Orange Baseball

Only a handful of baseball programs across the state can say they’ve won a game in the state playoffs for seven consecutive years. But Orange is one of them after Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over Jacksonville at Cardinals Stadium. Jaydin Poteat went 2-for-4 and scored in each of the first two innings. Jason Slaughter had three RBIs and also finished 2-for-4. Kaymin Matsko earned the win by throwing four innings, giving up only two runs. Dalton Brown singled, scored and threw two key innings of relief as the Panthers advanced to face Chapel Hill on Saturday night at 7, a game you can here on Hillsboroughsports.com

Orange Senior Jaydin Poteat, Jason Slaughter, Kaymin Matsko & Dalton Brown Discuss Playoff Win over

Only a handful of baseball programs across the state can say they’ve won a game in the state playoffs for seven consecutive years. But Orange is one of them after Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over Jacksonville at Cardinals Stadium. Jaydin Poteat went 2-for-4 and scored in each of the first two innings.

For the third time in four weeks, Caige Clayton came in from third base and pitched the final outs of a big Orange win. Clayton struck out the final two Jacksonville batters, with two men on base, to preserve Orange’s 6-2 win over the Cardinals. Clayton drove in the first run of the game with a double off the left field wall, scoring Jaydin Poteat. To prepare for a three-hour bus ride to Jacksonville, Clayton had a steady breakfast which included diligent attention to making his cereal, as he discusses in this interview. 

Orange 3rd Baseman and Closer Caige Clayton Discusses Getting Save vs. Jacksonville and the Finer P

For the third time in four weeks, Caige Clayton came in from third base and pitched the final outs of a big Orange win. Clayton struck out the final two Jacksonville batters, with two men on base, to preserve Orange’s 6-2 win over the Cardinals.

Bryse Wilson: Five starts with the Florida Fire Frogs was enough for the brass in the Atlanta Braves organization to see Bryse Wilson should be promoted. On Saturday, Wilson was called up to the Mississippi Braves of the AA Southern League. The transaction came after Wilson threw six-and-two-thirds shutout innings for the Fire Frogs against the Bradenton Marauders on Wednesday. Wilson departs Kissimmee, Florida with a 2-0 record and a 0.34 ERA. In four of Wilson’s five starts, he didn’t give up an earned run. He struck out 26 and walked seven. He’s expected to make his Southern League debut next week.

Mia Davidson: In Sunday’s 6-1 loss to #7 Tennessee, former Orange High catcher Mia Davidson set the Mississippi State softball record for most home runs in a season by a freshman. She launched her 18th home run in the 3rd inning. On Saturday in Mississippi State’s 10-3 win over the Volunteers, Davidson tied the record with her 17th homer. Mississippi State, ranked #24 in the country, concluded the regular season 35-20 overall, 7-17 in the SEC. Davidson concluded the regular season leading the team in batting average (.385), hits (66), doubles (13), home runs (18), RBI (46), total bases (133), slugging percentage (.733), and on-base percentage.

Mackenzie Cates: The Efland native was named the Lenoir-Rhyne Female Athlete of the Year on Wednesday during the first-ever Bears Choice Awards. Cates was named to the 2019 All-South Atlantic Conference First Team last week. She leads the Lenoir-Rhyne softball team in home runs (12) and RBI (42). Lenoir-Rhyne was upset by Carson-Newman in the first round of the SAC Softball Quarterfinals 6-0 on April 27. Nonetheless, the Bears are expected to receive a high-seed when the NCAA Division II Softball Tournament brackets are unveiled this week.

Brandon Andrews: The former Cedar Ridge pitcher earned his first college win as Nicholls defeated Stephen F. Austin 22-10 on Saturday in Nacogdoches, Texas. Andrews, a freshman with the Colonels, threw three shutout innings, giving up one hit, striking out one. He retired ten of the eleven batters he faced. Andrews also pitched on May 2 in Nicholls 17-8 win over Prairie View in Prairie View, TX. Against the Panthers, Andrews threw two shutout innings, striking out two. Nicholls is 21-27, 10-13 in the Southland Conference going into Sunday’s series-finale against Stephen F. Austin.

Jordan Toney: The former Orange pitcher started for UNC Pembroke against Georgia Southwestern on April 28. He gave up 12 hits and seven runs in four-and-two-thirds innings as the Braves defeated the Hurricanes 13-7. Toney also started against Flagler on April 21st, also getting a no-decision. Toney threw six-and-a-third innings, giving up six hits, three runs, striking out three. This season, Toney is 3-0 with a 6.04 ERA in eight starts. He’s made 13 appearances on the mound.

Brad Debo: Debo made pinch-hitting appearances on Friday and Saturday against William & Mary. Debo got a base hit in the Wolfpack’s 4-0 win over the Tribe on Friday. In a 5-4 loss to Campbell on Wednesday, Debo had a pinch-hit RBI single. Debo is hitting .276 and has started 22 of the Wolfpack’s 46 games. N.C. State is 33-12.

Bowen Collins: The former Orange midfielder played in Lenoir-Rhyne’s win over Queens in the South Atlantic Conference men’s lacrosse tournament. The Bears lost the championship game to Wingate 12-9 on April 29.

Jaydin Poteat is far too young to know who Vanessa Williams is, but he certainly is taking the theme from her signature song, released in 1991.

He’s saving the best for last.

Poteat, an Orange senior who has started in centerfield the past three years, led off the final regular season game of his 73-game career against Northern by lining a 1-0 fastball over the left field wall.

It was the first home run of Poteat’s high school career, extending his hitting streak to a team-best seven games.

Poteat finished 4-for-5, Dalton Brown threw five innings for his third win and Orange scored nine unanswered runs to beat the Knights 10-2 in the regular season finale at Knights Field.

Orange (12-10, 10-4 in the big 8) sewed up third place in the Big 8, ensuring a spot in the 3A state playoffs. The Panthers will be on the road to open the playoffs on Tuesday. The 64-team field will be released on Sunday.

Poteat was mobbed by his teammates at the plate, which appeared to be an emotional release for a team that needed it. Earlier on Thursday, the news broke that starting pitcher Will White suffered a broken bone in his right foot, likely sidelining him for the rest of the season. White suffered the injury in the first inning of Tuesday’s game against Northern when a liner went off his right leg. Though he refused to come out of the game at first, it was clear White was hampered. Northern tagged White for four runs in the second inning before he was replaced by Kaymin Matsko.

On Thursday with the game tied 1-1 in the top of the fifth,  Orange scored nine unanswered runs to take its fifth straight win. Moments after Northern’s Cole Singsank tied the game off a wild pitch, Nas Powell led off the fifth by reaching on an error. Poteat and Joey Berini walked to load the bases. Jason Slaughter drew a bases-loaded walk against new Knights pitcher Jordan Snow. Catcher Cooper Porter was called out on a controversial infield fly, which appeared to be more of a looper to third base instead of a pop up, but Poteat tagged up and scored anyway even though the ball barely reached the outfield grass.

Berini and Slaughter scored off an error off a grounder to second hit by Mark Willms to push the Orange lead to 5-1.

Orange put across three more in the sixth, all with two out. Poteat singled but was thrown out on a fielder’s choice grounder hit by Berini. Slaughter reached on an error, sending Berini to third. With Caige Clayton at the plate, Berini scored on a wild pitch, and Slaughter moved to third on an error by the catcher. Orange would make it 8-1 after Clayton doubled to right to bring in Slaughter.

Clayton and Slaughter tied for the team lead with 20 RBI to conclude the regular season. Poteat scored in the 7th inning off a Berini double for his 24th run of the season, tops on the team. First baseman Trey Clayton singled in the 7th, and scored off of Poteat’s single to right.

Brown threw five innings for his third win  of the season, allowing three hits and one earned run.

Orange pitcher Dalton Brown earned his third win of the sesaon on Thursday in a 10-2 victory at Northern Durham in the regular season finale. In his ninth start of the season, Brown surrendered only one earned run on three hits to improve to 3-3. The win bolstered Orange’s record to 12-10 and ensured a winning season for the sixth straight year. Orange officially finished 3rd in the Big 8 playoffs, sewing up a spot in the state playoffs for the 16th year in a row. The Panthers start play in the 3A state playoffs on Tuesday.

Orange Pitcher Dalton Brown Discusses Beating Northern Durham in the Regular Season Finale

Orange pitcher Dalton Brown earned his third win of the sesaon on Thursday in a 10-2 victory at Northern Durham in the regular season finale. In his ninth start of the season, Brown surrendered only one earned run on three hits to improve to 3-3.

Jaydin Poteat’s final plate appearance at Orange High Field was befitting of his entire high school career. He was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning against Northern Durham. Poteat stole second, took third after Joey Berini was also hit by a pitch and scored off an infield single by Dayne Watkins. It was the 63rd run of Poteat’s career and helped the Panthers defeat the Knights 9-4 to improve to 11-10. Orange now has sole possession of 3rd place in the Big 8 with a 9-4 record.

Orange Senior CF Jaydin Poteat Discusses Scoring a Run in his Final Plate Appearance at Orange High

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Sometimes, baseball can become a sudden sport. On Tuesday night, Orange starting pitcher Will White was struck on the right foot by a line drive. He left the game an inning later. On short notice, Kaymin Matsko entered the game. Matsko, a senior, threw 4-and-one-third scoreless innings. Behind Matsko’s arm, Orange rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Northern Durham 9-4 to take over sole possession of third place in the Big 8. It was Matsko’s third win of his varsity career. Even though Matsko is a middle reliever, Tuesday night’s game wasn’t his longest outing. Last month against Wake County HomeSchools, Matsko threw six innings of relief.

Orange Senior Kaymin Matsko Talks Getting a Win on Senior Night

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