Chandler Zirkle grew up in a lacrosse family. He played at East Chapel Hill, where he was coached by his father, Franklin. He led the Wildcats to a state championship game, before lacrosse was even sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. He played at Guilford College, where he scored 29 goals in four years…and was the President of the school’s German Club. On Thursday night, he earned his first victory as Orange Head Coach after Koren Mangal scored the game-winning goal with :39 remaining as the Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 7-6.

Orange Lacrosse Coach Chandler Zirkle Discusses 1st Win as Head Coach

Chandler Zirkle grew up in a lacrosse family. He played at East Chapel Hill, where he was coached by his father, Franklin. He led the Wildcats to a state championship game, before lacrosse was even sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Orange junior Koren Mangal’s 2nd goal against Eastern Alamance came in frantic fashion. With the game tied 7-7 and time running out in regulation, Caleb Davis batted a loose ball to keep it inbounds, where Jay Taylor scooped up the ground ball, approached the net and found junior Koren Mangal all alone on the opposite end. Mangal’s scored with :37 remaining and would be the game-winner as Orange held off the Eagles 7-6 for its first win under new head coach Chandler Zirkle.

Orange ML Koren Mangal Discusses Game-Winning Goal vs. Eastern Alamance

Orange junior Koren Mangal’s 2nd goal against Eastern Alamance came in frantic fashion. With the game tied 7-7 and time running out in regulation, Caleb Davis batted a loose ball to keep it inbounds, where Jay Taylor scooped up the ground ball, approached the net and found junior Koren Mangal all alone on the opposite end.

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Moments after Orange’s Koren Mangal put the Panthers ahead on a goal with :37 remaining in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, Panther goalkeeper Tyson Wolter made a save with :02 remaining, ensuring Orange’s 7-6 win, the first victory for new Orange Lacrosse Coach Chandler Zirkle. In a defensive battle,  Wolter made 18 saves.

Orange Lacrosse Goalkeeper Tyson Wolter Discusses 18 Saves in Win vs. E. Alamance

Moments after Orange’s Koren Mangal scored a goal with :37 remaining against Eastern Alamance on Thursday night, senior goalkeeper Tyson Wolter stopped a shot with :02 remaining that could have potentially sent the game into overtime. Instead, it was the last of Wolter’s 18 saves, and ensured Chandler Zirkle’s first win as Orange Head Lacrosse Coach as the Panthers defeated the Eagles 7-6.

After setting the bar along the defensive line for three conference championship teams, Orange senior Ryan Sellers is now undaunted.

He will be an East Carolina Pirate.

On Thursday night, Sellers released a statement saying he will continue his career at East Carolina next fall. Sellers will start in Greenville as a preferred walk-on, not on scholarship.

Sellers was contacted by an East Carolina assistant coach after basketball season ended. He received offers from Division II Methodist University and Division III Randolph-Macon College, but felt playing under Scottie Montgomery at ECU offered him an opportunity to shine in the American Athletic Conference.

Listed at 6’0, 220 pounds, Sellers was the defensive end that recorded 32 sacks in three varsity seasons. During his junior season, Sellers was a star on possibly the greatest Orange defense in school history. Playing alongside current Vanderbilt defensive end Stone Edwards, Noah Rodgers and future N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson, Sellers recorded 15 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. In 2016, Orange allowed only three offensive touchdowns during an 11-0 regular season, the first undefeated regular season at OHS since 1978.

In his senior season, Sellers led the team with eleven sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He also had the only interception of his career and recovered two fumbles.

Sellers has also been a varsity basketball player for three years, where he was a key reserve during Orange’s run to the 2016 Big 8 Tournament Championship and the 2017 regular season title. This winter, when Mitch Portman was in concussion protocol after suffering a knee to the head against Hillside and sophomore Mechai Holt broke his left foot, Sellers served as the team’s point guard for the duration of the season.

In what figures to be a deep Big 8 Conference, Orange and Cedar Ridge starting their league campaigns on the wrong foot.

In mid-40 degree temperatures in Pittsboro Wednesday night, defending Big 8 Conference Champion Northwood routed the Red Wolves 19-7.

Things couldn’t have started much better for the Red Wolves. Adam Chunupa led off the game with a solo homer to center field. Cedar Ridge pushed the lead to 2-0 after catcher Connnor Lamb double to center to score Matthew Kahn, who reached on a walk.

From there on, it was total Northwood domination. The Chargers scored seven runs in the second inning, six in the third and six more in the fourth. Northwood (4-2, 1-0 in the Big 8) batted around in three consecutive innings, pounding out 17 hits.

Charger shortstop Michael Posse, a freshman who transferred from Georgia during the summer, hit two doubles in the 2nd inning. He led off the 2nd with a two-bagger, which was followed by a single from Deuce Powell. After Zack Sipe walked to load the bases, David Palermo hit an RBI single to left. Zizzy Newell lined an 0-2 fastball down the left field line to score Powell and Sipe. Second baseman Bryce Davis grounded a seeing-eye single over the middle to bring in Palermo and Newell.

Trailing 13-2 in the fourth, Cedar Ridge did score five runs. Landon Badgeett lined a one-out single to left. After Chnupa reached on a fielder’s choice, Jake DeFranco walked to load the bases. Dante DeFranco followed with a double to the left field fence. Chris Cox followed with a three-run homer to reduce the Northwood lead to 13-7.

Dante DeFranco finished 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBI. Badger went 2-for-2, while Lamb went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Cedar Ridge will host Northwood on Friday in Hillsborough.

On Thursday, East Chapel Hill’s Jeb Byerley’s double scored Bryce Jeske and C.J. Di Benedetto in the fifth inning to help East Chapel Hill defeat Orange 7-5 at Panther Field.

Orange (2-3, 0-1 in the Big 8) battled back from a 4-0 deficit to breifly take the lead in the 4th. Collin Guentensberger doubled down the left field line. Jaydin Poateat sent a grounder to shortstop, where Di Benedetto tried to throw out Guentensberger at third, where he was called safe. In the midst of East players arguing the call, Poteat raced over to 2nd. After Joey Berini walked, Jason Slaughter drew a based-loaded walk. After East inserted Brad Rice to pitch, Caige Clayton singled to left field to score Poteat and Berini to give Orange a 5-4 lead, but it didn’t last long.

East’s Ryan McGlinn singled to start the fifth, and Jeske was hit by a pitch while trying to bunt. Di Benedetto walked, leading to Byerley’s two-out double.

Orange starter Will White needed only 15 pitches to get the first five outs, but East scored four runs off five hits in the second inning, all with two outs. Benton Copeland had the game’s first hit on a cue-shot infield single. Rice singled to right to score Copeland. McGlinn followed with a line drive to left to score Harris. Jeske delivered a double to the right center power alley that plated Rice and McGlinn.

East will host Orange to conclude the two-game series on Friday afternoon at 4:30. That game can be heard on HillsboroughSports.com.

In case Cedar Ridge’s season-opening win over Eastern Alamance didn’t grab the attention of the rest of the Big 8 conference, consider what the Red Wolves did on Wednesday against Northwood.

The Chargers have four starters returning from a team that 18-6 last season and finished 3rd in the Big 8, including pitcher Hannah Weigle.

And the Red Wolves finished them in five innings.

Senior Rivers Andrews struck out nine while throwing a one-hitter as the Red Wolves polished off the Chargers 11-0 on Wednesday night in Hillsborough in the Big 8 opener. Cedar Ridge (2-0, 1-0 in the Big 8) will travel to Pittsboro to complete the two-game series on Friday night.

In just her second varsity game, Tori Dalehite went 2-for-3 with a RBI triple, scoring twice. Junior Tionna Carter had a two-run single, while sophomore Emma Roby went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Dalehite is off to a 4-for-6 start with three RBIs, a triple and a double.

With only one senior in the starting lineup, the Red Wolves pounded out ten hits in winning its second game of the season. Junior Amy Stutzer went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Andrews finished 2-for-2. Freshman Shill Quade stole two bases.

Andrews faced 17 batters, but only two got on base. Kaylie Lane was hit by a pitch and Taylor Brown singled.

Years of tutelage by his father has paid off for Cedar Ridge cornerback Kevin Wright, who has officially committed to N.C. Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. Wright started three seasons for the Red Wolves. In 2016, Wright helped the Red Wolves to a winning season while making five interceptions and three pass breakups. He made 45 tackles in his junior season. His preparation for football started with his father, Kevin Wright Sr, who was a tight end at Orange in the early 90s.

Cedar Ridge’s Kevin Wright Officially Commits to N.C. Wesleyan

Years of tutelage by his father has paid off for Cedar Ridge cornerback Kevin Wright, who has officially committed to N.C. Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. Wright started three seasons for the Red Wolves. In 2016, Wright helped the Red Wolves to a winning season while making five interceptions and three pass breakups.