Orange Baseball

There are high expectations for the Orange softball team this season. The Panthers return the top three pitchers in its rotation from last year, including senior Ryan Hench and junior Cross Clayton. On Monday night, the Panthers started the season strong with a 13-1 win over East Chapel Hill in five innings at Panther Field. 1st baseman Connor Nordan went 3-for-3 with five RBIs, including a two-run single to drive in the first two runs of the season in the first inning. Later, Nordan had a double to right field that brought in Jackson Berini and Hench. Clayton earned the ninth win of his career, scattering only two hits in four innings. He struck out seven as the Panthers won its season-opener for the third straight year. Last season, Nordan was one of the most reliable hitters for the Panthers. He hit .400 with a team-high 32 hits. He also had 25 RBIs, one behind Ryan Hench’s total of 26 for the team lead. Clayton emerged as the Panthers strong second starter last season as a sophomore. Last year, Clayton went 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA. He led the team in wins. Orange will continue its season on Wednesday night when they face Northern Durham at Knights Field at 6PM. You can hear that game on Hillsboroughsports.com.

Orange’s Cross Clayton & Connor Nordan discuss baseball win over East Chapel Hill

There are high expectations for the Orange softball team this season. The Panthers return the top three pitchers in its rotation from last year, including senior Ryan Hench and junior Cross Clayton. On Monday night, the Panthers started the season strong with a 13-1 win over East Chapel Hill in five innings at Panther Field.

Baseball season openers aren’t easy.

The weather is usually cold so it doesn’t feel like baseball weather, even during a winter as tame as the current one. The crowd is usually silent because they’re more focused on staying warm. Some of the players are transitioning after basketball or wrestling season ended and have barely had time to practice.

On Monday night, it was cold, gray and overcast, not exactly the trappings of an intense atmosphere, but Connor Nordan was more than willing to fill the gap to start a season of high expectations for Orange baseball.

Nordan went 3-for-3 with five RBIs while junior pitcher Cross Clayton struck out seven over four innings as Orange cruised past East Chapel Hill 13-1 in five innings on Monday night at Orange High Field. Right fielder Cameron Guentensberger added a two-run double as the Panthers improved to 4-1 in season openers under head coach Jason Knapp.

After he surrendered his only run of the game, Clayton set down the final nine consecutive Wildcats he faced, striking out six. Clayton went 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his first varsity season in 2022.

Knapp elected to start Clayton ahead of Ryan Hench, a senior who started the previous two Opening Days for the Panthers. Part of it was Knapp wanted to save Hench for Wednesday’s game at Northern Durham.

“Connor has probably turned into our biggest vocal leader,” Knapp said of Nordan. “He’s really stepped up in that leadership capacity this year. We’re proud of him and he sets the tone of the whole club.”

Orange scored in all four of its at-bats. Jackson Berini, who recently committed to Gaston College, scored three runs. The Panthers opened with four runs in the first inning that started with an infield single by Berini. After Hench, who played third base, reached on a single to third, Nordan sent a bouncer that hugged the third base line to bring in Berini and Hench. Guentensberger got onboard off an error. With two out, Wyatt Hedrick loaded the bases after he got hit by a pitch. Ryan Horton, in his first start as a catcher, sent a grounder to centerfield to increase the Orange lead to 4-0.

East Chapel Hill’s Luke Ligon doubled off the left field wall to open the second inning. Ben Johnson, running for Ligon, scored the Wildcats’ only run off a groundout by Andrew Briley.

David Waitt got the run back for Orange in the second inning when he singled to centerfield. Wiatt scored off a line drive to right field by Nordan, who let out a yell after he advanced to second base on the throw.

Senior Joey Pounds, who recently committed to Barton College, opened the third inning by scoring off a wild pitch. Berini, who was hit by a pitch, later scored off a bases-loaded walk by Guentensberger.

In the fourth, Orange scored six runs. After Hedrick hit a leadoff single and Horton walked, Pounds dropped a gorgeous bunt down the third base line to lead the bases. Berini drove in a run off a bases-loaded walk. Hench was hit by a pitch to bring in Horton. Nordan ended a big night with a line drive that went over the right fielder’s head to bring in two more runs. Guentensberger knocked a first-pitch fastball to the right centerfield power ally, the deepest part of Orange’s ballpark, to score Hench and Nordan.

It’s the first of six non-conference games to open the season for Orange. The Panthers will travel to Northern Durham on Wednesday and are scheduled to host Northern Guilford on Friday.

Next week, the Panthers will host Jordan on March 6, followed by a trip to Greensboro to face Grimsley at First National Bank Field, the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, on March 8. Orange will host Southern Alamance on March 10 before its conference opener against Western Alamance in Hillsborough.

Orange High senior pitcher Ryan Hench has formally signed with North Carolina. Hench is about to enter his fourth season as a Panther under head coach Jason Knapp, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s really only been one full year. As a freshman, Hench made one pitching appearance and that was in relief at Eastern Alamance. His sophomore year it when Hench began to blossom as a Panther. Against Chapel Hill on May 11, 2021, Hench threw a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts as the Panthers won 5-0, sewing up a spot in the 3A State Playoffs. Hench was named the 2021 co-Big 8 Pitcher of the Year. Last season, Hench led Orange in wins as the Panthers won the Central Carolina Conference regular season championship. Hench helps Orange reach the 3rd round of the 3A State Playoffs for the first time since 2017 with postseason wins over Cedar Ridge and Terry Sanford. In 2022, Hench led Orange with a .423 batting average, 26 RBIs, nine doubles and five home runs. Hench had 80 strikeouts and 24 walks last season. During a ceremony last week inside Orange High gymnasium, Hench was joined by his father Jack Hench, his mother Pam Hench and his brother Cooper Hench, a former Orange High pitcher and 3rd baseman who now plays on the N.C. State Club baseball team.  

Bryse Wilson: In his final start of the season on Friday night, Bryse Wilson had a no-decision for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Wilson threw five innings and surrendered two runs off five hits. He had five strikeouts and three walks. In the second inning, Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run homer off of Wilson, who left the game with the Pirates ahead 4-2. For the season, Wilson had a 3-9 record with a 5.95 ERA. He struck out 72 and walked 29 in 104.1 innings pitched. Wilson appeared in 23 games, starting 19. In addition, Wilson went 5-0 with the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League. With Indianapolis, Wilson had a 2.97 ERA with 34 strikeouts and six walks in five starts. Wilson was sent down to Indianapolis on in May and returned to Pittsburgh in July, where he remained until the end of the season. This was Wilson’s first full season in Pittsburgh after he was traded to the Pirates by Atlanta in 2021.

Payton Wilson: The N.C. State Wolfpack football team has reached the top-ten of the Associated Press College Football poll for the first time since 2002. On Saturday night, the Wolfpack routed Connecticut 41-10 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh to improve to 4-0. Wilson had two tackles for the Wolfpack, who will open Atlantic Coast Conference play at #5 Clemson next Saturday.

Trenton Gill: The former Cedar Ridge punter helped the Chicago Bears defeat the Houston Texans 23-20 at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. Gill was the holder for the game-winning 30-yard field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired. As far as his main job is concerned, Gill had four punts for an average of 45.5 yards. One punt was downed inside the 20-yard line. The Bears are 2-1 and will face the New York Giants next Sunday.

Braxton Mergenthal: On September 17, the Division III Hampden-Sydney football team defeated Greensboro College 70-28. at Lewis Everett Stadium in Hampden Sydney, VA. Mergenthal had one-half of a tackle for a loss for Hampden-Sydney, who earned its first win of the season. The Tigers will travel to Bridgewater next Saturday to open play in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Lottie Scully: In its only match of the week, the Binghamton Bearcats volleyball team defeated Niagara University 3-0 on scores of 25-16, 25-15 and 25-16. Scully finished with a team-high 33 assists, four kills, one ace and ten digs. The Bearcats are 9-4 and will open play in the American East Conference at New Hampshire on Saturday.

Avery Miller: On Tuesday, Miller started for the Pitt Community College volleyball team in its 3-1 loss to Cape Fear Community College in Winterville (25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18). Miller finished with four kills and six digs. On Thursday, Bryant & Stratton College defeated Pitt 3-2 (26-24, 19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-8). Miller started a had a career-high eight kills for the Bulldogs. She also finished with nine digs. Pitt CC is now 7-5 overall, 0-5 in Region X. The Bulldogs will host Louisburg College on Tuesday.

Emerson Talley: It was a successful start to South Atlantic Conference play for the Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team. Last Wednesday, the Bears tied Anderson 1-1 at Moretz Sports Complex in Hickory. Talley came off the bench and fired two shots. She played 20 minutes. On Saturday, Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Mars Hill 3-1 at Meares Stadium. Talley, the all-time leading goal scorer in Cedar Ridge women’s soccer history, came off the bench to play 30 minutes. Lenoir Rhyne sits atop the SAC with a 4-0-1 record. They are 4-2-2 overall and will travel to Belmont-Abbey on Wednesday.

Bryse Wilson: After nearly earning his second win of the season last week for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wilson had another strong outing in his first-ever visit to Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sunday. Wilson struck out five over five innings as the Pirates defeated Baltimore 8-1. Wilson surrendered just one run off four hits. The run was supplied by Jorge Mateo, who hit a solo homer in the third inning. After the victory, Wilson is now 2-6 with a 5.86 ERA. Last Tuesday, Wilson threw five-and-one-thirds innings in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Wilson surrendered three runs off six hits. He struck out two. After leaving the game with one out in the sixth inning, the Pirates trailed 3-0. But Pittsburgh scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth and never trailed again. Pittsburgh has won four of its last six games. Wilson will start on Friday against San Francisco at Oracle Park.

Mia Davidson: The all-time home run hitter in Southeastern Conference softball history delivered the first professional dingers of her career this weekend. Once again, Davidson was selected to play for Team Eberle in Athletes Unlimited for a three-game series at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL. On Saturday, Davidson hit her first professional home run with a solo blast to left field for Team Eberle against Team Mulipola. Davidson finished 1-3 and with 50 points (40 for the home run, ten points for Team Eberly winning the 1st inning) as Team Mulipola won 8-2. On Friday, Team Eberle defeated Team Harshman 5-1. Davidson earned 120 points (50 points for the win and 70 points for winning all seven innings), though she finished 0-for-2. On Sunday, Davidson hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning. She finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and came away with 70 points (40 for the home run, 30 for Team Eberle winning two innings). Through two weeks of action, Davidson is hitting .214 with two home runs and three RBIs. She is currently 20th among Athletes Unlimited players with 530 points. Despite the two home runs, Davidson fell eight spots in the individual standings this week because Team Eberle went 1-2 for the weekend. Davidson will be drafted on a new team on Monday afternoon for next weekend’s three-game series starting Friday night.

Kayla Hodges: After four years at Elon, Kayla Hodges made her unofficial debut for the Virginia Commonwealth women’s soccer team just a few miles from where she played her high school soccer. Hodges suited up against UNC at Anson Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill. Hodges played 85 minutes on the defensive backline. The Tar Heels won 5-0. The Rams will play another exhibition game against Old Dominion in Norfolk, VA on Friday, then start its regular season at James Madison in Harrisonburg, VA on August 18.

Payton Wilson: After missing ten games last season after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Mississippi State, Wilson returned to the practice field for N.C. State last week. Wilson, who is a redshirt junior, went into detail about his problems after he suffered the injury to the Raleigh News and Observer’s Kyle Williams. Wilson told CBS Sports that “This is the best his body has ever felt.” During ACC Kickoff in Charlotte last month, Wilson was chosen to the All-ACC Preseason Defensive team as a linebacker.

Trenton Gill: Last week, former Cedar Ridge punter Trenton Gill started training camp for the Chicago Bears in Bourbonnais, IL. Several Bears-related media outlets have already pegged Gill as a lock to make the 53-man final roster. Chicago will play its first exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Solider Field on Saturday afternoon.

There are conflicting accounts as to exactly how Ryan Hench earned the nickname “Mayhem.”

One of his parents says it came from his grandmother among the first time she ever saw his rambunctious nature on the baseball diamond.

Hench says it came from Jackson Berini’s grandmother.

“In elementary school, we were leaving class and getting ready to go home,” Hench said after a game last month. “Jackson and I got into her car and basically I had something broken on my body. She said “Good lord, you’re like Mayhem from the Allstate commercials. Always getting something hurt or doing something to get yourself hurt.”

No one could question how Hench got his nickname if they watched Orange’s game against Southern Lee on April 23. In the fourth inning, the Cavaliers’ Ashton Donathan slammed a fly ball toward the infamous left field porch at Orange High Field. It was deep but attainable for Hench in left field. He slammed hard into the fence and went down like he hit a cinderblock wall. After several minutes, he got up. Not only did he finish the game, but he had an RBI single the following inning, and eventually knocked in Berini with a sacrifice fly during an 7th-inning rally that would fall one run short.

Last week, Hench was named the Central Carolina Conference Player of the Year based on a poll of the league’s coaches. Hench was Orange’s top pitcher in its rotation. Even though the run support was lacking during some of his starts, Hench finished 4-2 with a 1.58 ERA.

At the plate, Hench hit .423 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. His five home runs led the CCC.

As a sophomore in 2021, Hench shared the Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year award with Northern Durham’s Matthew Lombard.

Hench was Orange’s opening night starter during a season where the Panthers won its first outright conference championship since 2016. In 2021, Orange shared the Big 8 Conference Championship with Northern Durham in a unique format created by the COVID-19 pandemic where only the first meetings between conference rivals counted in the conference standings.

Hench’s hottest stretch of the season came in late March where he went 5-for-6 with seven RBIs, five runs scored, three triples and two home runs over the course of two games. Against Walter Williams on March 22 in Hillsborough, Hench hit 3-for-3 with four RBIs. He had a three-run triple in the first inning, then followed with a solo homer in the third. In the fifth, Hench had another triple. He also earned the win on the mound with eight strikeouts over five innings.

The following night against Southwestern Randolph in Hillsborough, Hench had a two-run triple in the second inning. In the fourth, he slammed another solo homer.

Hench saved some of his best outings against the top teams in the state. Against New Hanover, who was constantly ranked among the top teams in 4A baseball all season, he surrendered just four hits in two innings during a meeting in the Hilltop Invitational in Hillsborough on March 30.

Hench started in the Panthers’ 13-5 victory over Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Territory, which earned Orange a share of the Central Carolina Conference championship. He struck out 12 over six innings to earn the win. At the plate, Hench had an RBI double in the sixth inning to score Berini as the Panthers broke the game open with four runs in the frame, followed by five more in the seventh inning.

Against Eastern Alamance on April 26, Hench threw six shutout innings in a 2-0 Orange win. He also knocked in both of Orange’s runs. Hench had an RBI single down the third base line in the first inning to bring in Berini, then launched a solo homer to lead off the fifth.

After Orange’s season ended against J.H. Rose in a heartbreaking loss in the third round of the 3A State Playoffs, Hench committed to play baseball at North Carolina.

Landon Riley: The Liberty Flames baseball team had a heartbreaking end to its season. In the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Tournament, Central Michigan defeated Liberty 3-2 in 12 innings on Saturday. Earlier in the tournament, #9 Oklahoma defeated the Flames 16-3. Riley threw the eighth inning of the loss to the Sooners. Liberty, who gained an at-large selection to the tournament, ends the year 37-22. Riley’s career in Lynchburg also came to an end. In the Atlantic Sun Tournament at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida, Liberty advanced to the final. On May 27, the Flames moved on to the championship with a 18-9 win over Eastern Kentucky. Riley threw one-and-one-thirds innings and gave up just one run off one hit. He struck out one. Kennesaw State defeated Liberty for the Atlantic Sun Tournament championship. This season, Riley made eleven pitching appearances. He didn’t record a decision and finished with a 4.09 ERA. He had 13 strikeouts and ten walks. Over his four years with Liberty, Riley had a 6-0 record over 48 relief appearances. He made the 2021 All-Atlantic Sun Academic team. In his junior season, Riley posted a 2-0 record with five saves and a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings. He struck out 19 and walked nine.

Joey Berini: The #8 East Carolina Pirates won the Greenville Regional on Monday. The Pirates defeated Coastal Carolina 13-4 at Clark-LeClair Stadium to advance to the Super Regional for the third-straight year and the seventh time in program history. In the regional championship clinching win over the Chanticleers, Berini went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Berini checked into the game in the fourth inning with ECU leading 4-2 and had a single to right field. With the Pirates leading 8-2 in the seventh, Berini singled to right field. He eventually scored off a three-run home run by Bryson Worrell. The Pirates started off the regional with a 17-1 win over Coppin State. Berini went 1-for-2 against the Eagles. He checked in during the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter and remained at second base. Berini hit a leadoff single in the eighth inning and eventually scored off a double by Joey Rezek. ECU is 45-19 and will face #9 Texas in the best-of-three Super Regional starting this Friday in Greenville.

Bryse Wilson: On May 23, Wilson was optioned by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Indianapolis Indians of the International League. With Pittsburgh, Wilson was 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA in 28-and-two-thirds innings. He had 24 strikeouts and 14 walks. On Friday, Wilson earned the win as Indianapolis defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 5-2 at Werner Park in Papillion, NE. Over seven innings, Wilson yielded only two runs off three hits. He had five strikeouts and one walk to earn his second win in as many stars with Indianapolis. In his first start with the Indians, Wilson earned the win in Indianapolis’ 7-4 victory over the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field in Minnesota. Over six innings, Wilson struck out eight. He surrendered four runs off six hits and one walk.

Mia Davidson: After her softball career at Mississippi State ended in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament, Mia Davidson was named the Diamond Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Catcher of the Year. Davidson was also voted as a unanimous first-team All-American by D1Softbal.com and the NFCA. It is the second time in her career that Davidson was named an All-American. She is the fifth player in Mississippi State history to earn All-American honors in multiple seasons. This season, Davidson was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference after she led Mississippi State in nine categories. She had a .366 batting average with 23 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .545 on-base percentage. Davidson will play with Athletes Unlimited starting next month.