On Wednesday night, the Cedar Ridge softball team started its season with an 11-7 win over Cardinal Gibbons in Hillsborough. A year after Takia Nichols hit eight home runs in her freshman year, she started her sophomore season with two more dingers. Nichols finished 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs and three runs scored. Freshman Anaya Carter, whose older sister Tionna played shortstop for the Red Wolves the past three seasons, went 3-for-4 in her first varsity game, scoring twice. Sophomore Olivia Aitkin took the win inside the circle for the Red Wolves. On Friday night, Cedar Ridge will face West Johnston in a playoff rematch. In May, the Red Wolves won a marathon 11-inning game when Tionna Carter got the game-winning hit to send the Red Wolves home with a 4-3 win and into the second round of the state playoffs. Hillsboroughsports.com will broadcast Cedar Ridge vs. West Johnston, which will be played in Hillsborough, on Friday night starting at 6:25. Listen in on the website.