Orange High School

Photo by Elon News Network 

The race is on in the Central Conference baseball standings.

For second place, that is.

After tying Orange for first place last year, Southern Alamance has basically secured the outright Central Conference regular season championship roughly 55% through the regular season.

On Tuesday night, it was Mark King who practically beat Orange single handily.

King laced a grand slam to break open a scoreless game in the sixth inning. On the mound, King threw a two-hit shutout to propel the Patriots (13-2, 7-0 in the Central Conference) defeated Orange 4-0 in Hillsborough.

Orange, which has either won outright or claimed a share of four consecutive conference championships, fell to 2-3 in the Central Conference. They’re 9-7 overall.

Orange, Person and Eastern Alamance are all tied in the loss column for second place with three conference losses each. Southern Alamance has already swept the season series from Person and Eastern Alamance and now controls the tiebreaker against Orange, as well.

King’s otherworldly performance overshadowed a great effort from junior Ryan Sawyer, who kept the Patriots off balance most of the night. Sawyer struck out nine in five-and-two-thirds innings.

In a game Orange needed badly in order to stay alive in the conference championship chase, it appeared that Sawyer was set to send the game into the bottom of the sixth inning scoreless. He struck out Eli Gilley and Ethan Mann. On a 1-1 pitch, Southern’s Camden Whittemore, who had struck out twice, got brushed across the elbow on a fastball. In was a small spark that ignited an inferno.

As Sawyer neared the 105 pitches allowed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, he walked Lance Siegner. Orange coach Jason Knapp opted to replace Ryan Sawyer with centerfielder Garrett Sawyer. Southern shortstop Johnny Rojas got hit by a pitch on the lead shoulder to load the bases.

King ran the count up to 3-0 before he took strike one. Sawyer offered a fastball that King aimed at the infamous left field porch at Panther Field, a nightmare for right handed pitchers that Orange has lived by in the past.

On Tuesday, they died by it.

Left fielder Eli Horton chased after it in vain as it sailed over the fence. In the celebration behind home plate, Southern players put an oversized blue hat on King as he ran to the dugout

King got stronger as the game went on. In the opening four innings, he struck out two Orange batters and allowed three hits. In the final three innings, he struck out six, didn’t give up a hit and conceded only two baserunners.

In each of the first two innings, Orange placed its leadoff batter at second base with no outs. Kayden Bradsher, in the first, reached on a dropped ball but advanced to further.

In the second, senior Dominic O”Keefe reached on an infield single, then took second off an errant pickoff throw. O’Keefe reached third after an error by Whittemore. Cam Brown tried to squeeze O’Keefe in with a bunt, but the ball rolled right to King, who underhanded it to Sieger to tag out O’Keefe at the plate.

O’Keefe was the only Panther batter to reach third base all night.

Western Alamance 6, Cedar Ridge 5: Cooper Marks hit two home runs, including the game-winning blast to lead off the top of the seventh inning, as the Warriors edged the Red Wolves in a back-and-forth game on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.

It was Marks’ first two home runs of the year. It doubled the total amount of home runs hit by the Warriors this season. The only other home run hit by a Western Alamance player this year was Gavin Davis, who delivered a dinger in a 13-3 win over Western Guilford on February 26. If that wasn’t enough, Marks also earned the win, closing out the game after relieving Bryce Runner in the sixth inning. Marks struck out three.

After Marks led off the game with a solo homer, Cedar Ridge scored three runs in the second. Jesus Velazquez drove in Aidan Ryan with an RBI single up the middle. Carter Warren laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Dominic Sena to put the Red Wolves ahead 2-1. Quinn Finnegan drove in Velazquez after reaching on an error by Jackson Rippy.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Western Alamance on Thursday.

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After winning a game in the state playoffs and being one of only three teams in the state to beat Person this season, the Orange men’s basketball team had three players named to the All-Central Conference team.

Junior point guard Kai Wade, senior shooting guard Xandrell Pennix and senior forward Freddy Sneed were honored following a 19-9 season, the most wins for Orange men’s basketball since the 2016-2017 season.

Pennix surpassed 1,000 career points in Orange’s 70-45 win over Southern Alamance in the quarterfinals of the Central Conference Tournament on February 17 in Hillsborough. Pennix’s brightest moment came in the Panthers’ memorable 67-65 win at Person on January 9. The Rockets led 28-9 early in the second quarter but the Panthers stormed back to win. With Wade in foul trouble, Pennix led the Panthers with 19 points. In his final game in Hillsborough, Pennix truly saved his best for last. He finished with a season-high 23 points in a win over C.B. Aycock in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs. He added six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Against Chapel Hill on December 10, Pennix scored 17 points as the Panthers defeated the Tigers 65-58. It was Orange’s first win over Chapel Hill since 2019. He had a string of six consecutive games in double-figures during January.

In his third straight year as Orange’s starting point guard, Wade immediately set the tone for the season when he scored a career-high 30 points in a win over Voyager Academy on November 15. He opened the season with ten consecutive games in double-figures. He scored 18 points against Mt. Zion Christian Academy on November 22, a 60-56 Orange win. Against Western Alamance on January 24, Wade scored 23 points as the Panthers won for the fourth straight time in Elon. The following game, Wade scored 21 points in a win over Walter Williams in Hillsborough, which was the Panthers sixth straight victory over the Bulldogs.

Despite being in foul trouble for most of the game, Wade tied his season-high with seven assists in the win over Person. He also had seven assists against the Ivahoe Knights from Australia in a special game played at Northeast Guilford High School on December 23.

Wade led the team with 14.9 points per game. In eleven of Orange’s last 12 games, Wade scored in double-figures. That included 19 points against Southern Alamance on February 7 in Graham. In the state playoff win over C.B. Aycock, Wade scored 16 points. Wade also led the team with 3.7 assists per game despite the Panthers losing leading scorer Coleman Cloer, who transferred to Caldwell Academy last summer. He also led the team with 3.7 steals per game.

Sneed was the defensive spark plug for an Orange team that made midcoast turnovers in trademark. Sneed averaged a career-best 10.3 points per game in his fourth year at the varsity level.

Sneed notched his career-high twice this season. He scored 21 points in a win over East Chapel Hill on December 17 in Hillsborough. Against Williams on January 28, he also scored 21 points.

In the win over Mt. Zion Christian Academy, Sneed had a crucial dunk that helped sew up the win over the Warriors. Sneed finished with nine points. He also had five steals.

After being more of a role player in his sophomore season, Sneed took on more of a scoring role this year. He started the season with 12 points in the victory over Voyager Academy. He scored in double-figures 14 times this year. Sneed had seven straight games in double-figures as the season wound down, including 14 points against Cedar Ridge on January 31 at Panther Gymnasium.

Against Southern Alamance in the Central Conference Tournament, he scored a career-high seven steals. Sneed had six assists in the win over Chapel Hill. He also had 17 points against the Ivanhoe Knights, which included a spectacular dunk in the second quarter.

Traditionally, the Hilltop Invitational has served as a midterm exam for Orange baseball.

The event rings in April and falls just after the Panthers have started its conference slate. For one majestic Wednesday night, it served as a reminder of how wonderful baseball can be.

Facing Heritage, the Panthers awakened from a dormant offensive showing to score three runs in the seventh inning to end the game into extra innings.

Just when Orange needed a miracle to extend the game beyond the 9th inning, Cam Brown provided one.

The wind had blows to right field all night. Brown, who stepped up to the plate 0-for-4, sent a fly ball to right field with two out and the Huskies leading 6-4. Heritage’s Ellie Droke ran toward the line and flashed his hands up in the air unable to find the ball. Then Droke looked over his left shoulder in time to find the ball disappear over the fence.

It was just the second home run hit over the right field fence at Orange in the last two years. The other was by Ryan Honeycutt, a walkoff blast against Cedar Ridge in the opening round of the state playoffs last year. Brown, after the first home run of his varsity career, was mobbed by his teammates with a water shower.

Unfortunately, the Panthers couldn’t complete the comeback. Heritage, which jumped out to a 1-0 lead and led almost the entire game, scored three runs in the tenth inning off four walks and two hit batters. Andrew Briganati was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Tyler Henderson to score the game-winning run. The Huskies would add two more runs and win 9-6 in ten innings.

Heritage starting pitcher Blake Tillery took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Orange’s Wren Hash sent a single on a grounder to left field. Dominic O’Keefe stroked a double to the left field fence to score Hash and cut the Heritage lead to 2-1.

With Orange trailing 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers remarkably tied the game. Garrett Sawyer drew a walk to load the bases. Henry Hoffman, who leads the team in RBIs, lined a single to left field. Kayden Bradsher and O’Keefe scored. Sawyer reached third base as the relay throw from Heritage centerfielder Andrew Kilgore bounced through the infield and past the third base line. Sawyer raced for home plate and beat the throw from reliever Holden Kafes to the plate to even the game.

On Friday, Orange made quick work of Chatham Central 11-1 in five innings, the Panthers second run-rule win of the season.

Gary Miller scored the go-ahead run in the second after he reached on an error. O’Keefe sent a drooping liner to right field that got under the glove of right fielder Carter King to score Miller.

Orange pulled away with six runs in the third. After O’Keefe drew a bases-loaded walk, Eli Horton drilled a bases-loaded double that loaded between two outfielders for a bases-clearing double. Hash, Miller and O’Keefe all scored. Hoffman added an two-run single later in an inning where the Panthers sent eleven batters to the plate.

Orange would tack on four more runs in the fourth inning. D.J. Woods scored off a single by O’Keefe. Miller touched the plate after an RBI groundout by Horton. Kayden Bradsher lined a single to centerfield that scored O’Keefe.

Sawyer earned the win, throwing three-and-two-thirds innings. The game marked the return of Oliver Van Tiem after he was injured against Western Alamance on March 18. Van Tiem threw one-and-two-thirds innings before he was replaced. Sawyer allowed only one hit and struck out five.

Cy Horner: The Division III Methodist lacrosse team has won four in a row. On Saturday, the Monarchs hammered Huntingdon College 13-3 at Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville. Horner came away with the hat trick for Methodist. He also assisted on the game-winning goal from Jay Legg as the Monarchs charged out to an 8-0 lead. This season, Horner has scored 20 goals over 13 games. Against William Peace on March 26, Horner scored six goals in an 18-7 win in Fayetteville, tying a career-high. He also had a hat trick against Averett. Horner now has 95 career goals.

Katie Wolter: The former goalkeeper for the Orange lacrosse team made her college debut for the Elon women’s team on March 15. Wolter played on defense and got a ground ball in the Phoenix’s 14-10 win over Monmouth at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, NJ. Elon is 6-5 overall, 3-1 in the Coastal Athletic Association.

Josiah Tisdale: A sophomore defensemen for Methodist, Tisdale has played in seven games this year, including Saturday’s win over Huntingdon. He has three ground balls and one turnover created this year. Methodist is 8-5 overall, 4- 1 in the USA South Conference.

Connor Kruse: The Lenior-Rhyne men’s lacrosse team is ranked #7 in Division II. On March 29, the Bears pounded Emory & Henry 24-3 at Food City Complex Stadium in Emory, VA. Kruse registered an assist and a ground ball in the Bears’ win. So far in his freshman season, Kruse has played in eight games. He has one goal and two assists. On Saturday, Kruse played in Lenoir-Rhyne’s 17-12 win over Newberry at Setzler Field in Newberry, SC.

Sascha Van Praag: Another former Orange defender playing for Lenoir-Rhyne, Van Praag played in his first college game against Emory & Henry on March 29. Lenoir-Rhyne is 10-2 overall, 5-2 in the South Atlantic Conference. They will host Tusculum at Moretz Stadium in Hickory on Saturday.

Jacob Driver: The leading scorer for Cedar Ridge last season, Driver made his college debut for Division II Mount Olive last month. Driver played in the Trojans 19-9 win at Lees-McRae in Banner Elk on March 8. Driver has also played in a win over Chowan and a loss to Belmont Abbey. Mount Oliver is 5-6 overall, 4-2 in Conference Carolinas.

Tigh Metheney: The former Orange Panther continues to play for Division II Catawba. He has played in four games this year for the Indians. He scored a goal in a 22-1 win over Emory & Henry on March 8.

Nick Cardone: A sophomore, Cardone has played in four games for Catawba this season. He had a ground ball against Emory & Henry. Catawba is 8-4 overall, 4-4 in Conference Carolinas.

Alden Cathey: Cathey, now at Division III Arcadia University, made his college debut in the Knights’ win over Gwynedd Mercy on March 1. Arcadia is 7-4 overall and won its opener in the Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference against FDU-Florham on Saturday.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson threw twice last week for the Chicago White Sox. On Friday, Wilson closed out a game against Detroit at Comerica Park, where he threw the final three innings. He entered the game with the White Sox trailing 5-1 and allowed one run off two hits with five strikeouts. Chicago made a late rally with three runs in the ninth but Detroit prevailed 7-4. On Tuesday, Wilson threw one-third-of-an-inning against Minnesota at Target Field. He allowed one hit and one walk. So far this year, Wilson five innings over four appearances with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Dante DeFranco: The Charlotte 49ers are 18-13 after a weekend series against Wichita State, where the 49ers won two-out-of-three games. Charlotte defeated South Carolina Upstate 8-4 on April 2. DeFranco entered the game as a reserve centerfielder in the ninth. DeFranco has played in six games this season.

Coltin Hedrick: A freshman at Wake Technical Community College, Hedrick has come out of the bullpen in five games this year. His most recent appearance came against Catawba Valley Community College, where he gave up one hit.

Wyatt Hedrick: Wyatt is a teammate with his brother at Wake Tech. On Sunday, he threw against two-thirds-of-an-inning against Guilford Tech and allowed one run off two hits. He has appeared in five games with a 12.71 ERA over five-and-two-thirds innings.

Jackson Berini: After playing in the opening weeks of the season for the Gaston College Rhinos, Berini will miss the remainder of this year. He recently underwent a medical procedure. Next year, Berini will play at Wichita State after two years in Gaston.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior pitcher Ryan Sawyer. After 2024, the Panthers lost five of its top seven pitchers, including starter Cross Clayton and Josiah Gibbs. This year, Sawyer has stepped up to become the regular Tuesday starter. Moving into the second month of the season, Sawyer has a 4-0 mark with a 2.31 ERA. He leads the team with 48 strikeouts. On March 18, Sawyer struck out ten batters in a 8-1 win over Western Alamance, the Panthers Central Conference opener. On March 11, Sawyer delivered another ten strikeout performance and took the victory as Orange defeated East Chapel Hill 7-1. Sawyer picked up the win on March 3 as the Panthers defeated Northern Durham 6-0 at Knights Field. Sawyer struck out eight over three shutout innings. In Orange’s first win of the year against Chapel Hill on February 26, Sawyer earned the victory as he threw four innings and struck out four and allowed only four hits. Ryan attributes a new diet, partially created by new pitching coach Landon Riley, for his new mindset which includes a emphasis on BBQ chicken. Amidst heavy turnover from a four-time defending conference championship team, Sawyer has provided reliability in 2025 as the Panthers aim for the top of the Central Conference once again. Starting on Tuesday, the Panthers will start a two-game series against Southern Alamance, which sits atop the Central Conference with a 6-0 record.

Orange Panther of the Week: Ryan Sawyer

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior pitcher Ryan Sawyer. After 2024, the Panthers lost five of its top seven pitchers, including starter Cross Clayton and Josiah Gibbs. This year, Sawyer has stepped up to become the regular Tuesday starter.

Rivals on the field, the Orange and Cedar Ridge lacrosse are in a different type of competition to benefit the entire community.

Starting Monday, Orange and Cedar Ridge will compete in a food drive that will culminate at next Friday’s game between the two crosstown rivals at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough.

Fans can bring food to the contest, which begins at 7PM. The deadline for donations is the end of the first quarter.

The drive itself starts on Monday, when only online donations will be accepted.

Cedar Ridge attacker Josh Hart and Orange sophomore Jackson Wrenn have organized the food drive. Previously, Wrenn has organized similar efforts for Orange High’s PORCH club. He has raised 249 pounds of food in two previous food drives.

“We thought the competition would be a great way to get both schools involved,” Wrenn said.

Donations will go to PORCH Hillsborough, where it will be distributed.

Anyone wishing to donate online can go to porchcommunities.org. Write down Orange or Cedar Ridge in the memo to inform organisers which schools the donation is being sent on behalf of.

Starting Tuesday, donations will be accepted at Cedar Ridge front office as well as inside the athletic offices.

At Orange, donations will be accepted inside the Orange High Fieldhouse for Tuesday’s game against Southern Alamance. There is also a food donation box in Orange High’s front office.

Food can also be dropped off during Friday’s game between the Panthers and the Red Wolves, where the final count will be distributed and a winner declared during halftime.

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