Photo by Sam Sawyer
While the Big 7 Conference championship race was largely over going into last week, the Orange baseball team knew its final two-game league series against Seaforth would have major playoff seeding implications.
It turned out to be more important that they thought.
After a sweep of Seaforth to finish the regular season, the Panthers received a #6 seed in the 5A State Playoff bracket released on Monday morning. The Panthers won’t have to play in the opening round and will await the winner of Person vs. Southern Guilford. Orange will play in the 2nd round on Friday night in Hillsborough.
The Rockets and the Storm will play on Tuesday night in Roxboro.
Seaforth, after losing four conference games to Cedar Ridge and Orange in Big 7 Conference play, will have to play in the opening round against Richlands High on Tuesday night in Pittsboro. The Hawks received a #9 seed.
Orange went into the two-game series trailing in the RPI standings to the Hawks, but reversed its fortunes after scoring two extra inning wins. Last Tuesday, sophomore catcher Mason Bullard lined a walkoff single to right field to score Gary Miller in the bottom of the eighth to win the opening game in Hillsborough 2-1.
In Pittsboro, Orange won 2-1 in nine innings behind a stellar performance from pitcher Ryan Sawyer, who struck out ten in eight-and-two-thirds innings. It was the longest stint of his career. Junior Kayden Bradsher knocked in Ben Knowles for the game-winning run in the ninth. Cam Brown earned the save by getting the final out.
Orange finished 17-7 after winning 14 of its last 16.
In the midst of a drought this spring, Orange has had just one rainout. Person was supposed to visit Hillsborough on March 16, but it was canceled.
The Panthers and the Rockets were rivals in the Central Conference from 2022-2025. Last year, the Rockets swept the season series from Orange, including a run-rule victory in Hillsborough.
