Bradsher hits three singles, Sawyer works long relief as Orange baseball grinds out sweep of Western Alamance 11-7
ELON: Any similarity between the Orange baseball team and the Duke men’s basketball during the ACC Tournament is purely coincidental.
And nearly identical.
Duke’s ACC Player of the Year Cooper Flagg suffered a sprained ankle during a nightmarish first half against Georgia Tech and didn’t return the rest of the weekend. They also lost utility forward Maliq Brown, but its depth was so thorough that it won the tournament championship anyway.
Last Monday, things seemed simple enough for Orange baseball coach Jason Knapp as he prepared for his first conference series against Western Alamance. His pitching rotation was set. Ryan Sawyer on Tuesday. Oliver Van Tiem, ranked as among the top pitchers in the class of 2027, would start on Friday in Elon.
It didn’t end up that way.
On Tuesday, Sawyer earned his fourth win of the year as the Panthers defeated the Warriors 8-1 in Hillsborough. In the fifth inning, Van Tiem injured his ankle he stepped on third base after he reached on a dropped ball in centerfield.
Suddenly, Knapp was without his Friday starter going to Elon, a place where Orange had lost in its last two trips.
If Van Tiem was Orange’s Flagg, then Mason Bullard was Maliq Brown. In the second inning against Western Alamance in Elon, Bullard sent a Baltimore chop that rose over the head of Warriors’ third baseman Bryce Runner and bounced along the third base line.
As he rounded first, Bullard pulled something in his back and was replaced by Eli Horton. Suddenly, Knapp had to replace in entire battery on another cold night at Western that didn’t start off well.
Yet the Panthers would overcome an early 4-1 deficit and pieced together an 11-7 win over Western Alamance on Friday. Senior Garrett Sawyer worked long relief, replacing starter Camryn Raspberry with one out in the first inning. Sawyer threw three-and-two-thirds innings to earn his first win of the year, allowing two hits and one run.
Garrett Sawyer nearly delivered the death blow in the third inning with the bases loaded, driving a first-pitch fastball to left field. Warriors’ left fielder Dawson Boysel backed up to the fence and made the catch. Instead of a grand slam, Sawyer had to be content with driving in Dominic O’Keefe, who scored the game-winning run, on a sacrifice fly.
“It goes back to all seniors,” Knapp said. “Garrett, Dominic and Eli Horton. We didn’t really have a great start. We didn’t make some plays behind Raspberry, who I thought did a really good job. We had to go to Garrett in a tough spot and got us out of the jam.”
Orange sophomore Kayden Bradsher, who has hit safely in eight of ten games, went opposite field on a leadoff single in the first. Sawyer legged out an infield single on a ball tapped back to the mound. Bradsher stole third and would score the first run of a long night off a groundout by Henry Hoffman.
The Warriors scored four runs in its side of the first when Cooper Marks reached on an error. Gavin Davis walked and Frederick Harrelson, who made several spectacular plays at shortstop defensively, reached on a groundout to Bradsher, who threw out Davis at second base. Harrelson stole second and Marks scored when the throw wound up in centerfield. Western’s Jackson Rippy reached on a dropped third strike wild pitch. With Jorge Banda at the plate, Harrelson touched the plate on a wild pitch. After Banda walked, Renner sent a grounder up the middle for a single to score Rippy. Ethan Oakley, running for Banda, scored off a passed ball to put the Warriors lead at 4-1.
Orange would tie the game in the second inning off three bases-loaded walks. Hoffman, Cam Brown and Gary Miller all drew RBIs.
The Panthers pulled away with five runs in the fifth. Hoffman drove in his third run of the game with a line drive to left field to bring in Mason Grooms, who’d drew a leadoff walk. Following a single by Brown, Miller and Raspberry drew walks. Horton sent a pop-up to second base that was dropped with two out, allowing Brown and Miller to score.
Orange pitcher Ryan Sawyer discusses win over Western Alamance
The Orange baseball team won its first two Central Conference games this week. The Panthers swept Western Alamance for the first time since the two teams became conference rivals in 2022. On Tuesday, junior Ryan Sawyer struck out ten batters as the Panthers defeated Western Alamance 8-1 in Hillsborough. In five appearances so far this year, Sawyer has won four starts with a 1.91 earned run average. Sawyer also struck out ten batters in a 7-1 win over East Chapel Hill last week. During the first week of the season, Sawyer threw four innings and held Chapel Hill to three runs in an 9-5 victory over the Tigers on February 26. Sawyer’s development has been important for an Orange team that lost its top two starters and much of its bullpen from last year. In 2025, Sawyer has become the Panthers regular Tuesday starter. Last year, Sawyer won two games coming out of the bullpen. On Friday night, Orange endured cold weather, injuries and a rough start to defeat Western Alamance 11-7 in Elon. Garrett Sawyer came in relief in the opening inning and grinded out three-and-two-thirds innings of relief to earn the win. Sophomore Kayden Bradsher went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Orange will travel to Person on Tuesday night.
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The Orange baseball team won its first two Central Conference games this week. The Panthers swept Western Alamance for the first time since the two teams became conference rivals in 2022. On Tuesday, junior Ryan Sawyer struck out ten batters as the Panthers defeated Western Alamance 8-1 in Hillsborough.
Orange Panther of the Week: Cameron Foster
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Cameron Foster. This season, Foster has consistently been among the two two singles players for head coach Justin Webb. With his doubles partner Porter Pelphrey, Orange has won matches over Voyager Academy, Roxboro Community School and Cedar Ridge through the first month of the season. On March 10, Foster defeated Cedar Ridge’s Grady Coleman 6-0, 6-0 as the Panthers rolled to a 9-0 win at Orange High Tennis Courts. Later that day, Foster and Pelphrey teamed to win at #1 doubles 8-1 as the Panthers won its first Central Conference match of the year. Foster has also teamed with Noah Jones in doubles. Last year, Foster frequently started at #1 singles for an Orange team that finished 12-7 overall. In 2024, Foster and Pelphrey nearly qualified for the 3A State Doubles championships. Foster’s goal for this spring is to earn a trip to the Burlington Tennis Center for the state championships. In addition, Foster plays saxophone and has performed with the Orange band. After he graduates in June, Foster plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill with a focus on music. In act, one of his favorite artists is Kenny G, who his parents turned him onto. Orange will return to action against Northwood in Pittsboro on Monday.
Orange Panther of the Week: Cameron Foster
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Cameron Foster. This season, Foster has consistently been among the two two singles players for head coach Justin Webb. With his doubles partner Porter Pelphrey, Orange has won matches over Voyager Academy, Roxboro Community School and Cedar Ridge through the first month of the season.
Alumni Update: Motley named new head coach of Lees-McRae men’s basketball
Desean Motley: The former quarterback for the Orange football team and guard for the basketball team has been named the new head coach of the Division II Lees-McRae men’s basketball team. Motley has been an assistant coach for the Bobcats since 2017. He has served on the staff of Steve Hardin, who resigned after 14 years earlier this month. Motley is a 2013 graduate of Orange High who was the leading scorer on the men’s basketball team his senior year. He played for his father, Greg Motley, the all-time winningest head coach in Orange men’s basketball history. Desean was also the quarterback at the dawn of the Orange football revival under former head coach Pat Moser. With Motley operating the single-wing offense, the Panthers went 11-3 in 2012, its first 10-win season since 1978. Motley was behind center when Orange defeated Eastern Alamance 14-13 in the 3A State Quarterfinals. His appointment as the head coach at Lees-McRae capped an incredible week for the Motley family. Greg Motley led the Southern Durham men’s basketball team to a win over Swansboro at Lawrence-Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem to capture the Spartans’ first Eastern Regional championship since 1959.
Mia Davidson: The Diablos Rojos del Mexico have advanced to the championship series of the Mexican Softball League. The Diablos defeated Charros de Jalisco three-games-to-one in a best-of-five series. In the fourth and deciding game on Saturday, the Diablos won 7-3. Davidson hit two home runs in game three, which Charros won 17-9.
Takia Nichols: In its first MEAC series of the year, North Carolina Central was swept by Howard at Nationals Youth Park in Washington, D.C. this weekend. Nichols hit her first home run of the season on Saturday, a two-run blast in the third. The Bison came back to win 6-5. On Sunday, Nichols hit a solo home run in the fifth that put the Eagles ahead 5-4. Nichols started the game with a RBI double in the first inning. The Bison scored four runs in the fourth inning to beat the Eagles 8-5. On Wednesday, the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T 4-3 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. Nichols drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.
Carson Bradsher: The former Orange High softball shortstop was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Playing for Division III Averett College in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic at Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, Bradsher hit .600 over eight games. She scored eight runs and stole six bases in six attempts. In a 2-1 win over #19 Muskingham, Bradsher finished 2-for-3. On March 8, Bradsher went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base in an 8-1 Cougars win. On Saturday, North Carolina Wesleyan swept a doubleheader from Averett in Rocky Mount. Bradsher went 4-for-7 with a run scored in the doubleheader. Averett is 8-8.
Ava Lowry: Starting for N.C. Wesleyan at shortstop, Lowry hit .500 in the Battling Bishops doubleheader sweep of Averett. In a 12-3 nightcap win, Lowry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, driving in two runs with a single during a six-run 3rd inning. In the opener, Lowry went 1-for-3. N.C. Wesleyan went 4-2 in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic. Lowry hit .467 over the six games. Wesleyan defeated #23 Randolph-Macon 4-2 on March 8, which included Lowry hitting a home run. She finished 2-for-3 in a 15-5 win over Randolph. Lowry is hitting .282 over the first 16 games.
Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team grabbed a series from Hampton at Pirates Softball Field this weekend. Wirt started Saturday’s game as a designated player and drew a bases-loaded walk in Hampton’s 4-3 victory over the Phoenix. Wirt also scored a run as a pinch-runner in Elon’s 13-1 win over the Pirates on Friday. On march 7, Elon defeated Hofstra 9-5. Wirt had a two-run double in the second inning.
Olivia Aitkin: The former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf started both games in centerfield as Division III Amherst started its season with a sweep of Southern Maine and Macalester in Clermont, FL this weekend. Amherst will face the University of Chicago and Endicott College on Monday.
Brianne Foster: The Wake Tech Community College Eagles swept four straight games over Southwest Virginia last week. Foster started at catcher in the Eagles 11-1 win on Saturday.
Orange Notebook: Van Tiem, Sawyer, Grooms combine for no-hitter in win over Jordan; Hammond helps Orange softball sweep Williams
Photo by Abigail Pfeiffenberger
Orange baseball has spent the first three weeks of this season trying to rebuild its pitching staff, which lost its top two starters, its top middle relievers and closer from 2024.
On Friday night, Coach Jason Knapp’s rebuilding project got strong results when three pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the defending DC6 Conference champions.
Oliver Van Tiem earned his second win by striking out a career-high 12 batters while Mason Grooms earned his first career save as Orange defeated Jordan 6-2 at Panther Field. Van Tiem also drove in two runs as the Panthers won its final nonconfernece game before its Central Conference opener against Western Alamance on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.
Jordan scored two runs off seven walks and two Panther errors. Of Van Tiem’s 83 pitches, 47 were strikes. Grooms inherited the bases-loaded in the seventh inning as he replaced Garrett Sawyer with Orange leading 6-1. Grooms struck out C.J. Carrow. All the Falcons could muster was an RBI groundout from Bode Hickey that brought in Harris Mangum. Peyton Jones flew out to Sawyer in centerfield for the final out.
Orange put runners in motion to break open a scoreless game in the third. Sophomore Kayden Bradsher, who has hit safely in seven of Orange’s eight games, stole third after drawing a walk. Henry Hoffman, hitting cleanup, blooped a fly ball into centerfield to score the opening run. With Van Tiem at the plate, Hoffman stole second, then advanced to third after an errant throw from Hickey, the catcher. Van Tiem sent a 1-2 pitch into left field to score Hoffman and put Orange ahead 2-0.
Orange’s Cam Brown reached on a bunt single in the fourth and also swiped second base, then took third on a wild pitch. Brown eventually scored off a throwing error by Hickey to increase the Panther lead to three runs.
Bradsher led off the fifth inning with a triple to Scoreboard Alley in right centerfield. Hoffman drove in his second run with a line drive to center, bringing in Bradsher. Van Tiem would drive in Garrett Sawyer and Hoffman with a grounder up the middle to put the Panthers ahead 6-0.
Softball:
Game 1: Orange 15, Walter Williams 0
Game 2: Orange 15, Walter Williams 0
The Orange softball team remains atop the Central Conference following a doubleheader sweep of Walter Williams on Friday night in Hillsborough.
Freshman Lexi Bowes earned her first wins at the varsity level, needing just three innings of work in each outing. In the opening game, she struck out five and allowed just one hit.
In the opening game, Orange scored nine runs in the first inning. Senior Sadie Cecil notch the first run off a passed ball. Rhiley Crabtree sent an RBI single to centerfield to score courtesy runner Evelyn George, who just finished her senior season in women’s basketball. Junior Hayleigh Hammond scored twice in the opening inning. She touched the plate off a wild pitch for the second Orange run. Later, she lifted a single to left field to bring in Molly Kate Ollis. Freshman Kylee Allen drilled a triple to left field to score Cecil and Hammond.
Hammond would hit an inside the park home run in the third and final inning. George delivered an RBI single to score Allie Carden. George closed out the game when she came home on a passed ball.
In the second game, Allen delivered a two-run homer in the third inning. Allen finished with 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Ollis went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. George started in centerfield and finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Allie Carden finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Orange will travel to Cedar Ridge on Tuesday in what will be a key matchup in the Central Conference. The Red Wolves haven’t defeated Orange since 2019 in a special game to determine the #1 seed for the then-Big 8 Conference.
Orange Panther of the Week: Ava Lytle
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior wrestler Ava Lytle. Only two years ago, Lytle started wrestling but became a first learner. She didn’t even know the sport existed for women until her sophomore year when she was at Wakefield High School in Raleigh. The head coach of the Wolverines, Russell Williams, approached Lytle about going out for wresting. When she transferred to Orange for her junior year, Lytle began working with Orange wrestling coach Spenser Poteat. Lytle was joined by several other female wrestlers who has helped women’s wrestling grow to such an extent that now there are dual matches between Central Conference teams. This season, Lytle finished 3rd int he 126-pound division at the Red Wolf Invitational at Cedar Ridge High School. She pinned Aaliyah Pearson of Southeast Raleigh to win the consolation final. On December 7 at the Jim King/Orange Invitational, Lytle finished 2nd in the 126-pound division. It was the best finish ever by an Orange female wrestler at the JKO. Lytle pinned Rebecca Parker of East Chapel Hill in the semifinals. She finished 2nd in the Central Conference at 126 pounds, pinning Laura Blanchard of Walter Williams during the league tournament in Burlington. At the Mideast Regionals, Lytle won three matches and missed qualifying for the state championships by one match. As her wrestling career has ended at Orange, Lytle plans to continue her career as a wrestling coach.
Orange Panther of the Week: Ava Lytle
This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior wrestler Ava Lytle. Only two years ago, Lytle started wrestling but became a first learner. She didn’t even know the sport existed for women until her sophomore year when she was at Wakefield High School in Raleigh.