Orange’s Cross Clayton discusses 5-inning perfect game, while Jackson Berini talks winning the CCC Championship

There were many reasons to celebrate for the Orange baseball team on Thursday night. For starters, the closed out their first outright conference championship since 2016 in the most complete way imaginable. Sophomore Cross Clayton threw a 5-inning perfect game, retiring all 15 Cedar Ridge Red Wolves he faces on just 42 pitches as Orange defeated its crosstown rival, Cedar Ridge, 16-0 at Orange High Field. Clayton has now tossed 18 consecutive scoreless innings and has a team-high six wins in his first year at the varsity level. He became the first Orange player to toss a perfect game since Bryse Wilson in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs against Eastern Wayne on May 10, 2016. As fate would have it, while Clayton threw his perfect game, Wilson was the starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates inside Wrigley Field, where the Bucs defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3. Junior shortstop Jackson Berini scored Orange’s first run after he led off with a double to right field. Berini finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Orange has won seven in a row and will resume action on Saturday against Southern Lee in Hillsborough. First pitch will be at noon.