Cedar Ridge Softball

It sounds simple, but it’s true.

When Cedar Ridge softball plays well defensively, they win. When they don’t, well…

From one game to the next, Cedar Ridge Coach Allen Byrd has no idea what to expect. Last Tuesday, the Red Wolves played flawless in a 12-2 win at Northern Durham. The next day in Hillsborough, in the midst of wind gusts of nearly 30 miles per hour, Cedar Ridge gave up eleven unearned runs off five errors in a 15-14 loss to the same Northern team.

Fortunately, in Cedar Ridge’s final trip to Henderson, their gloves and bats worked in perfect unison.

Takia Nichols hit two home runs as Cedar Ridge defeated Vance County 8-3 at Viper Softball Field. Nichols, who now has 25 career home runs at the end of her junior year, finished 4-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs scored and a double.

Sophomore Hayley King threw a complete game for her seventh win of the year. King struck out three and held the Vipers to seven hits.

Naturally, Cedar Ridge didn’t commit an error in the game. On April 8, the Red Wolves made two errors, leading to three unearned runs, in a 7-4 Vance County win in Hillsborough.

Nichols blasted a solo homer over the centerfield wall to open the scoring in the third inning. Ava Lowry walked, then advanced to third on a single by Olivia Aitkin. Senior Reagan Ruhl grounded a two-run single up the middle. Caira Peach lined a single to score Ruhl and push Cedar Ridge’s lead to 4-0.

In the fourth, seniors Emma-Rae Sharp and ShiLi Quade each reached on errors. Then Nichols drilled a laser over the left field wall for a three-run homer to vault Cedar Ridge ahead 7-0.

Nichols hit a leadoff double to start the sixth. Lowry lined a single to centerfield to bring her in.

Lowry, in her final road game, finished 2-for-3. Aitkin went 2-for-4. Peach also had a 2-for-4 day with an RBI.

The win guarantees that Cedar Ridge will finish with a winning record for the fourth straight season.

Cedar Ridge is scheduled to host Southern Durham for a doubleheader on Friday. It will be the final home game for Quade, Lowry, Sharp, Lajoan Stuart, Alexandria Matthews and Marlee Rakouskas.

ORANGE 15, SOUTHERN DURHAM 0

The Orange softball team officially finished its Big 8 Conference season with a 15-0 victory over Southern Durham on Tuesday night. Southern was the final opponent that the Lady Panthers hadn’t played. With the victory, Orange ends the conference season 7-0, its first perfect conference season since Orange started fielding fast-pitch teams in 1998.

It was senior night for first baseman Gracie Colley and third baseman Emma Puckett. Together, Puckett and Colley have each played on Orange’s varsity team since they were freshmen. Together, they have played on squads with a combined record of 38-17 and have won two Big 8 Conference Championships.

Freshman Caden Robinson returned to the lineup and hit a three-run homer, her third dinger of the year. Sophomore centerfielder Serenity McPherson went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. McPherson has hit safely in all 12 of Orange’s games this year.

Carson Bradsher went 1-for-2. She also stole two bases.

Orange (12-0) will try to complete a perfect regular season with two games later this week. They travel to Northern Durham on Thursday. A nonconfernece game against Southern Alamance, originally set for Wednesday, has been rescheduled for Friday in Graham.

Southern Alamance will face Southwestern Randolph on Thursday night. The winner will be champion of the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

Orange has already clinched the Big 8 Championship and will host a game in the opening round of the 32-team 3A State Playoffs next week.

The Lady Panthers are one of five undefeated teams in 3A softball. The others are D.H. Conley, Piedmont, North Buncombe, and Crest.

Softball: Everything thrilling and frustrating about the Cedar Ridge softball team was on full display during its two-game series against Northern Durham.

On Tuesday, the Red Wolves rolled past the Knights 12-2 at Knights Field. The Red Wolves played an errorless game as they handed the Knights just its second loss of the season.

On Wednesday, Cedar Ridge committed five errors in a 15-14 loss to the Knights in Hillsborough. Northern scored eight unearned runs as they held on for dear life as the Red Wolves mounted another patented seventh inning comeback that fell just short.

In the series-opening win, Red Wolves third baseman Takia Nichols went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. In the fourth inning, Nichols drilled a three-run homer to dead centerfield to push the Red Wolves ahead 6-1. It was Nichols’ 19th career home run.

Nichols started the game with a line drive to centerfield. Ava Lowry reached on an error by the pitcher, which allowed Nichols to score the game’s opening run. In the second, first baseman Alex Matthews looped a two-run single to centerfield to score Tori Carden and Lajoan Stuart, a courtesy runner for Hayley King.

After Nichols’ home run, Olivia Aitkin singled home Ava Lowry. Marlee Rakouskas got an RBI groundout to send in Aitkin and increase the Red Wolves’ lead to 8-1. In the fifth, Nichols doubled home ShiLi Quade.

On Wednesday, both teams battled the elements on a blustery day where wind gusts reached nearly 30 miles per hour and the temperatures plummeted after first pitch. Cedar Ridge scored four runs in the first inning, including an RBI double by Nichols to score Quade. After Lowry was hit by a pitch, Aitkin laced a two-run triple to centerfield.

Northern chipped away until an 8-run fourth inning where all the runs came in with two out. Third baseman Jessica Wolter reached on an infield error to score Aubrey Clayton and Abi Walker and the Knights were off to the races. Alana Holland, who finished 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, laced an RBI single to left field. Pitcher Taylor Penne earned the win despite piling up 167 pitches.

Nichols had her 20th career home run with an inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning. With Cedar Ridge trailing 15-11 going into the seventh inning, Quade got on board via an error to lead off the frame. Quade eventually scored off an RBI single by Aitkin. Second baseman Reagan Rhul laced a line drive down the left field line for another inside-the-park home run to pull within 15-14. Northern first baseman Savannah Burton threw to Clayton for a 3-4 out for the final out.

Cedar Ridge will host East Chapel Hill on Friday.

Men’s Tennis: The Cedar Ridge men’s tennis team defeated Carrboro 9-0 on Tuesday at Jaguars Tennis Courts. Josh Mayhew, Eli Rachlin, Lev Bearman, and Walker Richards-Baker each earned straight sets singles wins for the Red Wolves. The most exciting matches for the Red Wolves came at #2 singles, where Will Ballenger defeated Joseph Lee 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, winning the third set tiebreaker 12-10. At #5 singles, Holden Rachlin defeated Tristan Reid 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-4.

Mayhew & Ballenger won at #1 doubles for Cedar Ridge. Carter Tholes and Bearman teamed together for a win at #2 doubles, while Colby Alford and Derrick Stephens captured the #3 doubles.

On Wednesday, East Chapel Hill defeated Cedar Ridge 7-1 at Lindsey Linker Tennis Courts. Mayhew won the Cedar Ridge match at #1 singles over East’s Max Winzelberg.

As for Orange, the Panthers defeated Northwood 5-4 in Pittsboro. Justin Conover and Joseph Clark captured the double match that earned the Panthers the team victory by an 8-3 tally. Orange’s Colin O’Hagerty & Brandon Gwinn won its #1 doubles match. Conover, Gwynn and O’Hagerty also won their singles matches.

On Wednesday, Chapel Hill defeated Orange 9-0. The Panthers, 5-6 overall, will host Southern Durham next Tuesday to end the regular season. The Big 8 Conference Tournament is slated for next week.

Golf: Orange had two men’s players qualify for the 3A Mideast Regionals during the final Big 8 Conference match of the season at Umstead Golf Course in Durham on Tuesday. Senior Joshua Frank and sophomore Thomas Loch each shot an 88. However, their year-long nine hole average was enough for them to qualify for regionals. Both players averaged below a 42 for their nine-hole average.

In addition, Cedar Ridge senior Bradley Monschien also qualified for the Mideast Regionals.

The Mideast Regionals will be held at Keith Hills Golf Club in Lillingston on May 3.

Just four nights removed from throwing 126 pitches against Orange, Cedar Ridge pitcher Hayley King earned her fifth win of the season on Tuesday night. King threw three innings in the circle as the Red Wolves earned an 11-1 win over Northern Durham at Knights Softball Field. Alex Matthews, who started at first base, threw the final two innings. But Matthews impact was felt in the second inning when she hit a two-run single. In the fourth inning, junior third baseman Takia Nichols delivered the big blow with a three-run homer to left field. It was Nichols 19th career home run, a school record in baseball or softball. It was the best performance of the season for the Red Wolves, who defeated a Northern Durham team that has already clinched a spot in the 3A State Playoffs. Cedar Ridge, now 5-4, will return home to face the Knights on Wednesday afternoon in Hillsborough. First pitch will be at 5:30. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com. Special thanks to Curran Campbell for broadcasting Tuesday night’s game and for filing this afternoon with the victorious pitcher.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior third baseman Takia Nichols. In addition, we’re introducing our first retro pick of the season. For the week starting 3/28, the Red Wolf of the Week is shortstop Ava Lowry. Nichols is the all-time home run leader in Cedar Ridge history, softball or baseball, with 18. Last week against Chapel Hill, she added to the total with a lead off homer in a 20-0 Red Wolf win. Nichols leads the team with a .667 average. Despite being walked 13 times, Nichols is still tied for the team lead with 14 hits and 16 RBIs. Lowry also had 14 hits and 16 RBIs. On March 29, she hit two home runs against East Chapel Hill in an 18-5 win. Lowry has already committed to play at North Carolina Wesleyan. Nichols and Lowry play on the same side of the infield and have formed a tight bond. So much so that they wanted to do this interview together because they enjoy each other’s company. Cedar Ridge will return to action tonight at Northern Durham. The Red Wolves will host the Knights on Wednesday night in Hillsborough. Congratulations to two very deserving Cedar Ridge Red Wolves of the Week: Takia Nichols and Ava Lowry.

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.

If you were on hand for the Orange-Cedar Ridge softball game on Friday night, you aren’t likely to forget it anytime soon. The Red Wolves pulled off a dramatic comeback after they scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to even the game 9-9. As with all great games, there were great plays made by several great players for both teams. Listen to the highlights here courtesy of Hillsboroughsports.com.