Orange Baseball

In a Big 8 Conference race narrowed down to a precious six games due to the pandemic in 2021, the margin of error for timely hitting was unfairly small.

Faced with a winner-takes-all battle against Northern Durham for the Big 8 Championship last May in Hillsborough, the Panthers didn’t have many opportunities against Knights ace Matthew Lombard, who threw a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 Northern win. That victory was enough for Northern to earn the #1 seed for the 3A State Playoffs out of the Big 8 Conference.

Nine months later, Orange found itself in another pitcher’s dual against the Knights, this time as a non conference opponent. This time, the familiar names of a year ago came through.

Jackson Berini drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning, followed by a two-run single by right fielder David Waitt to push Orange past Northern Durham 4-1 at Orange Baseball Field on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams. The Panthers (1-0) defeated Northern for the fifth time in its last seven meetings.

The Panthers used five pitchers over seven innings, including starter Ryan Hench. Orange limited the Knights to two hits. Northern still had various opportunities throughout the night courtesy of eight walks, but sophomore Cross Clayton threw a scoreless sixth inning in his first varsity appearance to earn the win. Connor Funk, starting his third varsity season, came in for his first career save with a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two.

“Connor had an outstanding summer with us,” said Orange coach Jason Knapp. “He had regular starts with us during the summer and the fall. He works hard and is a bulldog on the mound. Right now, we feel like he’s our second starter and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Hench, who went 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA last season, struck out seven over two-and-two-thirds innings as opening night starter.

Northern pieced together its only run off of Hench in the third inning. Knights’ catcher Seth Lumpkin lined a single to centerfield. After Charles McDowell went down on strikes for the second out, Hench left the game after walking Jackson Bishop. Joey Pounds relieved Hench. Northern’s Aidan Rice drew a walk to load the bases. Freddie Oliver was hit by a pitch to score Lumpkin and even the game.

Orange grabbed the lead in the opening inning when catcher Davis Horton, who had a base hit in every regular season game last season, doubled to centerfield to score Berini, who drew a walk to start the game.

Northern had a chance to break the tie in the fifth inning when McDowell reached on an error. McDowell advanced to second off a groundout by Bishop, then went to third as Berini retired Rice. After Oliver was intentionally walked by Orange reliever Cezar Lozano, Kyle Thomas drew a free pass to load the bases. Northern’s Noah Guerrette grounded a 2-0 fastball to Hench at third base, who threw to Codey Snipes at first to escape the jam.

Clayton drew a leadoff walk to start the sixth inning. With Nev Best at bat, Clayton stole second and then rushed to third when the subsequent throw wound up in centerfield. After 6-foot-6 pinch hitter Ryan Honeycutt, replacing Snipes, drew a walk, it placed runners at the corners. Funk walked against Northern reliever Thomas, leading to Berini’s walk to give Orange the lead. Waitt’s single in the next at-bat brought in pinch runner Ty Walker, who replaced Honeycutt, as well as Funk.

Northern made some noise in the 7th inning. McDowell singled between the 5-6 hole in left field to lead off the frame, then stole second. After Bishop grounded out to Berini, McDowell went to third. Funk struck out Oliver and Stormey Swearingen to end the game.

It was the third time in four years that Orange won its season opener. The Panthers will be right back in action on Wednesday afternoon against East Chapel Hill, another former Big 8 Conference rival. Orange travels to Middle Creek on Friday afternoon.

Cooper Porter: Porter hit a grand slam for Pensacola State during its 12-2 win over Meridian Community College on Saturday in Pensacola, FL. It was the first grand slam of his college career. Porter, playing shortstop, went 1-for-2 against the Eagles. Porter homered again in the nightcap of the doubleheader, which the Eagles won 12-1 in five innings.

Landon Riley: Riley, now a senior for the Liberty baseball team, made his first pitching appearance of the season as the Flames defeated North Carolina A&T 12-2 in Lynchburg, VA on Wednesday. Riley threw one scoreless inning in relief with two walks and one strikeout. Over the weekend, the Flames had a three-game sweep of Winthrop. In Sunday’s 13-2 win, Riley threw two-thirds of scoreless relief with two strikeouts. Liberty started the season by taking two-out-of-three games against Florida, which was ranked #9 at the time.

Joey Berini: The #25 East Carolina baseball team faced North Carolina in a three-game series this weekend. On Friday, the Tar Heels defeated the Pirates 7-4 at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill. Berini entered the game for the Pirates in the eighth inning as a designated hitter and drew a walk. In the ninth inning, Berini reached base off an error by the Tar Heel shortstop. ECU is 2-5 after losing Saturday’s game to UNC, but winning on Sunday night. They will travel to Durham Bulls Athletic Park to face Duke on Tuesday afternoon at 4.

Joey McMullin: The Sandhills Community College men’s basketball team is on its way to the Division III National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament. On Saturday, the Flyers defeated Prince George Community College 77-72 to win the Mid-Atlantic District Championship in Largo, MD. McMullin, who was named the Region X Player of the Year last week, came off the bench to score 12 points and grab six rebounds. The Flyers, who will make its fourth straight appearance in the national tournament, are 26-7. The Division III national tournament will take place in Rockford, IL, staring March 9.

Connor Crabtree: The Richmond men’s basketball team defeated St. Louis 68-66 at the Robins Center on Friday. Crabtree played eight minutes off the bench and scored two points. On Tuesday, the Spiders defeated George Washington 84-71. Crabtree scored three points in six minutes.

Jaden Hurdle: Patrick & Henry Community College won all four games they played this weekend. Hurdle had another huge weekend, hitting home runs in each of her final three games. She also picked up a win and a save in the pitcher’s circle. Currently, Hurdle leads Region X of the NJCAA with seven home runs. She is second in Region X with 17 RBIs, one behind teammate Elizabeth Parrish.

On Friday, the Patriots swept Southeastern Community College-Whiteville in a doubleheader. In the opening game, the Patriots won 10-2. Hurdle started the game in the circle for P&HCC and earned the win, throwing a complete game. She struck out nine over six innings, surrendering five hits and two runs (both unearned). Hurdle also went 1-for-5. In the nightcap, Patrick & Henry won 9-1. Hurdle had another home run, a two-run blast that came during a seven-run 7th inning. Hurdle went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored with a double.

On Saturday, P&HCC swept a doubleheader from Lakeland Community College. In the opening game, the Patriots were down 7-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning before storming back with five runs in its final at-bat to win 8-7. Hurdle had another home run and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. In the Patriots’ 7-3 victory in the nightcap, Hurdle earned the save as a pitcher after she replaced starter Madison Lemons. She threw three innings, where she didn’t surrender a hit. Hurdle walked two and struck out one. At the plate, Hurdle hit a home run and a double. She finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team swept all four games in this weekend’s UNCG Invitational. On Saturday, the Spartans defeated Towson 4-1. Dalehite started in right field and went 1-for-3. The Spartans, which defeated Virginia on Sunday, are 9-4.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team split a doubleheader with USC Sumter on Friday. in CVCC’s 8-1 opening game victory, Andrews went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Andrews drove in the second run of the game in the first inning. The Fire Ants defeated the Red Hawks 5-3 in the nightcap. Andrews went 0-for-4. On Saturday, Catawba Valley swept a doubleheader from USC Salkehatchie. In the opener, the Red Hawks won 8-0 in six innings. Andrews went 1-for-2 with three RBIs. In the first inning, Andrews drove in the opening run of the game with a sacrifice fly to score Kaylee Yoder. Andrews hit a double in the fourth inning to score two runs. Catawba Valley won the nightcap 10-3. Andrews went 0-for-5 starting at third base. The Red Hawks are 3-1.

Braden Homsey: At the Division III NCAA Southeast Wrestling regionals in Williamsport, PA, Homey finished 1-2 in the 197-pound tournament. Homey opened with a major decision win over Brendan Loder of Gettysburg College 14-3. Alvernia University’s Mario Pellot defeated Homsey 16-7 in the quarterfinals. In the consolation round, Joe Embleton of Messiah University outscored Homsey 14-10.

Jamar Davis: In the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend, Davis finished 11th for N.C. State in the long jump with a leap of 24’7.25″. On Saturday, Davis wound up in tenth place in the triple jump with a leap of 50’3.25″. The event was held at Rector Field House in Blacksburg, VA.

Dean Dease has spent more Sunday afternoons at Orange High ballpark than any other place on Earth.

It’s where he mowed grass, raked dirt, spread fertilizer, sewed grass, picked up rocks and sunflower seeds for 35 years. He was doing this in the early 1990s, a time when some local high schools still had grassless infields. By his own admission, keeping Orange’s field in proper shape was his obsession.

This past Sunday was different. Since retiring as Orange’s baseball coach at the end of the 2018 season, he has kept his distance from the program that he once couldn’t pull himself away from.

Two years ago, Dease’s replacement, Jason Knapp, started work with the Orange Dugout Club on a sign that would hang alongside the entrance to Orange High Baseball field. As visitors walked up the steps towards the press box, they would see the long list of accomplishments that Dease achieved over three decades in Hillsborough. He started at a time when there was only one high school in Hillsborough and just two public high schools in all of Orange County.

After many delays created by the pandemic, various schedules to get the right people in place, the day for the unveiling finally happened this past Sunday.

The irony that it occurred on a cold, rainy December afternoon wasn’t lost on the many current and former players in attendance, which included current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bryse Wilson, former UNC catcher and UNC Pembroke head coach Matt McCay, East Carolina shortstop Joey Berini and current members of the Panthers.

Usually, Dease worked on the field amid the ruthless North Carolina summer heat, something he endured growing up in Bessemer City.

However, Sunday’s ceremony was a surprise for Dease, something that his wife Jan and daughters M’Lynn and Abby have kept secret for months.

Once the surprise was finally revealed, Dease couldn’t hold back his emotions.

“That’s beautiful,” Dease muttered as the sign, outlined in white against a black backdrop, was unveiled.

The sign listed Dease’s 12 conference championships, 21 state playoff appearances, two sectional finals, the 2008 2A State Championship, and his induction into the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2019.

“You don’t even remember winning all that stuff, do ya?” Knapp asked Dease.

“No, but I remember all the losses,” Dease replied.

“This is an honor,” Dease said after he composed himself. “I never even considered something like this. First of all, thank you to the players because none of this happens without players. We’ve had some really great players in my years. When I started in 1988 with those guys, even Bobby Miller was good.”

Miller, a former player for Dease’s first varsity team when he replaced Gary Maske as head coach, went on to become Orange’s junior varsity coach during Dease’s final season in 2018. Miller’s daughter, Avery, is an Orange senior volleyball player.

All coaches, regardless of sport, have ups and downs with parents. Dease navigated the ebbs and flows of parental demands as much as anyone who ever coached in Hillsborough, but he honored the mothers and fathers in his speech.

“You’re their discipline, their role models,” Dease said. “Without good parents, we don’t have good players and that’s the bottom line.”

Wilson, who won Game 4 of the National League Championship Series for the Atlanta Braves just 14 months ago, stood on the stairwell that leads to the press box with his father Chad during the ceremony. Wilson pitched for Orange from 2013-2016, where he recorded a 33-4 record with a 0.90 ERA. He was a member of four Big 8 Conference championships. In his senior year, Wilson had two no-hitters, including a perfect game against Eastern Wayne in the opening round of the 2016 3A State Playoffs.

“This had been in the works pre-COVID,” Knapp said. “We were finally able to pull it off. There were a bunch of bumps in the road. I’m glad we could finally make this happen. Coach Dease is a mentor. As a young coach growing up, I always looked up to him. Before I came to Orange, I was always picking his brain. trying to mimic his program, trying to bring things that he had created where I was at. He’s just a guy that all coaches in the state still look up to.”

Dease also honored Knapp.

“I worried when I retired what would happen to the field and to the program,” Dease said, who was drowned out by parents murmuring he was more worried about the field. “Obviously, there’s been no looking back. Jason has taken it to another level. So thanks for everything you’re doing.”

Dease’s daughters inherited their love of the game from their father. M’Lynn, who recently graduated from Coastal Carolina, served as a student manger for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks baseball program. In his speech, Dease expressed remorse that he couldn’t have seen more of her games for the Orange softball team, whose games are a short walk down the hill from the baseball field.

“I never saw a game because we were up here,” Dease said. “Somebody said she hit a double off the field one time, I don’t know. I sacrificed a lot of time with them.”

When Abby Dease was a swimmer at Orange, Dease could be found poolside holding a stopwatch to time her meets.

Sitting around the house in retirement has been a challenge for Dease–almost as much as winning 503 games over 35 years.

Since retiring as a teacher at Orange in 2017, he’s kept himself busy by waking up early on weekday mornings to mow lawns at Occoneechee Golf Club. It’s where one of his former students, Scott Ray, works as the day-to-day manager and another former player helps keep the course looking immaculate.

After three years away, Dease is ready to return to coaching. During the ceremony, he announced he had recently accepted a position to become the new head coach at Durham Academy.

“I’m sticking my foot back in the door,” Dease said. “I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t have any skills!”

Four months after high school baseball season ended, the honors continue to roll in for Orange’s Ryan Hench and Davis Horton.

The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association have named Hench and Horton to its 3A All-State team. They were the only players from the Big 8 Conference honored by the NCBCA.

Both Hench and Horton played their first full season with Orange during the abbreviated 2021 campaign, which was paired down to 14 games due to the pandemic. They comprised a battery that led the Panthers to a share of the Big 8 Conference championship with a 6-1 record, tying Northern Durham for 1st place.

Horton, a transfer from Riverside, was named the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year. Hench shared the Big 8 Pitcher of the Year award with Northern Durham’s Matthew Lombard.

Hench, a junior, was on the Orange varsity as a 9th grader. He season was limited to one game on March 4, 2020, against Eastern Alamance. In his first high school pitching appearance, Hench recorded the final five outs in order against the Eagles in a 6-2 Panthers win. His older brother, senior Cooper Hench, started at third base that night. It was the first time the siblings shared the field in an Orange uniform, and neither had any idea it would also be the last. A week later, the season shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost Cooper the rest of his Orange career.

Orange entered 2021 with question marks about its pitching rotation, which were answered during a four-day span starting on May 7. Hench threw four shutout innings against Northwood for his first varsity win. Four nights later, Hench was selected by head coach Jason Knapp to start again, likely with a state playoff birth on the line, at Chapel Hill. Hench put on a dazzling performance, throwing a two-hit, complete game shutout with 14 strikeouts. Orange won 5-0, a win that would carry them to the 3A State Playoffs.

Hench threw 18 consecutive shutout innings to start 2021. The first run he surrendered, which came at Northwood on June 1 in Pittsboro, was unearned. Hench ended the season 3-0 with a a 2.22 ERA. He also swung a strong bat, to the point where Knapp would often position him as a pitcher and designated hitter. Hench hit .421 with three home runs, which led the team.

Though it came in a reduced regular season, Horton hit safely in all 14 of Orange’s regular season games. The streak started in a 15-5 win over 2019 Big 8 Conference champion East Chapel Hill on April 27, when Horton went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. He finished with five RBIs against the Wildcats.

Horton, a junior, ended the regular season with a 16-game hitting streak. That extended to his final days at Riverside, where he had hits against Wake County Home Schools and Green Level in 2020, the only games the Pirates played that year.

Last spring/summer, Horton led the Panthers in four offensive categories. He hit .490 with 24 hits and 15 RBIs. He tied with Hench with a team-high six doubles.

Defensively, Horton provided Orange with its most reliable presence behind the plate since the graduation of Brad Deno in 2016. Debo went on to play four seasons at N.C. State.

Though the Big 8 Conference was limited to two automatic state playoff spots, Orange still made the field of 32 as the #2 seed from the Big 8. In the opening round, Asheboro defeated Orange 5-4 at McCrary Park on June 15 in a thrilling game that ended with the Blue Comets’ Tanner Marsh doubling off the left field wall to score Camden Walker. Orange battled back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game 4-4 at the end of the fifth inning. Hench helped spark the rally with a double and eventually scored off an RBI single by Jaren Sikes. Hench singled in the fifth, which set up Conner Funk knocking in Will Walker for the tying run.

Bryse Wilson: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 at LoanDepot Park in Florida in Saturday night. It marked Wilson’s first win in a Pirates uniform. Over five innings, Wilson retired the Marlins in order twice. He surrendered two runs off four hits with three strikeouts and no walks. The only runs that Wilson gave up came off a 2-run homer from Nick Fortes in fifth inning. Wilson is now 3-7 with a 4.88 ERA this season. His next start will likely be at Philadelphia next week. It marked the end of a bittersweet week for the Wilson family.

Payton Wilson: On Monday afternoon, N.C. State football coach Dave Doeren announced that Wilson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury against Mississippi State last Saturday. Wilson led the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles per game last year. Before he left the contest against the Bulldogs, Wilson had his first sack of the season. Wilson has led N.C. State in tackles each of the last two seasons with a total of 177. Last season, the Wolfpack went 6-1 in games where Wilson led the team in tackles. Wilson is a redshirt sophomore who took a medical redshirt two years ago after an injury during spring practice shortly after he enrolled in Raleigh. Wilson had surgeries on both of his shoulders last winter, which led to him missing spring practice.

Trent Gill: On Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C. State rolled past Furman 45-7 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Gill, the former Cedar Ridge kicker, had four punts for an average of 38 yards. Three of the punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. His longest was 41 yards. The Wolfpack are 2-1 and will face #5 Clemson next weekend in Raleigh.

Keshawn Thompson: It was another big week for the former Orange linebacker. Campbell hammered Presbyterian 72-0 at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek. Thompson had his first career interception for the Camels. He also registered two tackles. The past two weeks, Thompson led the team in tackles. Campbell is now 1-2 and will travel to North Alabama next Saturday to open Big South Conference action.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team defeated Furman 2-0 on Thursday in its final nonconference game of the season. Hodges played all 90 minutes for Elon, who improved to 5-3. Hodges has played 685 out of 690 possible minutes so far this season. The Phoenix will travel to UNC Wilmington to open Colonial Athletic Association action this afternoon.

Emerson Talley: The all-time leading goal scorer in Cedar Ridge women’s soccer history made her college debut for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne last week. The Bears defeated Francis Marion 6-0 at Mortez Sports Complex in Hickory. Talley came off the bench to play 30 minutes. On Saturday, it was a matchup between two former Cedar Ridge players when Lenoir-Rhyne faced #21 Limestone, featuring goalkeeper Taylin Jean. Neither Talley nor Jean played. Lenoir-Rhyne defeated the Saints 3-2 to improve to 3-0-2. It was the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland. Daley made her sixth start of the season and played all 90 minutes. On Wednesday, Bridgewater College defeated Greensboro 5-1 in Virginia. Daley also started and played the distance. The Pride are 2-4.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team defeated Ferrum 3-1 in its USA South Athletic Conference opener at WakeMed Soccer Parkin Cary on Saturday night. Rogers started and played all 90 minutes. On Wednesday, Rogers also went the distance as the Pacers played a scoreless tie against Brevard College at Ives-Lemel Family Field in Brevard on Wednesday. Peace now has a four-game unbeaten streak and is 3-2-1 overall, 1-0 in the USA South.

Keshawn Thompson: It was a showdown between a former Orange Panther and a former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf at Barker-Lane Stadium in Buies Creek on Saturday. The Campbell Fighting Camels, featuring former Orange linebacker Keshawn Thompson, faced off against the Elon Phoenix, which included former Cedar Ridge linebacker Adam Chnupa. The Phoenix defeated the Camels 24-23. For the second week in a row, Thompson led Campbell in tackles with nine. Last week, Thompson was honorable mention for Big South weekly football honors. Campbell is 0-2. They will face Presbyterian on Saturday in Buies Creek.

Adam Chnupa: Elon is now 1-1 after the victory over Campbell. Chnupa played special teams for the Phoenix in the win. Elon will travel to Appalachian State on Saturday.

Payton Wilson: In N.C. State’s loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS, Wilson suffered a shoulder injury. Wilson did register his first sack of the season. He finished with three tackles. There’s no word yet on whether Wilson will miss any action. Mississippi State defeated N.C. State 24-10. The Wolfpack were deprived of its first road win against an SEC team since 1977.

Trenton Gill: Former Cedar Ridge punter Trenton Gill was too busy for the Wolfpack’s liking against Mississippi State. Gill had seven punts on Saturday night. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt. His longest was 55 yards. One of the punts was downed inside the 20-yard line. The Wolfpack will host Furman on Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

Rodney Brooks: After missing the opening game of the season for the Division II Livingstone Blue Bears, former Orange quarterback/defensive back Rodney Brooks made his season debut on Saturday. Savannah State, an FCS team, crushed Livingstone 50-6 at Theodore Wright Stadium in Savannah, GA. Brooks, a safety, had four tackles.

Bryse Wilson: On Sunday at PNC Park, the Washington Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Wilson suffered the loss for the Bucs. In four-and-one-third innings, Wilson surrendered five runs off seven hits and two walks. Luis Garcia, Alex Avila and Lane Thomas honored off of Wilson, who is now 2-7 this season with a 4.97 ERA. The Pirates travel to Miami next weekend.

Kayla Hodges: After a tight loss to N.C. State, the Elon women’s soccer team rebounded with consecutive wins last week. On Thursday, the Phoenix defeated Gardner-Webb 2-0 at Rudd Field in Elon. Hodges started and played all 90 minutes. On Sunday, the Phoenix defeated American University at Reeves Field in Washington, D.C. Once again, Hodges played the duration of the game and fired one of Elon’s ten shots against the Eagles. Through seven games, Hodges is tied for the team lead with two goals. Elon faces Furman on Friday in its final nonconference game of the year.

Brittany Daley: Emory University’s women’s soccer routed Greensboro College 6-0 in Atlanta on Saturday. Daley played all 90 minutes at centerback for Greensboro. The Pride will travel to Bridgewater on Wednesday.

Jordan Rogers: The Division III William Peace women’s soccer team has won two in a row. On Sunday, the Pacers defeated Ferrum 3-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Rogers started at wingback for Peace. On Wednesday, Peace defeated Johnson & Wales University 2-0 in Charlotte. It was Rogers’ 40th game for Peace. The Pacers are 2-2. They will travel to Brevard on Wednesday.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith College volleyball team won two out of three matches over the weekend. On Friday, Christopher Newport defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 on scores of 25-18, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-12 at Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh. For the first time this season, Lucas didn’t start for Meredith. She did finish with two kills, 14 assists and five digs. The Avenging Angels won both of its matches on Saturday. They opened with a sweep of Guilford on scores of 25-17, 25-8 and 25-22 at the Hermann Athletic Center in Raleigh. Lucas came off the bench and had 16 assists and one dig. Meredith defeated William Peace 3-1. Lucas led the Avenging Angels with 25 assists and seven digs. Meredith is 5-3 and will play a doubleheader against Brevard and Maryville on Friday in Brevard.

Bryse Wilson: On Monday night, the former Orange High pitcher had possibly his best outing since he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June. In six innings against the Detroit Tigers, Wilson conceded three runs off six hits. He struck out four and walked two. Wilson threw five shutout innings, but gave him all three of his runs in the sixth. Detroit’s Niko Goodrum had a two-run double to right to tie the game. Pittsburgh would eventually win with four runs in the seventh inning. Wilson earned a no decision. Of Wilson’s 83 pitches, 57 were strikes. Wilson is slated to start again this weekend when the Pirates face the Washington Nationals at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team fought tooth-and-nail against N.C. State at Dail Soccer Field in Raleigh on Sunday. The Wolfpack squeezed out a 1-0 victory over the Phoenix. The Wolfpack’s Jenna Butler scored the game’s only goal in the 59th minute. Hodges started for Elon and played all 90 minutes. Elon falls to 2-3. They will host Gardner-Webb at Rudd Field in Elon tonight.

Taylin Jean: Jean, the 2019 Big 8 Goalkeeper of the Year at Cedar Ridge, made her season debut for the Division II Limestone women’s soccer team on Sunday. Limestone defeated Francis Marion 5-0 at Hartzler Field in Florence, SC. Jean entered the game as a replacement goalkeeper for starter Katie Maher. In 26 minutes of action, Jean made one save. Jean is a junior who is majoring in Athletic Training at Limestone. The Saints are 2-0. They travel to Chowan on Thursday night.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team got back on the winning track with a 2-0 victory over Ferrum in Ferrum, VA on Tuesday. Daley, a former All-Big 8 Conference center back at Cedar Ridge, started in her 55th career game for the Pride. She helped goalkeepers Lindsay Fox and Hannah Rice earned the Pride’s first clean sheet of the season. Greensboro is 2-1 and will travel to Atlanta on Saturday to face Emory University. Last spring, Daley earned USA South All-Academic honors by earning a 3.9 GPA. In 2020, Daley played every minute in all eight games.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team welcomed fans back to Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh on Tuesday night. Randolph-Macon defeated the Avenging Angels 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 14-25, 25-19 and 25-22. Lucas, a former Orange High All-Big 8 Conference performer, started her fifth match of the season for Meredith. She tallied 19 assists and six digs. Meredith will be back at home this Friday night against Christopher Newport University. The Avenging Angels are 3-2.

Scott Satterfield: Satterfield, a 1991 Orange High graduate who went on to play quarterback and went on to become the head coach at Appalachian State, started his third season as head coach at Louisville on Monday night. Ole Miss routed the Cardinals 43-24 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Cardinals were held scoreless in the first half against the Rebels, just the second time the Cardinals have not scored in the first half under Satterfield. Louisville will try to rebound when they host Eastern Kentucky at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday.

Alvis Whitted: Whitted, a 1993 Orange High graduate, started his second season as wide receivers coach with the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. Wisconsin, who is now ranked #18 in the country, fell to #11 Penn State 16-10 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WS. Whitted formally served as an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers and Colorado State. He started his coaching career as an assistant at Orange. Wisconsin will host Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

Antonio King: King, who was the head coach of the Cedar Ridge football program in 2018, is now the running backs coach for North Carolina Central. The Eagles stunned Alcorn State 23-14 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on August 28. The Eagles will travel to Marshall on Saturday at Edwards Stadium in Huntington, WV.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith Avenging Angels volleyball team opened its season with four matches in four days. Meredith started with a 3-1 win over Roanoke at the Cregger Center in Salem, VA. Meredith won on scores of 16-25, 25-10, 25-16, 26-24. Lucas started and played all four sets. She had 17 assists, an ace and four digs. On Friday, the Avenging Angels swept Geneva on tallies of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-6 to start play at the Marlin Invitational in Virginia Beach, VA at TowneBank Arena. Lucas led the team with 14 assists in the win over the Golden Tornadoes. She also had two digs. On Saturday, Virginia Wesleyan defeated Meredith 3-0. Lucas had nine assists and five digs. To end the weekend, the Avenging Angels defeated Mary Washington 3-1. Once again, Lucas led the team with 20 assists. She also registered six digs.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson returned from the injured list for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The White Sox defeated the Pirates 4-2. Wilson suffered the loss after he threw five innings. He surrendered four runs off six hits. Yasmani Grandal hit a solo homer off Wilson in the second inning. Jose Abreu lauded a solo homer off Wilson in the third. This season, Wilson is 2-6 with a 4.61 ERA.

Kayla Hodges: Hodges scored her second goal of the series for Elon in a 3-0 win over UNC Asheville on Thursday at Greenwood Field in Asheville. Hodges scored the game’s second goal off an assist from Abby Fusca in the 24th minute. She fired two shots against the Bulldogs. On August 26, Virginia Tech defeated Elon 7-1 at Thompson Field in Blacksburg, VA. Hodges started as a defensive midfielder. Elon is 2-2 and will travel to N.C. State later today (Sunday).

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team suffered a loss to Roanoke 2-0 in its season opener on Wednesday. Daley, a former Cedar Ridge All-Conference selection, started her 37th game with Greensboro as a center back. It was her 40th game. On Saturday, Greensboro rebounded with a 2-1 win over Johnson & Wales University at Pride Field. Daley started for the Pride once again.

Jordan Rogers: Rogers started her senior season for the Division III William Peace women’s soccer team. On Wednesday, Guilford College defeated Peace 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. On Saturday, Randolph College shut out the Pacers 2-0. Rogers started both games as a wingback.

Keshawn Thompson: The former Orange defensive back led Campbell in tackles in its loss to Liberty at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. Thompson had a career-high 13 tackles for the Camels, who lost to the Flames 48-7 to open the 2021 season. This was Campbell’s first game since last fall. Unlike many FCS schools, the Camels didn’t play last spring. Next week, Campbell will host Elon.

Payton Wilson: To open his third season with the Wolfpack, Wilson had two tackles as the Wolfpack routed South Florida 45-0 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Wilson had one-half tackle for loss as he was in and out of the lineup throughout the night. The Wolfpack will travel to Mississippi State on Saturday.

Trent Gill: N.C. State only punted three times against the Bulls. Gill, a former Cedar Ridge football and soccer player, had two of the punts for a 45-yard average. Gill’s longest punt was 45 yards. Both of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. Gill also had eight kickoffs, four of which were touchbacks. His average kickoff was 64.6 yards.

Adam Chnupa: Former Cedar Ridge linebacker Adam Chnupa started his redshirt sophomore season at Elon with a tremendous game against Wofford at Rhodes Stadium. The Terriers defeated the Phoenix 24-22 on Saturday. Chnupa made one tackle as the Phoenix dropped its opener.

Colin Guentensberger: Guentensberger, who led the 2018 Orange football team in tackles, suffered a torn ACL and MCL during practice with Appalachian State’s football team. Guentensberger is a junior walk-on with the Mountaineers.

Phillip Berger: The season of the Elizabethton River Riders of the Appalachian League ended on August 7 with a 4-2 loss to the Danville Otterbots at Northeast Community Credit Union Park. Berger ended the year 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA, including the first two wins in the history of the franchise. Despite being a middle reliever, Berger led Elizabethton in wins. In 22 innings, Berger had 19 strikeouts and nine walks. The last game that Berger pitched for the River Riders was on July 16 in a 13-10 loss to Pulaski at Calfee Park in Pulaski, VA. In two innings, Berger surrendered two runs off three hits. On July 10 against Johnson City, Berger threw three innings and surrendered two hits and one run with three walks. The Doughboys defeated the River Riders 6-5. The River Riders finished in second place in the Appalachian League’s West Division with a 26-22 record, six-and-a-half games behind the Greenville Flyboys, who captured the league championship with a 9-8 win over the Pulaski River Turtles in Greenville, TN. Berger will start his junior season at Division III William Peace University in Raleigh next week.

Joey Berini: The Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League ended its season on July 30 with a 18-9 loss to the High Point-Thomasville HiToms at Finch Field in Thomasville. In 20 games, Berini hit .290 for the Copperheads with 20 hits and eleven RBIs. In a 9-7 win over the Forest City Owls on July 29, Berini went 2-for-4 and scored Asheboro’s final run off an error. Berini also had a single in the second inning and scored off a double by Will Stewart. On July 24 against the Holly Springs Salamanders, Berini went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Asheboro finished the second half of the season 12-10, five games behind the West Division champion, the Savannah Bananas. Savannah swept both halves of the West Division and captured the Pettit Cup with a 13-3 win over the Morehead City Marlins in game three of the best-of-three Coastal Plain League Championship Series.

Bryse Wilson: On Saturday, Wilson started his third game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. At PNC Park, Wilson got a no-decision in the opening game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers. Over four innings, Wilson surrendered four runs on seven hits. Kolten Wong and Tyrone Taylor homered off Wilson. After Wilson left the game, the Pirates exploded for eight runs over the course of the fifth and sixth innings to win 14-4. In Wilson’s second start with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati edged the Pirates 3-2 at the Great American Ball Park. In six innings, Wilson struck out seven with one walk. He gave up six hits and three runs. Wilson is 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA.

Payton Wilson: Entering his redshirt sophomore season at N.C. State, Wilson was named to the Butkus Award watch list. The Butkus Award goes to the nation’s top linebacker. Last season, Wilson was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He ranked fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in overall tackles and 13th in tackles per game. Wilson was named ACC Linebacker of the Week three times. Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be named November 1, with finalists named on November 22. N.C. State starts its season against South Florida on September 2 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. The Wolfpack will then journey to Mississippi State on September 11.

Trey Grizzle: Grizzle, who graduated from Orange in June, committed to Averett University, where he will play defensive end. Last season, Grizzle played defense and tight end. He has announced plans to major in biology. Averett is a Division III school out of Danville, VA.