Orange Softball

In terms of sports arguments created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the surfaced hasn’t even been touched, much less scratched.

Those who care about high school sports across northern Orange County will be left to wonder whether Cedar Ridge 3rd baseman Takia Nichols could have broken Mia Davidson’s statewide home run record of 53 with a full slate in her sophomore and junior seasons (and if she had played home games in a smaller ballpark). Or whether the Orange baseball team could have captured the Big 8 Conference championship before the pandemic ended its season after just five games in 2020.

The Orange softball team now has created its own realm of argument. The players, comprised primarily of sophomores and freshmen, didn’t create a 12-game regular season schedule in a sport where the standard slate is around 20 games. They just had to play it.

And history will show they did it very well.

On Thursday night, the Orange softball team became the first team in Hillsborough history to finish a regular season undefeated with a 12-0 win over Northern Durham at Knights Softball Field. Orange completed the year 12-0. The 2017 Orange team, which claimed the 3A State Championship, finished the regular season 18-2 with losses to J.F. Webb (then a conference rival) and perennial 2A power South Granville.

Cedar Ridge’s 2018 team ended the regular season 15-1, with its lone blemish a 2-1 loss to Roxboro Community School in the second week of the year.

Orange had a nonconfernece game scheduled at Southern Alamance for Friday night, but it was canceled Thursday.

Thus, the Lady Panthers didn’t play any non-Big 8 Conference games during the regular season. Whether a contest against Person or Southern Alamance would have led to a loss going into the state playoffs is a topic of debate.

What is undebatable is that Orange rolled through the Big 8 in dominant fashion. They outscored opponents 167-16. Of its 12 wins, six were shutouts and ten were via the run rule (the game was stopped early because Orange led by at least ten runs after five innings).

On Thursday, Junior catcher Lauren Jackson finished 4-for-4 with two home runs, including a two-run blast during a six-run 3rd inning. Jackson also doubled in the seventh.

Pitcher Gracie Walker improved to 4-0. In five innings, Walker surrendered only one hit with eight strikeouts. She retired the first nine Knights she faced. Northern didn’t get its first batter on base until catcher Abi Walker was hit by a bounced pitch to lead off the fourth. Aubrey Clayton’s single in the fourth, which was nearly caught by freshman left fielder Delaney Shaffer, was the only hit that Walker conceded.

The Knights (11-3) never had a runner reach third base.

Orange pounded out 17 hits, tied for its second-best total of the year (they had 21 against Cedar Ridge on March 23). Jackson led off the second inning with a low line drive of a home run that cleared the centerfield fence by inches.

It appeared Orange would go away meekly in the third after its first two batters were retired. Serenity McPherson, who hit safely in all 12 of Orange’s games this year, stroked a double to left centerfield to start of string of seven consecutive Panther hits. Carson Bradsher bounced a 2-1 fastball up the middle to score McPherson and the parade was underway.

Caden Robinson sent a pop fly down the left field line which led to Bradsher racing home from second. Jackson launched a two-run homer that nearly reached the walking track beyond left field to increase Orange’s lead to 5-0. After Mary Moss Wirt and Kelsey Tackett each stroked singles to right field, senior Emma Puckett lined a 1-1 fastball to the fence in right field to bring in two more runs.

Though Orange had several threats, they failed to score in the subsequent three innings. The dry spell ended with five runs in the seventh inning. Jackson started with a leadoff double capped with a headfirst slide. Senior Gracie Colley, in her only plate appearance of the night, singled up the middle to score courtesy runner Brianna Wilkins. After Puckett singled, freshman Delaney Shaffer lined a fastball up the middle to score Colley. Courtney Watkins bounced another hit over second base. McPherson lined a two-run single to left field.

Robinson and Watkins pitched the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

Orange preserved the shutout after a spectacular play in the final frame by Wirt. After Northern had runners at first and second with no one out, Wirt made a diving catch on a soft liner hit by Northern’s Savannah Burton, then practically landed on second base to double up Macey Ellis, who led off with a double.

Orange will now await to see the 3A State Tournament bracket this weekend. They will host a playoff game next week.

The Orange softball team became the first squad in school history to go through the regular season undefeated on Thursday night. The Lady Panthers defeated Northern Durham 12-0 to finish the regular season at 12-0. It was Orange’s sixth shutout of the year. Junior second baseman Mary Moss Wirt helped preserve the whitewashing with an unassisted double play in the 7th inning after Northern placed its first two batters aboard with no one out. Catcher Lauren Jackson hit two home runs. She led off the second inning with a line drive laser that barely cleared the fence in centerfield. Orange scored six runs in the third inning, getting all of its baserunners after two outs were recorded. Jackson hit a two-run homer to left field. She later added a double off the centerfield fence as the Lady Panthers piled up 17 hits. After an undefeated regular season and claiming the Big 8 Conference Championship, the Lady Panthers now await the announcement of the 3A State Championship bracket. Orange will be the #1 seed from the Big 8 Conference and will host a playoff game next week in Hillsborough.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is softball sophomore shortstop Carson Bradsher. On Friday night, Bradsher went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBIs as the Lady Panthers defeated Northwood 13-2 at Charger Softball Field. In the fifth inning alone, Bradsher had two RBIs singles and scored twice. Through ten games, Bradsher leads Orange in seven offensive categories. She’s hitting .700, which also leads the Big 8 Conference. She has 21 hits, 21 runs, 18 RBIs, seven doubles, and four triples, along with eleven stolen bases. Softball is a family affair for Bradsher. Her mother, Shannon, played softball under former head coach Dave Murr at Orange when it was exclusively a slow-pitch sport. Her father, Wayne, is an assistant under head coach Johnny Barefoot. Wayne is a graduate of Orange and Carson admits to getting her quickness from her father. This week, Orange will play its final home game of the regular season. They face Southern Durham on Tuesday. Orange will travel to Southern Alamance on Wednesday in Graham, then travel to Northern Durham on Friday to wrap up the regular season. The Lady Panthers, who have already clinched the Big 8 Championship, are 10-0.

Jaylin Jones: Former Orange lacrosse, football and track & field star Jaylin Jones had a special moment on a rainy day for the Division III Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team on Saturday. Jones scored a goal for the Falcons, who defeated William Peace University 24-11 at Lefko Field in Misenheimer. Jones, on his senior day, scored an unassisted goal during a 12-0 Falcon run in the second quarter. It was Jones’ first goal of the season. He also scooped up two ground balls. Pfeiffer set a school record with its ninth consecutive win. The Falcons finished the regular season 10-1, 8-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference. Next Saturday, Pfeiffer will host Greensboro College for the USA South Athletic Conference Eastern Division Championship.

Wyatt Jones: Jones, the first Orange player to suit up for a Division I lacrosse team, returned to action for Mercer on Saturday. #14 Richmond defeated the Bears 21-8 at Five Star Stadium in Macon, GA. Jones entered the game and fired one shot on net. Mercer is 5-7 overall, 2-3 in the Southern Conference.

Bryse Wilson: In his second start with the Atlanta Braves this season, Wilson suffered a loss on Sunday. The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Atlanta 5-0 in seven innings in the opening game of a doubleheader at Truist Park in Cumberland, GA. Wilson surrendered three runs and four hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked two. Wilson is 1-1. The Braves didn’t score a run in the doubleheader. They were no-hit in the second game by Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner in a 7-0 loss.

Landon Riley: The Liberty Flames defeated Coastal Carolina 6-4 on Sunday to clinch the series at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, VA. Riley worked the ninth inning for his fifth save of the season. Against five batters, Riley allowed two hits, but also struck out the side. The Flames are now 27-10 after taking two-out-of-three against the Chanticleers. They are 16-2 at home.

Joey Berini: In a weekend series against UCF, Berini entered two games for #9 East Carolina as a pinch hitter. In a 10-5 loss to the Knights on Friday, Berini picked up his second hit as a Pirate with a leadoff single the sixth inning. On Sunday, UCF defeated the Pirates 6-1. Berini struck out to end the game. East Carolina is 28-7, 10-2 in the American Athletic Conference.

Phillip Berger: The Division III William Peace baseball team had its season come to an end after losing to Greensboro College on Sunday. Berger started for the Pacers and suffered the loss. The Pride defeated the Pacers 5-4 at Ted Leonard Park in Greensboro. Berger started and threw four innings. He surrendered seven runs off eleven hits. Berger struck out three with zero walks. On Friday, Greensboro edged Peace 5-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader. Berger threw one inning of relief and surrendered two runs off two hits and two walks. He ends the year 5-4 with a 4.85 ERA. Berger recorded 39 strikeouts and 25 walks in his sophomore season.

Cooper Porter: Porter threw one-thirds of an inning for Pensacola State in its 12-3 win over Gulf Coast State College on Sunday in the opening game of a doubleheader. He struck out the only batter he faced. Pensacola State is 24-16. Porter has played 15 games for the Pirates this season. He is hitting .265 with one home run and six RBIs. He has two pitching appearances this year.

Mia Davidson: On Friday night, Davidson tweeted that she had been accepted to Graduate School. On Saturday, Davidson’s Mississippi State softball team won its first game against an Southeastern Conference opponent this year when they defeated Texas A&M 8-1 at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Davidson hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, her 14th of the year. Davidson is now one home run shy of the all-time baseball and softball home run record in Mississippi State history, set by Rafael Palmeiro. Davidson has 66 career homers. On Saturday, she went 1-for-2 with 4 RBIs and a run scored. She also threw a runner out at third to end the fifth inning. Texas A&M defeated Mississippi State 7-5 on Friday. Davidson went 0-for-3. On Sunday, the Aggies clinched the series over the Bulldogs with an 8-1 win. Davidson finished 1-for-3 with the first single of the game.

Montana Davidson: On Sunday, Montana started at third base for Mississippi State and finished 1-for-2 with a walk. In Friday loss, Montana went 0-for-2. On Saturday, she finished 0-for-3. Mississippi State is 25-21 overall, 1-14 in the SEC. The Bulldogs travel to South Carolina next weekend.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team swept Samford in a three-game series this weekend at UNCG Softball Stadium. Dalehite entered the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, a 1-0 Spartan victory, as a pinch runner for designated player Kayleigh Willis. UNCG is 25-14 overall.

Jaden Hurdle: The Patrick Henry Community College softball team swept a doubleheader from Florence-Darlington Technical College on Friday. The Patriots have won six of its last seven. In the nightcap, Hurdle earned the win in the pitching circle as PHCC prevailed 8-5. Hurdle replaced starter Brianna Taylor in the fifth inning. Hurdle tossed three innings of shutout ball. She conceded two hits and one walk with one strikeout. At the plate, Hurdle went 1-for-4. Patrick Henry won the opener 4-3 in ten innings. Hurdle finished 1-for-3 with two walks. Through 30 games, Hurdle is 3rd on the team in batting average (.369), RBIs (22), home runs (6) and hits (31). She’s second on the squad with 15 extra base hits.

In terms of pitching, Hurdle is now 4-1 with a 5.12 ERA. She has 26 strikeouts and ten walks.

PITTSBORO–On a late April night where temperatures plunged into the low-50s in Chatham County, the Orange Lady Panthers bats were as chilly as the weather.

Until they weren’t.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead after four innings, Orange scored ten runs in the top of the fifth to defeat Northwood 13-2 at Charger Softball Field. The Lady Panthers (10-0, 6-0), with the Big 8 Conference Championship already secured, are off to its best start since the 2017 3A State Championship season.

Junior catcher Lauren Jackson launched a 3-run homer to vault Orange ahead 8-2 and chase Northwood starting pitcher Caroline Garner from the game. Freshman Delaney Shaffer, who went 4-for-5 in the Lady Panthers’ win over Cedar Ridge last Friday, led off the fifth with a double down the left field line. She was the first of eight straight Lady Panthers to reach base safely in the 5th to break the game open.

Orange’s second turn through the batting order bore no resemblance to its first. Garner alternated her fastball with a changeup and an occasional knuckleball to hold the Lady Panthers to only two hits in the first two innings. Carson Bradsher, who singled for Orange’s first hit, scored the Lady Panthers’ only run in the first inning off a double steal after Mary Moss Wirt drew a throw to second base.

Bradsher, a sophomore who leads Orange in ten offensive categories, finished 4-for-4 with a triple and 3 RBIs. In her first full season at the varsity level, Bradsher is hitting .700 with 18 RBIs and eleven extra base hits.

“Lately, we’ve been playing at a level where we’ve been just getting by,” said Orange Coach Johnny Barefoot. “I kept telling them we need to wake up and get back to playing Panther softball. It took about the third inning. Then when Delaney Shaffer got that hit, it’s like the light came on and everybody got back in the groove.”

Orange pushed its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Bradsher singled to left field to bring in Serenity McPherson, who reached on an one-out error in the previous at-bat.

Lady Panthers pitcher Gracie Walker, who improved to 4-0, needed only five pitches to cruise through the first inning. The rest of her night was much more strenuous.

In the third, Northwood catcher Called Perchinsky sent a cue shot down the first base line that was originally foul but rolled back fair to reach first safely. Walker issued walks to Carlee Harris and Erika Seils to load the bases, which led to third baseman Zoe Hatzidakis to record an RBI groundout on a ball hit to Bradsher. Courtesy runner Giselle Fallas scored to cut Orange’s lead in half. With Harris and Seils in scoring position, Walker struck out Abi McLaurin swinging to end the inning.

Northwood centerfielder Caroline Dorshimer led off the bottom of the fourth with a line drive to the left-centerfield gap for a double. After Sue Lee moved Dorshimer to third on a sacrifice bunt, Garner grounded out to Bradsher, which allowed Dorshmier to score. Jessica Watkins, representing the tying run, walked and stole second with two out, but Walker again got a strikeout to escape the inning.

That’s when Northwood’s upset bid ended.

After Shaffer’s leadoff double, McPherson walked. Bradsher legged out an infield single on a grounder to Lee, which scored Shaffer. Then Bradsher, who has mastered the art of getting into a rundown and still winding up safe, preceded to do exactly that. As Bradsher ran between first and second, Northwood’s third baseman threw the ball into left field, which allowed McPherson to come in. Bradsher wound up at third.

After Mary Moss Wirt was hit by a pitch, Jackson sent an 0-1 fastball deep over the wall in right field, landing just shy of the Northwood batting cage. In a span of five batters, Orange turned a close game into a 8-2 margin and they were just getting warmed up.

Harris replaced Garner as pitcher, but Kelsey Tackett drilled a single to left field. Gracie Walker lined a double to the right field warning track. Courtney Watkins, starting in place of Caden Robinson, reached on an error to plate Tackett. Watkins scored next off a sacrifice fly by Savannah Wynne, the ninth batter in the inning and the first one to be retired.

Shaffer and McPherson reached on consecutive singles, which led to Bradsher’s 2nd RBI single of the inning on a looper to right. Wirt drilled a first-pitch fastball to centerfield to bring in Bradsher and McPherson.

In all, Orange sent 14 batters to the plate in the 5th inning to score ten runs off nine hits, two errors, a walk and a hit by pitch.

Watkins threw a scoreless fifth inning, striking out two, to end the game. Of Orange’s ten wins, nine have ended via the run rule (10 run lead after five innings).

Orange has scheduled Southern Durham for a senior night game on Tuesday night, where seniors Emma Puckett and Gracie Colley will be honored before the first pitch. The Lady Panthers will play its only nonconference game at Southern Alamance on Wednesday before concluding the regular season at Northern Durham next Friday.

The Orange softball team remains undefeated after beating Northwood 13-2 in five innings on Friday night in Pittsboro. It was actually a tight game going into the fifth inning. The Lady Panthers led 3-2. Then Delaney Shaffer led off the 5th with a double down the left field line, the first of eight straight Lady Panthers to get on base. Lauren Jackson punctuated the explosion with a three-run homer over the right field wall. It was her second home run of the season. Orange now goes into the final week of the regular season with its best start since the 2017 3A State Championship season. On Tuesday, Orange will commemorate senior night against Southern Durham, the final game that will count in the Big 8 Conference standings this year. Seniors Gracie Colley and Emma Puckett will be honored before first pitch.