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On a team whose rotation is largely comprised of juniors, two sophomores played a huge role in Cedar Ridge volleyball winning the 3A Eastern Regional championship on Wednesday night. Addie Reid had several huge blocks throughout the Red Wolves 3-0 sweep of J.H. Rose inside a packed Red Wolves Gymnasium. Sophomore Graylinn Serge served out Cedar Ridge in the second set, scoring an ace to put the Red Wolves ahead 21-20. Serge would go on to serve the final five points as the Red Wolves won the frame to go ahead 2-sets-to-nothing. Reid spiked home match point to set up a big celebration as the Red Wolves won its final home game of the season. Cedar Ridge finished 17-1 at home this season. They become the first regional champion in a team sport at Cedar Ridge since the 2017 men’s lacrosse team. Cedar Ridge will play North Iredell for the 3A State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. The Red Wolves are now the most successful volleyball high school team in Hillsborough history, with a 30-2 record and a regional championship.

Photo by Shannon Bradsher

It would be accurate to say that Appalachian State softball has recruited Carson Bradsher for several years.

It’s also fair to say that Bradsher has been recruiting Appalachian State for just as long.

Her first journey to Boone came when she was 12 years old, still with dreams about playing college softball. However, she had just been diagnosed with type one diabetes, which left her with doubts.

Janice Savage, who was the Appalachian State Softball coach at that point, invited Carson to Boone to tell her about one of her own players, who was also a type one diabetic, to prove that her dream wasn’t dead before she started high school.

During the trip, she sat down with her family at the Sunrise Grill along Highway 105 over some chocolate chip pancakes.

From that point forward, Bradsher was hooked.

It was the first of 15 visits she’s taken to Boone. Ten of those trips were with Carolina Elite, her travel team with coach Rick Webster. The rest have been simply to enjoy the pure pleasure of the high country, where her mother Shannon and father Wayne share a trailer with family friends in Banner Elk for vacations.

“Last year, I went for my 16th birthday just to go,” Bradsher said. “We ate at the Daniel Boone Village because I really like that place. Then we walked downtown with Kinsley and Kadence and got our nails done.”

There was another college offer from South Carolina Upstate. Elon, where Bradsher’s teammate Mary Moss Wirt will play next year, also showed interest. But if there was ever a tipping point, it came two weeks ago when Bradsher soaked in an Appalachian experience unlike any other. She watched from the student section at Kidd Brewer Stadium, along with the rest of the softball team, as the Mountaineers’ football squad defeated #14 Coastal Carolina off a 24-yard field goal by Chandler Staton as time expired, setting off a raucous celebration that started when thousands of students rushed the field and carried on well into the following morning.

The next day, Bradsher committed to Appalachian.

“I just liked the atmosphere,” Bradsher said. “When I put that (Appalachian) uniform on, it was like a dream come true. Since I was 12, I wanted to go there. I loved Elon and USC Upstate, but I’ve wanted to be in Boone. I felt relieved because I worked so hard for this.”

Last spring as a sophomore, in her first full season at Orange, Bradsher was named to the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association All-State team. She also earned All-Big 8 Conference honors after she led the Lady Panthers in seven offensive categories.

She hit .700 in a regular season shortened to eight games by the pandemic. Bradsher also led the team in hits (28), runs scored (24), RBIs (20), doubles (7), triples (4) and stolen bases (16). The Lady Panthers finished 8-0, the first undefeated regular season in school history en route to the Big 8 Championship.

In 2020, Bradsher played four games as a freshman before the season suddenly ended because of the pandemic.

Playing at Orange has been a family tradition in the Bradsher family. Shannon was a member of the last slow-pitch softball team that Orange ever fielded, coached by Dave Murr. One of Shanon’s teammates was Constance Poteat, who went on to play basketball at N.C. State under Kay Yow.

While her father, Wayne, never participated in sports at Orange, he has been instrumental in developing Carson with constant weekend trips throughout the country for travel ball. Wayne is currently an assistant coach for Orange, alongside head coach Johnny Barefoot.

“Everyone always told me I could be a college softball player, but you always have that doubt in your mind,” Bradsher said. “I just kept working hard and I always went to Appalachian camps and stuff. They’d always kind of hint at me that they were interested, but they weren’t allowed to come out and say it. So I think the hints from them and other softball coaches helped me.”

At Appalachian, Bradsher will play under Shelly Hoerner, who is in her fourth season in Boone. She was previously the head coach at Georgia Tech.

“They’re the best,” Bradsher said of the coaching staff. “I never met anyone like them. They’re very family oriented. Coach Hoerner is like a mother figure. Coach Show (Shane Showalter, the hitting coach) is like a father figure. They’re really close and they’re all really close to their players. But they also push you so that’s exactly what I needed.”

Bradsher’s commitment to Appalachian comes during a sudden growth surge for the Sun Belt Conference, where the Mountaineers have played since 2014. Over the past week, the Sun Belt has added Southern Mississippi, Old Dominion and Marshall from Conference USA. They’re all expected to officially join their new league in 2023, just in time for Bradsher’s freshman year. Since almost all college sports conference realignment occurs because of football, it’s expected that James Madison will start the process of leaving the Colonial Athletic Association to join the Sun Belt following this week’s Virginia gubernatorial election. The Dukes will probably be the latest team from Virginia to move from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

By the time she arrives to Boone in the fall of 2023, Bradsher will likely play conference games against a James Madison squad that became the darlings of America after a stunning run during the Women’s College World Series last summer, highlighted by pitcher Oddici Alexander.

“The Sun Belt is also competitive in softball,” Bradsher said. “That’s just going to make it tougher.”

They’re also changes back home for Bradsher. Orange’s new league, the Central Carolina Conference, will include 2019 3A State Champion Eastern Alamance and perennial power Western Alamance. There’s also 2019 Big 8 Champion Cedar Ridge, which will return the league’s Player of the Year, Takia Nichols, who has committed to play at North Carolina Central. Bradsher grew up playing on travel teams with and against several players who will soon be conference rivals. Her final two years at Orange will not lack for intensity or competition.

Orange lost third baseman Emma Puckett and first baseman Gracie Colley at the end of last season, but there will be seven returning starters, including Wirt, Serenity McPherson and the Big 8 Pitcher of the Year, Gracie Walker.

“We have a good team,” Bradsher said. “Our conference is a lot tougher. We’re not going to have as much room for error, but I think if we work hard this offseason, we should be able to compete. It will be more interesting to play with the new teams.”

When Bradsher graduates from Orange in two years, she will journey to Boone. But she won’t exactly be going away, because she’ll go to a place that reminds her so much of the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club, where she first put on a glove.

“This will be like home to me,” Bradsher said.

For the first time in six years, there will be a representative from Hillsborough in the 3A State Women’s Golf Tournament.

On Tuesday, Orange senior Samantha Durham qualified for the state championships after a solid finish in the Central Regional at Greensboro National Golf Course. It was the second time in five months that Samantha played in the regionals.

Samantha Durham will become the first competitor in the 3A State Women’s Golf Tournament for Orange since Amanda Hill, who reached the state tournament in 2015. To say the competition that year was stiff would be an understatement. The winner of the tournament was Chapel Hill’s Gina Kim, who has gone on to win a national championship with the Duke women’s golf team and currently is in the process of qualifying for a LPGA Tour card.

The 3A State Championship is a two-day event that starts on Monday at Foxtrot Resort and Golf in Pinehurst. It will continue on Tuesday.

Golf runs deep in the Durham family. Samatha’s younger sister, Sarah, also qualified for the Central Regionals for the third year in a row. They both competed in the regionals last May. On most Sunday mornings, Sarah Durham can be found on the driving range at Occoneechee Golf Course in Hillsborough, the official golf course of the Orange and Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s golf teams.

It’s one of the favorite courses of the Durham sisters.

“It’s a good course,” Samantha said. “It’s nice and open. There’s not a lot of water. So I personally like it and it’s close.”

Reaching the state tournament is a fitting final accomplishment for Samantha Durham. When she started at Orange, golf it became more than just something she did every now and then.

“We started playing when we were younger,” said Samantha. “Our father played and our brother played so it was just a family activity. We started taking lesson and last year we started taking it a little more seriously. That’s when we started playing more in school and playing in more tournaments.”

Things would get competitive among members of the Durham family.

“We always want the best for each other,” Samantha said. “I definitely want Sarah to win tournaments. She’s always rooting for me and I’m always rooting for her.”

Samantha and Sarah aren’t the only members of the Durham family to represent Hillsborough in high school golf. Their brother, Matthew, qualified for the regional and state tournaments as a student at Cedar Ridge. Last spring, Matthew Durham graduated from Campbell University and has served internships with the Professional Golfers’ Association in Oakmont, PA and Ootwah, TN in the hopes of becoming a golf pro. He also served as a tournament director for several events at Campbell.

As any golfer will tell you, golf is all about routine. Samantha, who was recently honored during senior day at Occoneechee, says it’s not easy to maintain focus.

“You need good course practice,” Samantha said. “Then when you’re on the golf course, you’re thinking the same things. It’s just ‘stroke, keep your head down, good contact with the ball.’ Every time you swing your club, you just want to make good contact and get it to the hole.”

High Point Central’s Emma Niebauer won the Central Regional championship shooting an even-par, 72. Emily Matthew of Eastern Alamance, the Central Carolina Conference champion, came in second with a 74, 2-over for the afternoon.

Cedar Ridge’s Olivia Aitkin also qualified for the Central Regionals. Aitkin, who recently committed to play softball at Amherst College in Massachusetts, is a three-sport athlete at Cedar Ridge. She seems in the winter, along with playing centerfield for Allan Byrd’s softball team.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior running back Ronald Cooper. On Thursday, Cooper ran for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries as the Panthers defeated Person 26-14 at Auman Stadium. On Cooper’s first carry of the game, he ran around right end for a 41-yard touchdown. Late in the second quarter, Cooper scored on an 11-yard score for the final touchdown for Orange that would carry them to its second victory of the year. Cooper had a great all-around game. As a linebacker, he and Jackson Wood teamed to hold up Person quarterback Cole Garrett on a 4th-and-3 from the Person 41-yard line late in the first quarter. It led to Coopers’s first touchdown run. On the season, Cooper has four tackles for loss on defense and 20 tackles overall. Cooper, who has gained the nickname RoKu from Hillsboroughsports.com colorman Derryl Britt, will return to action on Friday night when Orange faces Northwood in Pittsboro. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com starting at 6:55 live from Chatham County.

Keshawn Thompson: The Campbell Fighting Camels won the inaugural East/West Barbecue Bowl against Gardner-Webb at Spangler Stadium in Shelby on Saturday night. Thompson started at linebacker and recorded three tackles. Afterwards, North Carolina barbecue maven Bob Garner presented the East/West Barbecue Trophy to the Camels, who scored the final two touchdowns of the game to win 42-28. It was Campbell’s second straight victory. The Camels are 3-2, 2-0 in the Big South Conference.

Trenton Gill: While N.C. State did not play this weekend, Gill was named the ACC Specialist of the Week on Monday. It stemmed from his performance against Louisiana Tech last Saturday. Gill had six punts against the Bulldogs for an average of 51.2 yards per punt. Five punts pinned Louisiana Tech inside its own 25-yard line. It’s the first time this year that Gill has been honored as ACC Specialist of the Week.

Adam Chnupa: The Elon football team claimed its second straight road win on Saturday. The Phoenix defeated Maine 33-23 at Alfond Stadium in Orono, ME. Chnupa played linebacker and made two tackles against the Black Bears. Elon is 3-3 overall, 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Elon returns home to host New Hampshire next Saturday.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team defeated the College of Charleston 2-1 at Rudd Field in Elon on Thursday. Hodges started at midfield and fired a shot on goal. Last Sunday, the Phoenix played Delaware to a 1-1 tie. Hodges played all 110 minutes, which included 30 minutes of extra time. Later today (Sunday), Hodges will be among the seniors honored for Elon when the Phoenix hosts Towson. Elon is 6-4-1 overall, 1-1-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Emerson Talley: On Wednesday night, Talley made her first start for the Division II Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team. #14 Catawba defeated the Bears 2-0 at Mortez Sports Complex in Hickory. Talley started as a striker and played 14 minutes. Lenoir-Rhyne bounced back to defeat Queens 1-0 on Saturday, a game where Talley didn’t play. The Bears are 7-2-2 overall, 5-1 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team lost to Averett University 1-0 at Campbell Stadium in Danville VA on Saturday. Daley started at centerback for Greensboro and had two shots on goal. On Wednesday, Southern Virginia University defeated the Pride 2-0 in Buena Vista, VA. Once again, Daley played all 90 minutes. This season, Daley has started all of Greensboro’s games. The Pride are now 3-8-2 overall, 1-3-1 in the USA South Conference. Greensboro will host Methodist on Tuesday.

Jordan Rogers: On Wednesday, William Peace University defeated crosstown rival Meredith 3-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. This marked the first time in program history that the Pacers defeated the Avenging Angels. Former Orange midfielder Jordan Rogers started for the Pacers and played all 90 minutes. It was also the first win for William Peace interim coach Ozzy Peralta. Peace improved to 2-4-1 overall, 1-2-1 in the USA South Conference. The Pacers will host North Carolina Wesleyan on Tuesday in Cary.

Bailey Lucas: The Meredith volleyball team swept a tri-match at its home court at Weatherspoon Gymnasium in Raleigh on Saturday. The Avenging Angels defeated Averett University 3-2 on scores of 25-16, 19-25, 24-26, 25-19 and 15-9. Lucas led Meredith with 26 assists, along with three digs and one kill. Later in the day, Meredith swept North Carolina Wesleyan 3-0 on scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-8. Once again, Lucas led the team with 17 assists. She also had five digs.

On Wednesday, William Peace defeated Meredith 3-2 at Weatherspoon Gymnasium. Meredith won each of the first two sets. The Pacers prevailed 15-25, 16-25, 27-25, 25-22 and 15-8. Lucas came off the bench and finished with 24 assists and seven digs. The Avenging Angels are 12-6 overall, 6-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Avenging Angels are in third place in the USA South, one game in the loss column behind Southern Virginia (8-1) and William Peace (7-1).

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s soccer co-Captain and wingback Jasper Tyll. Last week, Tyll scored the game-winning goal as Orange defeated Person 4-1 at Panther Soccer Park. It was Orange’s first win in the Central Carolina Conference. Tyll broke his left wrist early in the season against Chapel Hill, but he hasn’t missed any action. He has remained on the pitch while wearing a cast. Against Graham on August 30, Tyll sent a free kick from 23 yards to the doorstep of the Red Devils net, which was kicked in by Orange striker Darius Corbett. Tyll also had a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Riverside on September 9 in Hillsborough, which avenged an earlier loss to the Pirates. Orange continues to battle teams tough. On Tuesday, Orange took Northwood to overtime, ending regulation 2-2 in Pittsboro. The Chargers prevailed 4-2. Tyll and the rest of the Panthers will return to action against Eastern Alamance later this week. Next week, Orange hosts Western Alamance on Monday before traveling to Walter Williams.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is running back Omarion Lewis. And the defensive player of the week is senior Kameron Harshaw. On Friday night, Lewis had a career-high 174 yards rushing with two touchdowns as Orange defeated Granville Central 47-0 for its first win of the season. Harshaw had four tackles for loss, including two sacks. Harshaw now leads Orange with 12 tackles for loss this season. It was Lewis’s second career 100–yard rushing game. His first came in the very first varsity game he ever played in 2019 against South Granville. Lewis leads Orange in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage and touchdowns so far this year. Harshaw is a nose tackle that gets off the ball so quickly, Coach Van Smith said Harshaw is among the fastest defensive linemen he’s ever coached. Lewis, Harshaw and the rest of the Orange Panthers will start play in the Central Carolina Conference this Friday night when they face Western Alamance in Elon. You can hear that game here on HillsboroughSports.com.

Over the summer, Orange senior kicker Darius Satterfield started his own fundraiser to fight against childhood cancer. All proceeds go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit fighting against childhood cancer one cup at a time. Satterfield was introduced to the idea of a fundraiser during a kicking camp in Tennessee over the summer. For every point that Satterfield makes this year, there will be more money raised. Through four games this season, Satterfield has raised $300. During the summer, Satterfield was invited to Kohls National Kicking Camp. He worked with former East Chapel Hill head coach Bill Renner, the father of former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner, on his technique. This year, Satterfield has run in a pair of 2-point conversions, including last week against Granville Central. To learn more about Satterfield’s fundraiser, go to @dsatt7 on Twitter.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith Avenging Angels volleyball team opened its season with four matches in four days. Meredith started with a 3-1 win over Roanoke at the Cregger Center in Salem, VA. Meredith won on scores of 16-25, 25-10, 25-16, 26-24. Lucas started and played all four sets. She had 17 assists, an ace and four digs. On Friday, the Avenging Angels swept Geneva on tallies of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-6 to start play at the Marlin Invitational in Virginia Beach, VA at TowneBank Arena. Lucas led the team with 14 assists in the win over the Golden Tornadoes. She also had two digs. On Saturday, Virginia Wesleyan defeated Meredith 3-0. Lucas had nine assists and five digs. To end the weekend, the Avenging Angels defeated Mary Washington 3-1. Once again, Lucas led the team with 20 assists. She also registered six digs.

Bryse Wilson: Wilson returned from the injured list for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The White Sox defeated the Pirates 4-2. Wilson suffered the loss after he threw five innings. He surrendered four runs off six hits. Yasmani Grandal hit a solo homer off Wilson in the second inning. Jose Abreu lauded a solo homer off Wilson in the third. This season, Wilson is 2-6 with a 4.61 ERA.

Kayla Hodges: Hodges scored her second goal of the series for Elon in a 3-0 win over UNC Asheville on Thursday at Greenwood Field in Asheville. Hodges scored the game’s second goal off an assist from Abby Fusca in the 24th minute. She fired two shots against the Bulldogs. On August 26, Virginia Tech defeated Elon 7-1 at Thompson Field in Blacksburg, VA. Hodges started as a defensive midfielder. Elon is 2-2 and will travel to N.C. State later today (Sunday).

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team suffered a loss to Roanoke 2-0 in its season opener on Wednesday. Daley, a former Cedar Ridge All-Conference selection, started her 37th game with Greensboro as a center back. It was her 40th game. On Saturday, Greensboro rebounded with a 2-1 win over Johnson & Wales University at Pride Field. Daley started for the Pride once again.

Jordan Rogers: Rogers started her senior season for the Division III William Peace women’s soccer team. On Wednesday, Guilford College defeated Peace 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. On Saturday, Randolph College shut out the Pacers 2-0. Rogers started both games as a wingback.

Keshawn Thompson: The former Orange defensive back led Campbell in tackles in its loss to Liberty at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. Thompson had a career-high 13 tackles for the Camels, who lost to the Flames 48-7 to open the 2021 season. This was Campbell’s first game since last fall. Unlike many FCS schools, the Camels didn’t play last spring. Next week, Campbell will host Elon.

Payton Wilson: To open his third season with the Wolfpack, Wilson had two tackles as the Wolfpack routed South Florida 45-0 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Wilson had one-half tackle for loss as he was in and out of the lineup throughout the night. The Wolfpack will travel to Mississippi State on Saturday.

Trent Gill: N.C. State only punted three times against the Bulls. Gill, a former Cedar Ridge football and soccer player, had two of the punts for a 45-yard average. Gill’s longest punt was 45 yards. Both of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. Gill also had eight kickoffs, four of which were touchbacks. His average kickoff was 64.6 yards.

Adam Chnupa: Former Cedar Ridge linebacker Adam Chnupa started his redshirt sophomore season at Elon with a tremendous game against Wofford at Rhodes Stadium. The Terriers defeated the Phoenix 24-22 on Saturday. Chnupa made one tackle as the Phoenix dropped its opener.

Colin Guentensberger: Guentensberger, who led the 2018 Orange football team in tackles, suffered a torn ACL and MCL during practice with Appalachian State’s football team. Guentensberger is a junior walk-on with the Mountaineers.

Bryse Wilson started the next chapter of his Major League career with the very team he defeated in his first big league outing.

On Monday night, Wilson made his Pittsburgh Pirates debut only three days after being traded by the Atlanta Braves. Pitching in American Family Field, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated Pittsburgh 6-2. Despite surrendering only one run, Wilson suffered the loss.

Wilson conceded only two hits and two walks over five innings. He retired the Brewers in order in the first frame. Wilson walked Eduardo Escobar to leadoff the second inning, but set down Avisail Garcia, Rowdy Tellez and Tyrone Taylor to retire the side.

Milwaukee’s only run off Wilson came in the third inning when Lorenzo Cain scored off a sacrifice fly by Kolten Wong. Cain reached on an infield single to third to leadoff the inning, then stole second. Milwaukee pitcher Eric Lauer moved Cain over to third on a bunt single.

In the fourth, Wilson walked Escobar, but Garcia grounded into a double play. Wilson set the Brewers down in order in the fifth to end his stint.

“Team obviously wants you, so you want to come out and make a good first impression,” Wilson said afterwards. “There were a little bit of butterflies there. End of the day I wanted to come out and throw the way I can. Will now get some consistency.”

On Friday, Wilson and Ricky DeVito were sent to Pittsburgh in exchange for first baseman Richard Rodriguez.

Shortly after the trade, the Pirates activated Wilson.

“I thought the fastball played better,” said Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton. “Sometimes you see it on video & you don’t know what the action is going to be. Watching it from the side & talking to Stallings. The two-seamer really played & was very effective. Definitely a positive impression.”

The trade ended Wilson’s five-year stint with Atlanta that started when he was selected in fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, 109th overall, and received a $1.2 million signing bonus just days after graduating from Orange High School.

Only a month ago, Wilson was named the Triple-A East Pitcher of the Week with the Gwinnett Stripers. Against Durham on June 30, Wilson had a seven-inning scoreless stint, where he gave up just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in a no decision.

Dating back to July 21, 2019, Wilson was 11-2 with Gwinnett.

In his final appearance with the Braves, Wilson threw the opening game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Over three shutout innings, he held New York to four hits. He walked one and struck out two.

In 2018, Wilson had a dramatic rise through the Braves system, where he went from the Florida Fire Frogs of the Florida State League all the way up to Atlanta in a span of four months. In 23 minor league games with Florida, the Mississippi Braves of the Southern League and the Gwinnett Stripers of the International League, Wilson went 8-5 with a 3.23 ERA.

He made his Major League debut against Pittsburgh at PNC Field on August 20, 2018. Wilson threw five innings and earned the win in a 1-0 Braves victory. At 20 years old, he became the youngest pitcher in National League history to win his debut by that score.

Over the past two years, Wilson has been dominant with Gwinnett in Triple-A East only to have occasional starts with Atlanta. Last October was the zenith of his career when he defeated Clayton Kershaw in game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Wilson, technically still a rookie making just the eighth start of his Major League career, surrendered just one hit over six innings as Atlanta won 10-2 to take a 3-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series.

In his Atlanta career, Wilson was 5-4 with a 5.35 ERA.

After Monday’s loss to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh is 40-66, 23.5 games behind Milwaukee for first place in the National League Central. The Brewers are currently the hottest team in baseball having won eight of its last ten.