Uncategorized

The Orange baseball team won its final regular season home game on Thursday night. The Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 2-0 behind Ryan Hench’s production in the field and at the plate. Hench drove in Orange’s opening run on a base hit down the third base line, scoring Jackson Berini. In the fifth inning, Hench added a solo homer. It was his fourth of the season, which leads the team. On the mound, Hench struck out ten for his fourth win of the season. In the seventh inning, Connor Funk came in from centerfield and earned his second save of the season. Funk struck out two of the three batters he faced. After Eastern Alamance mounted threats in the first and third innings, the Orange defense retired 12 of the final 13 Eagles. The Panthers are now 15-7 overall, 10-1 in the Central Carolina Conference. Orange will travel to Mebane to face the Eagles on Friday night, which will conclude the regular season. The Panthers will then prepare for the Central Carolina Conference Tournament. Orange, the champions of the CCC regular season, will be the top-seed in the conference tournament and will receive a bye into the semifinals. Orange will start play in the tournament on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.

See ball. Hit ball.

If that sounds like a caveman’s approach to baseball, well, it is. At least when it comes to Connor Nordan, Orange’s designated hitter who has earned the moniker “caveman” from assistant coach Matt Roberts.

And for good reason. In his first season with the Orange varsity, Nordan leads the team in RBIs and has 20 hits, tied with two teammates for team-high honors.

Orange has vaulted to the top of the Central Carolina Conference despite lacking consistency in one area or another from game to game during this season. On Tuesday night, the Panthers finally put all the pieces of offense, defense, pitching and fundamentals together against its crosstown rival. Now, the Panthers are one win away from its first outright conference championship since 2016.

Behind Nordan’s career-best five RBIs, Orange pulled away from crosstown rival Cedar Ridge 13-5 in front of a standing room only crowd at Red Wolves Territory. Orange (13-6 overall, 8-1 in the Central Carolina Conference) simply needs to win one of its final three conference games to take the CCC regular season championship. The Panthers face Cedar Ridge on Thursday at Orange High Field, then face Eastern Alamance next week for a two-game series, starting Tuesday in Hillsborough.

“I thought we had a chance to be better,” Orange coach Jason Knapp said. “We weren’t as sharp as I would have liked in a few facets in the game. But at the end of the day, we traveled to a rival at their place and we found a win. We swung the bat well and pitched well enough.”

Cedar Ridge (12-7, 7-4) had its six-game winning streak snapped. The Red Wolves, who would have gained a share of the CCC regular season championship with a sweep of Orange, are now eliminated from finishing first in the league. Cedar Ridge can still gain an automatic spot to the 3A State Playoff by finishing second. For now, the Red Wolves are tied for 2nd in the loss column with Eastern Alamance, but control the tiebreaker over the Eagles.

Orange pitcher Ryan Hench struck out 12 batters to earn his third win of the season. Hench struck out the side three times and surpassed 100 career strikeouts in the fifth inning, all the more impressive considering he didn’t have a freshman season to speak of (one brief relief appearance against Eastern Alamance, only a week before the season ended due to the pandemic).

It was a strong night for first-year varsity players on both sides. Cedar Ridge freshman starting pitcher Quinn Finnegan was impressive in defeat. In the second inning, Orange loaded the bases with one out, but Finnegan escaped the jam without any runs crossing the plate. Catcher Efrain Morales threw out Codey Snipes after a wild pitch rebounded strong off the padding along the backstop. Finnegan got out of the frame after Cross Clayton flew out to left field.

Morales, a sophomore for the Red Wolves, finished 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning on a ball that disappeared under the Cedar Ridge scoreboard in left field.

Orange’s 15 hits tied its season-high, originally set against Person on April 8. The Panthers broke through with two runs in the third inning. Jackson Berini drew a one out walk. David Waitt lined a single to right centerfield. After Finnegan struck out Hench, Nordan lined his first RBI single of the night to centerfield to score Berini. Catcher Davis Horton sent a fly ball to shallow centerfield that dropped in front of the two fielders to bring in Waitt.

Cedar Ridge evened the game in the bottom of the frame, and by any right, should have taken the lead. B.J. Thornton and Aidan McAllister each walked. Cristian Macias lined a double over the first base bag to score Thornton. Waitt made a strong throw from right field to keep McAllister from tying the game. Moments later, McAllister scored anyway after a wild pitch that ricocheted high off the netting along the backstop, which moved Macias to third. Morales sent a fly ball to Waitt that, at first glance, appeared deep enough to bring in Macias on a sacrifice fly. Yet Waitt made the catch and unleashed a dart to Horton, who tagged out Macias at the plate. It was the closest the Red Wolves would come to going ahead.

“That was definitely a momentum shift for us,” Knapp said. “David has made plays like that for the last two years. When I saw him get behind the ball on the catch, I knew he was going to deliver a strike to the plate. That’s just typical David Waitt right there.”

Orange’s Codey Snipes, who finished 3-for-5, stated the third inning with a single to left field. Following a sacrifice bunt by Cross Clayton, Snipes moved to second. Berini took a 2-2 fastball and lined it to right centerfield to put runners at the corners. Waitt delivered another RBI single on a line drive through the 5-6 hole into left field to score Snipes. Nordan sent a grounder off the pitcher’s mound and over second base, scoring Waitt.

Cedar Ridge’s relief pitching, which was so instrumental over the past two weeks during two-game sweeps of Eastern Alamance and Western Alamance, struggled in the late innings. Orange scored four runs in the sixth and five in the seventh inning. Once again, Nordan had the biggest hits. He had an RBI single in the sixth, and added a two-run single in the seventh.

“I’m really not surprised about Connor,” Knapp said. “He just has a great approach. He has a simple hitting philosophy: ‘See Ball. Hit Ball.’ That’s exactly what he says. He just gets his hands back and lets it roll. He makes it works for us.”

Horton, in his best game of the year, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Cedar Ridge did score the game’s final run. Jake Mergenthal, as a pinch-hitter, drew a leadoff walk, went to second after an errant pickoff throw. took third on a groundout and scored off an error on a ball hit by Aidan McCallister.

Photo courtesy of FoxSports.com

Bryse Wilson: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 in Busch Stadium on Sunday. Wilson made his first start of the year for the Pirates and threw four innings. He took a no decision. Wilson struck out two and gave up three runs on five hits with one walk. He was replaced by Miguel Yajure, who earned the win in middle relief. It was the Pirates only win of the weekend. Wilson is slated to return to action against Washington at PNC Park on Saturday.

Joey Berini: The East Carolina baseball team took two-out-of-three against Wichita State at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville over the weekend. On Sunday, the Shockers salvaged a game out of the series from the Pirates with a 5-0 win. Berini entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and went 0-for-1. He remained in the game as a second baseman for the final three innings.

Dante DeFranco: The Charlotte 49ers baseball team was swept by #18 Southern Miss over the weekend at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte. On Sunday, the Golden Eagles edged the 49ers 6-5 in 13 innings. DeFranco entered the game as a pinch runner in the seventh inning for Drew Tyndall. On Friday, Southern Miss won 2-1 over Charlotte. DeFranco again played as a pinch runner for David McCabe in the fifth inning and was stranded at second base. Charlotte is 17-14 overall, 4-8 in Conference USA.

Brandon Andrews: The Nicholls State baseball team dropped two-out-of-three games against Houston Baptist in a weekend series at Husky Field in Houston. On Saturday, Houston Baptist defeated the Colonels 6-5. Andrews suffered his first loss of the season after giving up a walkout single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Andrews threw one-thirds of an inning.

Phillip Berger: Berger had two appearances for Division III William Peace over the weekend against North Carolina Wesleyan at Bauer Field in Rocky Mount. On Friday, Berger took his first loss of the year in a 13-1 win by the Battling Bishops. Berger started and threw three innings and gave up six runs off eight hits. He had three strikeouts and one walk. On Sunday, Wesleyan outscored Peace 16-15. Berger entered the game out of the bullpen in the fifth inning and threw two innings. He gave up one run off three hits and two walks. He struck out two. Berger is 5-1 with a 4.47 ERA. The Pacers are 16-13 overall, 6-6 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State baseball team dropped all four games against Tallahassee Community College last week. On Thursday, the Eagles defeated the Pirates 2-1 in Pensacola. Porter started at shortstop for Pensacola and went 0-for-4. Tallahassee took the nightcap 15-5 in seven innings. Porter led off for the Pirates and finished 0-for-4. On Saturday, the Eagles edged the Pirates 1-0. Porter went 0-for-3. He also pitched one-thirds-of-an-inning and retired the final Eagle. Tallahassee captured the second game of the doubleheader 4-3. Porter, once agin hitting leadoff, went 0-for-4. Pensacola State is 15-23 overall.

Will Walker: Walker started two games at first base as the Pitt Community College baseball team swept a weekend series from Brunswick Community College in Greenville. On Friday, the Bulldogs defeated the Dolphins 9-7. Walker went 0-for-2 with an RBI after he walked with the bases loaded in the 7th inning. On Sunday, Walker went 3-for-5 with two RBIs as the Bulldogs won 16-11. Walker singled in the first inning and scored off a home run by Robert Buckley. In the fourth inning, after the Dolphins rallied to take a 10-6 lead, Walker lined a single to left field to score a run. The Bulldogs scored six runs in the sixth inning. Pitt Community College 25-5 overall, 20-5 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Mia Davidson: Another weekend, another milestone for the all-time home run hitter in Mississippi State softball history. Davidson hit career home run #85 in the Bulldogs 9-2 win over Missouri at Nusz Park in Starkville. Davidson’s solo blast in the third inning, which tied the game 1-1, tied her for seventh place in NCAA history. It was her 16th homer of the year. Davidson went 2-for-3 with an RBI on Friday. In the Bulldogs’ 2-0 win on Saturday, Davidson went 1-for-1 with a run scored. On Sunday, the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 8-5 in eight innings. Davidson went 0-for-4. Mississippi State has won five of its last seven Southeastern Conference series. They’re 26-14 overall, 7-5 in the SEC.

Jaden Hurdle: Hurdle got to face one of her former Orange High teammates in Wake Tech’s Kara Tackett on Saturday. Patrick & Henry Community College defeated swept a doubleheader from the Eagles in Martinsville, VA. In the opening game, Hurdle went 2-for-3 with two RBIs as the Patriots won 10-2 in five innings. In the nightcap, Hurdle went 1-for-2 with an RBI double. The Patriots won once again 10-2. On Sunday, Patrick & Henry swept another doubleheader, this time against Southwest Virginia. The Patriots won the opener 6-2. Hurdle went 0-for-3. In the Patriots 9-1 win in the finale, Hurdle hit leadoff and went 1-for-1 with two RBIs. She also earned her sixth win of the season in the circle, throwing a complete game. In five innings, Hurdle surrendered only two hits with one run. She had one strikeout and one walk. The Patriots are 24-10 overall, 15-3 in Region X. Hurdle is second in Region X with nine home runs, behind only Essence Champion of USC Salkehatchie.

Kara Tackett: Tackett started in centerfield against Patrick & Henry on Saturday. She also pitched one and one-thirds innings in the nightcap. Tackett also started in the circle in the second game of a doubleheader against Surry Community College on Friday. Surry won 11-1. Tackett started in centerfield in the opening game of the doubleheader against Surry.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team got back on the winning track with two doubleheader sweeps this weekend. On Friday, the Red Hawks swept USC Union at Kiwanis Park in Hickory. Andrews, starting at third base, went 0-for-3 in CVCC’s opening 5-0 win. The Red Hawks won 9-1 in five innings in the nightcap. Andrews went 0-for-2 with a walk. On Saturday, CVCC swept a doubleheader from Cleveland Community College. The Red Hawks won both games via run rule. Andrews went 1-for-3 with a run scored in the opening 15-0 win in five innings. In the second game, where the Red Hawks rolled 13-5 in five innings. Andrews hit a home run in the 2nd inning. The Red Hawks are 12-2 in Region X, tied in the loss column with Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute for 2nd place.

Photo by Sherri Corbin Nevius

There’s the Crustacean Sensation. There’s the Cow Man. There’s the son of a former UNC lacrosse star that is its leading scorer. And the goalkeeper is female.

Those parts, and many, many more, have put the Orange lacrosse team in line for its second straight conference championship.

Connor Kruse, the son of former UNC and Johns Hopkins lacrosse midfielder Travis Kruse, scored six goals while junior Tigh Metheney added two goals in the fourth quarter as Orange remained undefeated in the Mid-Carolina Conference with a 14-8 win over Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Stadium on Friday night.

The Panthers (9-2, 7-0) have won seven in a row.

Cedar Ridge senior co-Captain Roman Oguntoyinbo factored in on every Red Wolf tally except one, scoring four goals and assisting on three others. Oguntoyinbo tied the game at 7-7 after he grabbed a ground ball on the opening faceoff of the second half, won by Cedar Ridge’s Jackson Kralic, and sent an overhand shot past Orange sophomore goalkeeper Katie Wolter just 25 seconds into the third quarter. Wolter and the rest of the Orange defense held Cedar Ridge to just one goal for the rest of the game. Wolter finished with eight saves.

In the second half, five different Panthers scored, including junior Joe Cady notching the game-winning goal with 8:29 remaining in the third quarter when he ran in from the right wing and threw a bounce shot past Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Leo Oguntoyinbo. Kruse, Metheney, Andrew Harris and Josh Crabtree added goals during Orange’s 7-1 run to finish the game.

“We have a pretty deep team,” said Orange coach Chandler Zirkle. “I think we have more guys who can up the middle of the field than other teams. This Cedar Ridge team is a phenomenal team. This is the best Cedar Ridge team since I’ve been here. It is, by far, the best coached team. They picked their level up to a pace that was insane.”

Cedar Ridge, under first-year head coach Cole Churchill, played its third game in as many days. On Wednesday night, Northwood scored in the final two minutes to defeat the Red Wolves 9-8. Cedar Ridge bounced back the next night with a 12-5 win over Seaforth in Pittsboro.

“I think we have some more running to do,” said Cedar Ridge coach Cole Churchill. “We can always be in better shape. I think we played a good first half and in the second half we lost some of our focus. We did some of the silly things that hurt us quickly. As the momentum shifted, we just never caught back up. Our energy was low because we were tired and we didn’t get the same kind of bench energy.”

Kruse, who had four goals in a 14-7 win at Western Alamance on Wednesday night in Elon, immediately inserted his influence by scoring the game’s opening two goals in just 48 seconds. Metheny found Kruse for the second goal, and the Panthers roared out to a 2-0 lead they wouldn’t concede for the rest of the half.

Oguntoyinbo hit senior attacker James Clayton with a centering pace, and Clayton fired in an sidearm shot from the top of the box for the first Cedar Ridge goal. Kruse responded with another goal with 5:52 remaining in the first quarter, following by the opening tally from junior Jake Wimsatt, Orange’s face-off ace. Kruse scored his fourth goal in the opening quarter on a running bounce shot with 1:27 remaining.

Cedar Ridge went on a 4-2 run to close out the first half. Junior Billy Power, who transferred to Hillsborough in November, took a pass from Clayton and fired in a shot from 15 yards away. After Cady scored for Orange, Oguntoyinbo fired in a shot in a man-up situation off an assist from Power after Orange was called for a slashing penalty. Clayton whittled the Orange lead down to 6-5 off a feed from Ogunotoyinbo. The Red Wolves had an opportunity to tie, but couldn’t clear the ball up the field off a check by Crabtree. Wimsatt chased in on the loose ground ball with a sidearm shot to increase Orange’s lead to 7-5.

Cedar Ridge’s Holden Neal put the Red Wolves within one goal at the half on another goal set up on an assist by Oguntoyinbo.

“For them to cut the lead down to one goal at the half was eye-opening for us, but in a fun way,” Zirkle said. “It put our level higher to where we had to get to. They were playing its third game in three days. Cedar Ridge played a great game.”

For a team with three players named “Josh,” the Panthers have had to get creative with nicknames. Josh Crabtree, who scored Orange’s 10th goal in the third quarter, is the “Crustacean Sensation.” Josh Cowan, a mainstay on defense, is the “Cow Man.” Whether he joined the FFA is a question that remains unanswered.

For Churchill, who was a member of the Cedar Ridge Class of 2015, the struggle to get healthy has been a huge obstacle. Senior Kellan Hepditch has been out of action, while another defensive stalwart, Thomas Allen, just returned to action this week. Gavin Scher, a freshman long-stink defenseman, has had shoulder problems.

Nonetheless, the Red Wolves (8-4, 5-4) remain likely to make the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs.

“I think our consistency has been impacted because of injuries,” Churchill said. “Before you had two seniors and a junior that have played three years together. Then when you put others in the lineup, you don’t have the same chemistry. They do a great job coming together and I’m hoping adding Thomas back will give us more chemistry.”

Photo by Hailstate.com

Montana Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team has set the school him run record twice over the past week. On Wednesday the Bulldogs defeated Middle Tennessee 19-14 at Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro, TN. It was the highest combined run total for any game in Mississippi State softball history. Montana put the Bulldogs ahead with a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning with two outs. On March 23, Mississippi State defeated Memphis 13-3 in five innings at Tiger Softball Complex. The Bulldogs hit a then-school-record six home runs. Montana entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1. She also played first base.

Mia Davidson: Starting at catcher for Mississippi State softball, Davidson hit her 83rd career home run in the seventh inning against Middle Tennessee. She is now tied for tenth in NCAA history on the career home run list. She also has hit more home runs than any player in Southeastern Conference history, baseball or softball. Davidson scored three times and finished 1-for-3 against the Blue Raiders. Last Saturday, Mississippi State swept a doubleheader from Samford at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Davidson went 1-for-3 in a 2-1 Bulldogs win in the nightcap. The Bulldogs also won the opener 2-1 over Samford. Davidson also went 1-for-3 in the opener. Last Wednesday against Memphis, Davidson hit two home runs. In the fourth, there was a two-run blast. The following inning, Davidson sent a solo shot over the centerfield wall. Davidson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and reached safely in all four of her appearances at the plate. Mississippi State is 23-10 overall. They travel to Tennessee this weekend for a three-game series.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team opened the Southern Conference portion of its scheduled with a three-game sweep of Mercer at UNCG Softball Stadium. On Friday, the Spartans defeated the Bears 15-4 in five innings. Dalehite entered the game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1. On Sunday, the Spartans mauled Mercer 19-1 in five innings. Dalehite was inserted as a pinch runner and scored a run. The Spartans swept a midweek doubleheader over Radford and is now 22-10.

Jaden Hurdle: It was sophomore day for the Patrick & Henry Community College last weekend. The Patriots swept a doubleheader from Florence-Darlington Technical Community College. Hurdle won the nightcap as pitcher, improving to 5-2 on the season. Hurdle gave up four hits in six innings of work in the circle. She struck out three and gave up just one run and one walk. At the plate, Hurdle went 0-for-2. In the opener, Patrick & Henry won 3-0. Hurdle went 0-for-2. On Saturday, the Patriots swept a doubleheader over Fayetteville Tech. The Patriots took the opener 14-2 in five innings. Hurdle had a two-run double and finished 1-for-3. She had three RBIs. In the nightcap, Patrick & Henry won 12-4 in five innings. Hurdle won another game as pitcher to go to 6-2. In five innings, Hurdle had three strikeouts. She gave up four runs (only one earned) on five hits and two walks. She went 1-for-1 at the plate with two walks. Patrick Henry is 20-8 overall, 11-3 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team is now 25-1 and has won 20 in a row. On Monday, the Red Hawks swept the Belmont Abbey junior varsity in a doubleheader. In the opener, CVCC won 4-1. Andrews started at third base and went 0-for-2. The Red Hawks took the second game 8-1. Andrews went 1-for-3. On Friday, the Red Hawks swept a doubleheader over Southwest Virginia at Kiwanis Park in Hickory, both games by run rule. In the opening 11-0 win in five innings, Andrews went 1-for-2 with a run scored. In the second game, the Red Hawks won 8-0 in five innings. Andrews finished 0-for-2. Last Thursday, the Red Hawks swept a doubleheader over Spartanburg Methodist in Spartanburg, SC. Andrews went 0-for-3 in CVCC’s 6-4 win in the opener. In the nightcap, the Red Hawks won 10-5. Andrews went 0-for-3 with a run scored.

Kara Tackett: The Wake Tech Community College softball team continued its season last week. On Friday, Gaston Community College defeated the Eagles 9-5. Tackett started in centerfield and went 1-for-3. She came in as pitcher in the fifth inning and threw three innings. She gave up four runs on three hits with two strikeouts. In the second game of the doubleheader, Gaston won 14-5. Tackett started in centerfield while leading off. She finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. On Saturday, Cleveland Community College defeated Wake Tech 12-10. Tackett, starting in centerfield, went 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Cleveland completed the doubleheader sweep winning the second game 27-6. Tackett went 0-for-3 with a run scored.

Joey Berini: On Sunday, the East Carolina baseball team lost to Virginia Commonwealth 5-2 at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville. Berini entered the game at shortstop in the ninth inning. On Saturday, Berini started at second base as the Pirates defeated the Rams 7-5. Berini went 0-for-3, but scored two runs. On March 23, East Carolina held off Elon 7-6. Berini was inserted into the game as a reserve shortstop and went 0-for-1. On March 22, the Pirates knocked off UNC Wilmington 3-1 at Brooks Field in Wilmington. Berini came in as a reserve 2nd baseman and went 0-for-1.

Phillip Berger: The Division III William Peace baseball team cruised to a 22-0 win over Mary Baldwin in the opening game of a doubleheader last Friday at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. Berger threw a 3-hit shutout over seven innings with 13 strikeouts with no walks. Berger is 5-3 on the season.

Will Walker: The Pitt Community College baseball team continues to have a solid season. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs defeated the North Carolina Wesleyan junior varsity 12-8. Walker, starting at first base, went 2-fo4-5 with an RBI and a double. Pitt Community College had a three-game sweep over Fayetteville Tech in Greenville. On Sunday, the Bulldogs defeated Fayetteville Tech 16-4. Walker went 0-for-3. On Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated the Trojans 5-2. Walker went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Pitt Community College won the opening game of the doubleheader with an 18-1 win. Walker hit a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Bulldogs ahead 4-1. Last Wednesday, Pro 5 Academy knocked off Pitt 12-3. Walker finished 1-for-4. Pitt Community College is 17-3.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State College Pirates baseball team split four games with Northwest Florida State College last week. On Tuesday, Northwest defeated the Pirates 14-9. Porter, starting at shortstop, went 1-for-4 with a run scored. The following day, the Raiders defeated the Pirates 11-5. Porter finished 1-for-4. On Saturday, Pensacola State swept a doubleheader. In the opening 7-1 win in seven innings, Porter went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. The Pirates earned a shutout in the nightcap 4-0, where Porter went 0-for-3. In 29 games, Porter is hitting .286 with one home run and nine RBIs.

At the beginning of this week, Orange sophomore Josiah Gibbs didn’t know he would be starting the first game of his varsity career on Thursday. When the Panthers’ junior varsity game against Southwestern Randolph was canceled on Thursday afternoon, Orange coach Jason Knapp decided to start Gibbs in the varsity game against the Cougars. Gibbs made an instant impression, throwing five shutout innings as the Panthers rolled 9-2. Gibbs threw only 49 pitches against 18 batters and surrendered just five hits with zero walks. Orange junior Connor Nordan had an RBI double during the Panthers’ five-run first inning. Nordan replaced Gibbs on the mound in the sixth inning. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Orange is now 5-4 and will travel to Williams on Friday night for its final game before spring break. Orange will start play in the Hilltop Invitational on Wednesday against traditional power New Hanover in Hillsborough. 

After a disappointing loss to Perquimans in Wilson on Saturday, the Orange baseball team found its offensive grove again in a 7-2 victory over Williams on Tuesday night in Hillsborough. Junior pitcher Ryan Hench earned his first win of the season, finishing with eight strikeouts over five innings. Hench went 3-for-3 at the plate with two triples and a solo home run in the fourth inning. Of Orange’s seven hits, five were extra-base hits. Junior Joey Pounds relieved Hench in the sixth inning and threw a perfect frame with one strikeouts. In his last two appearances out of the bullpen, Pounds has thrown four-and-two-thirds consecutive scoreless innings. Orange is now tied with Eastern Alamance for first place in the Central Carolina Conference, a league that takes a new shape after every night of games. On Thursday night, Orange will host Southwestern Randolph in a nonconference game. You can hear that game at 7PM on Hillsboroughsports.com. On Friday, the Panthers will complete the two game series against the Bulldogs with a trip to Burlington.