Cedar Ridge High School

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is freshman pitcher Olivia Aitkin. In Cedar Ridge’s 18-15 victory over Cardinal Gibbons on March 5, Aitkin came in at pitcher and earned her first varsity win. She threw five-and-one-third innings, allowing only two earned runs. She entered the game with Cedar Ridge trailing 10-4. The Red Wolves recovered to score ten runs in the final three innings to beat the Crusaders 18-15.In addition, Aitkin went 2-for-3 at the plate, with two doubles and scoring twice. Aitkin has become a steady second option in the pitching circle for head coach Allen Byrd behind starting pitcher Taylor Barnes. After Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 11-1 on Tuesday, they will host Person on Wednesday in Hillsborough. First pitch will be at 6.

The first Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week for the spring sports season is softball freshman 3rd baseman Takia Nichols. In her first game at the varsity level, Nichols had four RBIs as Cedar Ridge rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Bartlett Yancey 19-7. In her first varsity at-bat, Nichols had a two-run double as Cedar Ridge scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning against the Lady Bucs. Later that inning, Nichols had a two-run single. On Tuesday, Nichols had her first varsity home run as she went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and four runs scored in an 18-15 win over Cardinal Gibbons. Nichols played regularly during basketball season for Felton Page’s Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge is 3-0 as they prepare for Rockingham County on Monday night in Hillsborough.

After two rainouts in the opening week of the season, the Cedar Ridge softball team got two games in this week. On Tuesday, they defeated Cardinal Gibbons 18-15 in Raleigh. After trailing 12-8 at the end of four innings, Cedar Ridge scored ten runs in the final three innings. Taylor Ruhl went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run. On Thursday night, things were most less dramatic as the Red Wolves routed the Crusaders 13-2 in five innings in Hillsborough. On Thursday, Ruhl went 3-for-4 with two doubles. Cedar Ridge is 3-0 as they head into Monday’s home game against Rockingham County. Then they host Northwood in their first Big 8 Conference series of the year on Tuesday.

As reliable as ever, Cedar Ridge senior pitcher Phillip Berger delivered the goods in the Red Wolves’ season-opening win over Oxford Prep on Thursday night. Berger threw a five inning no-hitter, striking out ten as the Red Wolves defeated the Griffins 10-0. Berger earned the 18th win of his high school career. In turn, new Cedar Ridge head coach Mitchell Frazier won his first game in Hillsborough. In each of the last two seasons, Berger has won eight games. Cedar Ridge is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday to face Carlisle of Martinsville, VA at Red Wolves Territory.