complex. Jackson, a freshman starting at catcher, went 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly for an RBI in the third inning to put the Bears ahead 4-0. On Friday, the Bears defeated Wingate 2-1 in eight innings. Jackson went 0-for-2. The following day, Wingate defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 6-2. Jackson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. She drove in the opening run in the game with an RBI double. She also drove in the final run of the game with a single up the middle. In the seventh game, Wingate won 4-1. Jackson went 0-for-3. Lenoir-Rhyne finishes the year 38-14. Jackson played 44 games, starting 37. She was fifth on the team with a .343 batting average. She had two home runs and 25 RBIs.

Olivia Aitkin: The season ended for the Division III Amherst University softball team on Friday. Bates College defeated the Mammoths 1-0 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference Tournament. Aitkin, who played alongside Nichols and Dalehite at Cedar Ridge, played in ten games her freshman season for the Mammoths. She started six. Aitkin, whose brother Nichols played on the Cedar Ridge baseball team this year, hit .385 with three RBIs. Amherst finished the year 24-13.

Kate Burgess: The UNC rowing team finished eighth in the ACC Championships at Lake Wheeler in Raleigh. Burgess, who is a senior, competed for the Tar Heels. Burgess was a basketball player and ran cross country at Orange.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team captured its sixth straight Southern Conference championship with a win over Western Carolina on Saturday at UNCG Softball Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Catamounts 8-0 in six innings on Saturday. Dalehite entered the game as a pinch runner and had an at-bat as a designated player. Dalehite started in right field in the Spartans 3-0 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. Dalehite started in right field in both games of a doubleheader against Mercer on April 29 at Sikes Field in Macon, GA. The Spartans swept the doubleheader. Against Chattanooga on April 23, Dalehite went 1-for-4 with a double in a 10-2 Spartans win. Dalehite went 1-for-2 with a double in a 1-0 win over the Mocs in Greensboro. UNCG will be the top-seed in next week’s Southern Conference Tournament at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, TN starting Wednesday.

Takia Nichols: The North Carolina Central softball team concluded the regular season by splitting a doubleheader against Western Carolina at Catamount Softball Complex in Cullowhee. Western Carolina won the opening game 9-2. Nichols went 2-for-4 with a double. In the second game, the Eagles won 7-5, which included Nichols hitting a solo homer in the second inning. It was her team-high seventh home run of the season. Nichols finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs in her final regular season game of her freshman season. She ends the regular season with a .336 batting average, which is second on the team. She leads the team with seven home runs and 28 RBIs. She also has a team-high 23 walks. Central finished the regular season 15-32, 12-7 in the MEAC. The Eagles will be the #3 seed in the MEAC Tournament. They will open against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday morning at 9AM at Norfolk State.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team completed its regular season this weekend by sweeping North Carolina A&t in Greensboro. Wirt played as a pinch-hitter in the final game of a doubleheader on Saturday, which the Phoenix won 12-4. Wirt also played as a reserve catcher in the opening game of the twinbill, a 9-0 Elon win. She played as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk in Elon’s 8-0 win over the College of Charleston on April 29 at Hunt Softball Park in Elon. Elon is 22-24 overall, 15-7 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Phoenix are the #4 seed in the CAA Tournament and will open play on Wednesday against either Towson or North Carolina A&T in Hempsted, NY.

Lauren Jackson: The Lenoir-Rhyne softball team was eliminated by Lincoln Memorial in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Hickory last weekend. The Bears defeated Catawba 11-5. Jackson went 1-for-4 with an RBI groundout in the first inning. In the second game, Lincoln Memorial won 4-1. Jackson scored the Bears’ only run with a solo homer in the sixth. Lenoir-Rhyne will now await to see if they make the NCAA Division II Tournament. Jackson, a freshman, hit .343 in 40 games this season. She started 33. She hit two home runs and 22 RBIs.

Jaden Hurdle: The Catawba Indians softball team had its season end with the loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC Tournament. In her first season with Catawba, Hurdle played in three games. The Indians finished 26-19.

Ava Lowry: The Division III North Carolina Wesleyan softball team ended its season in the USA South Conference Tournament with a 4-3 loss to Mary Baldwin in Greensboro. Methodist defeated the Battlin’ Bishops 1-0 in an elimination game. Against the Monarchs, Lowry went 2-for-3. North Carolina Wesleyan finished 27-15. Lowry hit .351 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in her freshman season.

Olivia Aitkin: Playing at Division III Amherst University, Aitkin played right field in the Mammoths 1-0 win over Colby College in the opening game of a doubleheader in Waterville, ME on Saturday. Aitkin also was a pinch-runner in an 8-4 win over Hamilton College at Amherst Softball Field on April 22. Amherst is 24-12, 12-6 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The Mammoths will start their conference tournament on Friday in Medford, MA.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team reached the championship game of the Region X Tournament at Louisburg College. On Saturday, Louisburg defeated the Red Hawks 9-0. Earlier in the day, Catawba Valley defeated Cleveland Community College 3-1 in another elimination game. To open the Region X Tournament, Catawba Valley swept a best-of-three series from Fayetteville Technical Community College. In an 12-1 win on Monday in game one, Andrews started as catcher and went 0-for-1 with a walk. Catawba Valley ends the year 44-8. Andrews, in her third season at Catawba Valley, played in 48 games this season. She hit .413 with one home run and 26 RBIs.

At the beginning of Tuesday night, the Cedar Ridge softball team wasn’t in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament, which had been narrowed down to four teams.

By the end of the night, they were in the tournament, thanks largely to sophomore pitcher Charlotte Lowry.

With its game against Person tied 2-2, Lowry lifted a two-run homer to deep centerfield for the game-winning runs. Lowry, the Red Wolves pitcher, then protected the lead that she had provided her team by throwing a clean seventh inning to lift Cedar Ridge past Person 4-2 at Red Wolves Field.

Cedar Ridge officially surpassed Person for fourth place in the Central Carolina Conference and earned a spot in the league tournament. On Wednesday night, the Red Wolves will face CCC regular season champion Western Alamance in Elon.

Lowry threw a two-hitter to earn her sixth win of the season. She struck out six over seven innings. It was her seventh complete game of 2023.

Cedar Ridge catcher Reagan Simmons hit her seventh home run of the season to tie the game in the sixth inning. Grace Young reached on an error to begin the frame on a dropped ball at second base. Simmons drove a 1-1 fastball over the fence in centerfield, which is no small task at Cedar Ridge softball park where the centerfield fence is 228 feet, deeper than many college stadiums.

The runs had barely been posted to Cedar Ridge’s left field scoreboard before senior Anaya Carter stroked a triple to right centerfield with one out. That led to Lowry’s game-winning homer.

Person (9-9, 4-7), who lost 1-0 to Western Alamance last week, took the lead in the top of the fifth. Allie Carden led off with an infield single. Carden stole second, then advanced to third on an error. She scored when Camryn Clarke grounded to Carter at shortstop. Carter threw to the plate, but Carden beat it out. Clarke scored when Lindsey Melton laid down a squeeze play. Tori Carden threw to Kimber Shambley to retire Melton. Josey Harris, who reached earlier on a walk, was thrown out when Shambley threw to Carter, who was covering third for a double play.

The game was a defensive struggle most until the fifth inning. Lowry retired Person in order in two of the first three innings. Simmons’ leadoff single in the fourth was the Red Wolves only hit through the first five innings.

Orange 9, Eastern Alamance 4

As a prelude to their matchup in the CCC Tournament, Orange sophomore Sadie Cecil hit her first career home run to propel the Lady Panthers past the defending 3A State Champions.

With the win, Orange ties Eastern Alamance for second place to conclude the regular season. Tonight (Wednesday), the Lady Panthers will travel to Mebane to face the Eagles again for the semifinals of the CCC Tournament.

Senior Brianne “Breezy” Foster earned the win, throwing the final four innings in place of junior Caden Robinson. Foster allowed only two runs off five hits.

On April 4, Eastern Alamance pitcher Delani Straughan held Orange to five hits over seven innings as the Eagles defeated the Lady Panthers 10-3 in Mebane. On Tuesday, Orange connected for 12 hits off Sraughan in seven innings.

Orange struck for two runs in the third when Carson Bradsher lined a single to centerfield. Robinson stroked a liner to left for a double, easily scoring the speedy Bradsher. Freshman Katie Carden hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring in Robinson.

Eastern Alamance freshman Rachel Byrd blasted a solo homer to left field to cut the Orange lead in half in the top of the fourth. Destiny Carriero tied the game with another homer that went over the centerfield wall.

Serenity McPherson put Orange ahead for good when she led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. With Cecil at bat, McPherson stole second. Bradsher slapped a single to center to bring in McPherson and put Orange ahead 3-2. Robinson followed with a grounder to left field, plating Bradsher. Following another hit by Katie Carden, Savannah Wynne lined a double to centerfield, bringing in Carden and Robinson.

Cecil hit a deep fly to centerfield in the sixth inning for a solo home run. Foster retired the Eagles in order in the sixth inning.

In addition to tying Eastern Alamance for second place, Orange also helped its RPI in the 3A East Region. Going into Tuesday night, Orange was #10 while Eastern Alamance was #11.

Ava Lowry: The Division III North Carolina Wesleyan softball team swept a doubleheader from Methodist on Tuesday. In the Battling Bishops’ 7-0 win in the nightcap, Lowry went 2-for-4 with a double. Wesleyan won the opening game 5-3, where Lowry, starting at shortstop, went 1-for-3. On April 5, Wesleyan swept a doubleheader from William Peace in Rocky Mount. In the opening game, Lowry went 1-for-2 with an RBI single as the Bishops won 8-0 in five innings. Through 32 games, Lowry is hitting .307 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Wesleyan is 21-10 overall, 6-4 in the USA South Conference.

Takia Nichols: For the second time this season, Nichols was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week. Last weekend, the North Carolina Central Eagles clinched a series against Howard to maintain first place in the MEAC. Playing at the national Youth Academy in Washington, D.C., Nichols went 3-for-3 with a solo homer as the Eagles defeated the Bison 11-3 on Saturday. Nichols knocked in the opening Eagles run with an RBI single in the first inning. In the fourth, Nichols drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Eagles ahead 5-2. On Friday, the Eagles won the opening game of a doubleheader 11-3 in six innings. Nichols went 2-for-4 with an RBI. In the third, Nichols drove in a run off an error by the shortstop. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bison won 11-7. Nichols finished 1-for-2 with an RBI single in the first inning. Through 31 games, Nichols leads the Eagles with six home runs. She is second on the squad with a .337 batting average and 26 RBIs. She also leads the team with 51 total bases.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team is ranked #15 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II. The Red Hawks swept a doubleheader from Southwest Virginia in Honaker, VA last weekend. It was the 100th career win for head coach Josh Bumgarner. In the second game of the doubleheader, which the Red Hawks won 7-1, Andrews went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. On April 3, the Red Hawks swept a doubleheader from Pitt Community College at Highland Recreation Center in Hickory. Andrews went 2-for-3 in the opening game, which the Red Hawks captured 10-1 in five innings. Andrews went 1-for-3 in the opening game, which CVCC won 6-0. On Tuesday, Catawba Valley swept another doubleheader from Bryant & Stratton College. The Red Hawks won the opener 6-1, then captured the nightcap 9-0 in five innings. Catawba Valley is 32-6 overall, 19-6 in Region X of the NJCAA.

Lauren Jackson: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne softball team is now up to #22 in the country. The Bears swept a doubleheader from UVA-Wise at Bears Field in Hickory on April 2. The Bears won the opening game 9-2. Jackson, who started as catcher, went 1-for-2. Jackson appeared as a pinch-hitter in the Bears 6-2 win in the nightcap. Jackson faced her former Orange High teammate, Jaden Hurdle, when the Bears faced Catawba on March 29. The two teams split the doubleheader. Jackson had a single as a pinch-hitter in the Indians’ 7-5 victory over the Bears.

Mary Moss Wirt: A former Orange High player faced off against a former Cedar Ridge player when Elon dueled with North Carolina Central at Hunt Softball Park on Wednesday. Elon defeated Central 8-0 in five innings. Wirt played as a pinch hitter and entered the game as a catcher in the seventh inning. Nichols started at first base for the Eagles. Elon improved to 15-20. Wirt also played as a catcher against Duke on Tuesday at Duke Softball Stadium. The Blue Devils, ranked #11 in the country, defeated the Phoenix 4-0. On April 2, the Phoenix split a doubleheader against Hampton. In the Phoenix’s 9-0 win, Wirt played as a catcher in the seventh inning. Elon will host UNC Wilmington in a three-game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team lost both games against Furman University at Pepsi Stadium in Greenville, SC last weekend. Dalehite scored a run as a pinch-runner in Sunday’s 9-8 loss to the Paladins. Furman edged the Spartans 5-4 in nine innings on Thursday in the opening game of the doubleheader. Dalehite played as a pinch-hitter.

Jaden Hurdle: Hurdle entered games as a reserve for Division II Catawba in a series against Newberry last week at Whitley Field in Salisbury.

Takia Nichols: Nichols earned her first college weekly honor by the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference this week. She was named the MEAC Freshman of the Week following North Carolina Central’s two-game sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. On Saturday, the Eagles rallied to win 7-6 with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Nichols delivered a three-run homer to centerfield to score the game-winning runs with one out. It was her second home run of the game. In the third, Nichols hit a solo homer to right centerfield. In the second game of the doubleheader, Nichols went 1-for-2 as the Eagles defeated the Hawks 9-1 in six innings. It was Central’s first run-rule win of the season. Sunday’s game was halted in the fifth inning with the score tied 3-3. On Wednesday, Appalachian State swept a doubleheader from the Eagles at Parkwood Athletic Field in Durham. In the second game, which the Mountaineers won 7-3, Nichols went 2-for-3. She is already batting cleanup for a Central squad that leads the MEAC with 25 home runs in 27 games. Central is 5-0 in the MEAC.

Ava Lowry: Lowry is regularly starting at shortstop for the Division III North Carolina Wesleyan softball team, which is off to a 15-8 start. On Wednesday, the Battling Bishops swept a doubleheader against Guilford at Howorth Field in Greensboro. In Wesleyan’s 6-1 win in the opener, Lowry went 1-for-3 with an RBI. In the nightcap, which Wesleyan won 9-1, Lowry went 1-for-4 with a double. Pfeifer swept Wesleyan in a doubleheader last Saturday. In the opening game, Lowry went 2-for-3. On March 18, the Batting Bishops swept a doubleheader from Averett by scores of 10-2 and 17-9. In the opener, Lowry went 2-for-3 with a run scored. In the nightcap, she finished 1-for-2 with an RBI. Lowry has played in 24 games and is hitting .318 with two home runs and eleven RBIs. She is fourth on the team with 21 hits. She also has eleven RBIs.

Mary Moss Wirt: Wirt appeared as a pinch-runner for Elon and scored a run in the Phoenix’s 4-3 win over Monmouth on March 19 at Monmouth Softball Park in West Long Branch, NJ. Wirt also played in the Phoenix’s 6-2 victory over Monmouth. Elon is 13-17 overall, 7-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Tori Dalehite: On Wednesday, UNC Greensboro’s softball team defeated Charlotte 4-2 at Daughtridge Stadium in Charlotte. Dalehite appeared as a pinch-runner. On March 19, Dalehite appeared as a designated player in the Spartans 5-3 win over Gardner-Webb. UNC Greensboro has won nine in a row as they head into next week’s midweek game at UNC.

Lauren Jackson: On Wednesday, Jackson faced her former teammate at Orange High as Lenoir-Rhyne faced Catawba. Jackson went 1-for-1 as a pinch-hitter, but Catawba defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 7-5. Jaden Hurdle suited up for Catawba. On March 24, Jackson again appeared as a pinch-hitter and had a base hit as the Bears defeated Coker 7-5 in Saleeby Stokes Field. Jackson has played in 27 games, starting 22 of them. She is hitting .333 with one home run and 15 RBIs.

Olivia Aitkin: The Division III Amherst College softball team started its season March 12. The Mammoths are 13-3. Aitkin started in right field in her first college game and finished 2-for-2 in a 6-2 loss to Bethel University at Fortune Road Complex in Kissimmee, FL. Amherst rebounded to win five in a row. Aitkin went 1-for-3 in a 8-0 win over Kenyon College in five innings. She had an RBI sacrifice fly in a 16-0 victory over the University of New England. Against Carleton College, Aitkin had an RBI single as a pinch-hitter as Amherst won 12-1 in five innings. Aitkin has played in eight games, starting five of them. She is hitting .385 with three RBIs.

Grace Andrews: On Wednesday, the Catawba Valley Community College softball team swept a doubleheader from Cleveland Community College in Shelby. In the nightcap, Andrews went 3-for-5 with three runs scored as the Red Hawks won 15-3 in five innings. Catawba Valley won the opener 8-0. On Monday, Louisburg College, ranked #5 in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association, swept a doubleheader from the Red Hawks at Highland Recreation Center in Hickory. In a 11-10 loss to the Hurricanes, Andrews hit a solo homer in the fourth inning. She also drove in a run off a bases-loaded walk. Andrews finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Louisburg won the opening game 3-1, where Andrews went 1-for-3. Andrews is the leading hitter for Catawba Valley with a .427 average through 30 games. Catawba Valley is 24-6 overall, 11-3 in Region X of the NJCCA.