Jackson Berini: The Gaston College Rhinos baseball team opened its season 6-1. On Saturday in the opening game of a doubleheader against Walters State, Berini hit a three-run homer to lead a comeback after the Senators jumped out to a 6-0 lead at Sims Legion Park. The following inning, Berini tied the game with a sacrifice fly to score Seth Christmas to make the score 6-6. Walters State would go on to win 7-6 in eight innings. It was the first start for Berini, who played second base. Berini went 1-for-3 with an RBI single as the Rhinos took the second game 9-3 in six innings. Berini made his first college appearance against Guilford Technical Community College on January 27. The Rhinos won 13-1 in five innings. Berini appeared as a pinch hitter. Berini scored his first college run in a 16-0 win for the Rhinos. He drew a walk and touched home plate after a double by Brandon Crabtree.
Davis Horton: Former Orange catcher Davis Horton started his sophomore season at Rockingham County Community College by splitting a doubleheader with Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, VA. Patrick Henry won the opener 10-0. Horton, who started at catcher, went 0-for-3.
Lauren Jackson: The Division II Lenoir-Rhyne softball season started its season by splitting a doubleheader against Lander at Bears Field in Hickory. The Bears won the nightcap 9-1 in five innings. The Bearcats won the opener 10-7. The Bears will host UNC Pembroke in Hickory for a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.
Abby Dease: Former Orange High softball player Abby Dease is now swimming at Smith College, a Division III school in Northampton, Massachusetts. On January 27, Wellesly College won a dual meet over Smith 198-94. Dease finished eighth in the 1000 yard freestyle at 12:01.75. She came in seventh in the 100 yard butterfly. In the 50 yard freestyle, Dease came in ninth in the 100 yard freestyle. Dease, the daughter of longtime Orange baseball coach Dean Dease, is in her junior season.
Mia Davidson: Last week, Davidson officially re-signed with Athletes Unlimited for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Last year, Davidson earned a third-place medal with AUX. Over 12 games, Davidson had five home runs, tied for the league lead. Her slugging percentage of .615 was the best in Athletes Unlimited. Davidson frequently visits her old stomping grounds for hitting clinics with her sister, Montana Davidson. The two played together at Mississippi State.
This Thursday, softball season will officially get underway for Division I schools. Here are the five former Cedar Ridge and Orange players who will start their respective seasons this weekend.
Takia Nichols: After the North Carolina Central Eagles won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship last year, Nichols returns for her sophomore season. The all-time home run hitter in Cedar Ridge history, Nichols was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week twice last season. She hit .338 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs. The Eagles will open in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Eagles will open against South Alabama on Friday morning and will face Central Arkansas later that morning. They will also face Iowa, Utah and Indiana during the event.
Tori Dalehite: a senior at UNC Greensboro. The Spartans are picked to finish first in the Southern Conference. Dalehite has played in 72 career games and has scored 24 runs. UNCG starts its season against Virginia in the Carolina Classic at Beckham Field in Columbia, South Carolina on Friday morning. The Spartans will also face Jacksonville State and South Carolina this weekend.
Mary Moss Wirt: A sophomore for Elon University, Wirt played in 28 games last season, starting six. Elon will open with a doubleheader against Kent State in the Elon Classic at Hunt Softball Park on Thursday. The Phoenix will also welcome Appalachian State, Kent State, Evansville and Miami (Ohio) for the multi-team event.
Carson Bradsher: Bradsher will start her freshman year at South Carolina Upstate on Friday morning. Bradsher was a four-year starter for Orange at shortstop, where she won the Big 8 Conference championship in 2021. South Carolina Upstate will start its season in its own tournament, the Spartan Classic, against Loyola University of Chicago on Friday morning. Later that day, the Spartans will face Toledo. South Carolina State will face the Spartans this weekend.