The Orange baseball team became the first squad from the Big 7 Conference to defeat South Granville on Friday night. Oliver Van Tiem hit his third home run of the season as the Panthers defeated the Vikings 6-2 at Orange Baseball Field in Hillsborough. In his fifth game back from injury, junior designated hitter Kayden Bradsher drove in the game-winning run with a double to left field, scoring Gary Miller. On the night, Miller finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Bradsher scored Orange’s first run in the opening inning after he reached on an infield hit. Senior Wren Hash delivered a two-run single to centerfield to bring in Bradsher and J.P. Rodio. Freshman Ben Knowles had a strong night defensively. Knowles made three assists and one putout in the final four innings as the Vikings were held to two hits. Knowles drove in the game’s final run in a wild sequence during the fifth inning when Cam Brown scored from first base on a single. Knowles lofted a single to left field and wound up at third base following an error. Orange is 10-7 overall, 3-3 in the Big 7 Conference. They will return home to face Apex Friendship in Hillsborough on Wednesday night at 7PM. On Friday night, Orange will celebrate senior night against Durham School of the Arts.
