For the past two years, Orange pitcher Ryan Sawyer has risen to prominence. In 2024, he was called up from the junior varsity team to pitch in the Hilltop Invitational. He earned his first varsity win against Heritage High. After a strong junior season where he went 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA, Sawyer began to attract the attention of recruiters. On Friday night at Orange High’s library, he formally signed with the USC Sumter Fireants, which plays in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Joining him was his mother, Elizabeth, his father, Sam and his brother Ethan. As injuries hampered the Panthers last season, Sawyer was a rock for the Panthers. He delivered possibly his best performance in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs against Eastern Alamance, where he threw a complete game, three-hitter as the Panthers defeated the Eagles 6-1. It was the fourth straight year that Orange won a state playoff game. Sawyer delivered Orange’s first win of the season against Chapel Hill in 2025, throwing four strikeouts in four innings as the Panthers prevailed 9-5. A week later, Sawyer threw three shutout innings as Orange won at Northern Durham 6-0. On February 25, Sawyer will be in uniform as Orange starts a new season against Riverside in Hillsborough.
