Jeff Hamlin

Seven innings, three hits, four runs and six strikeouts.

Ordnarily, Orange’s Jaden Hurdle’s pitching line would be more than enough for victory.

But not on Wednesday night, because no one can beat perfect.

That’s what Cedar Ridge’s Rivers Andrews was against Orange. Not only perfect, but untouchable.

Andrews struck out 20 Panthers out of 21 batters she faced. Only Alysann Lloyd was able to put the ball in fair play, grounding out to second. Every other Lady Panther went down on strikes.

Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 4-0. Sophomore Tori Daltehite went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the 2nd iinning. Tionna Carter had the only CRHS hit, and scored off a sacrifice fly from Taylor Ruhl.

It was a performance reminiscent of the last time Cedar Ridge defeated Orange on April 26, 2016. Andrews struck out 14 Lady Panthers, including Mia and Montana Davidson, to propel the Red Wolves to an 8-2 win. That night, the Orange batters walked six times and collected two hits.

The Red Wolves remain tied for 1st place with East Chapel Hill in the Big 8 Conference with a 3-0 record, 4-1 overall. Orange, who was swept by East Chapel Hill in a doubleheader two weeks ago, falls to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in the Big 8.

Cedar Ridge will host Orange on Thursday at 6:30 to conclude the two-game series. The Red Wolves will go for its first season sweep of the Panthers this decade.

For the sixth straight year, the Orange baseball team defended its home field against their crosstown rivals, and they have their senior pitcher to thank for it.

The Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 8-0 on Wednesday night in front of over 300 fans at Panther Field behind a three-hit shutout from Will  White, who earned his third straight win. White has now thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings.

Orange pounded out ten hits, including Mark Willms going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Sophomore shortstop Joey Berini also went 2-for-3 with a double, while first baseman Dalton Brown went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Every player in the Orange lineup got on base. Catcher Caige Clayton, who slugged a two-run homer against East Chapel Hill two weeks ago, had a sacrifice fly RBI.

Cooper Porter, Colin Guentensberger and Cooper Hench also had doubles as Orange remained tied with Chapel Hill for first place in the Big 8 with a 4-1 record.

Cedar Ridge (4-3, 2-3) dropped its second straight. The Red Wolves were held to a season-low in hits and shut out for the first time this season. Cedar Ridge is now in sixth place in the Big 8 with a 2-3 record, which makes Thursday’s rematch with the Panthers all the more urgent.

Phil Berger took the loss for the Red Wolves.

Hillsborough Sports.com will broadcast the Orange-Cedar Ridge game live starting at 6.

A year ago, the gap between Orange and Cedar Ridge softball seemed wider than ever.

Orange had the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in catcher Mia Davidson, now starting for Mississippi State. The Lady Panthers swept the Red Wolves, including a game at OHS that ended 15-0 in just three innings. A month later, Orange would claim the 3A state championship, long after the Red Wolves had ended a 6-12 campaign.

When the crosstown rivals start a two-game series tonight at Orange, things figure to be considerably different. Of course, Orange lost Davidson, shortstop Abby Hamlett and pitcher Christina Givens to graduation. Those departures were a foregone conclusion.

What Orange parents and fans didn’t expec at the end of lose season would be to lose head coach Eddie Davidson just days before the season opener against Eastern Alamance on March 7th. Henry Horn, who left softball coaching after a stint at Northern Durham and didn’t have any intention to return until Mia Davidson persuaded him back into it, is now the interim head coach.

With all the changes, Orange is 3-3, already as many losses as they had in all of 2017. They’re 2-2 in the Big 8, two games behind conference leader East Chapel Hill.

On the other end of town, Cedar Ridge stormed out of the gates 3-0, including a resounding sweep of Northwood to open the Big 8 campaign. Despite losing to Roxboro Community School on Monday night to drop to 3-1, the Red Wolves will have confidence agains the Lady Panthers because of two players who didn’t play last season.

Senior pitcher Rivers Andrews is 3-1 with a 0.58 ERA. he has 50 strikeouts and four walks. A third-year varsity starter, Andrews has had past success against Orange. In her sophomore season, with Mia and Montana Davidson in the starting lineup, Andrews struck out 14 in an 8-2 Cedar Ridge win. Three nights later, she fanned 13 Panthers, but Orange won 3-1 behind a two-run single from Mia Davidson. Andrews went 14-6 her sophomore season with 243 strikeouts.

Just as Cedar Ridge struggled to find a replacement for Andrews last seaosn, Orange has been hard pressed to find a replacement for Davidson, which was hardly unpredictable since she was the most accomplished female athlete in school history. Yet both of the catchers on Orange’s roster played at Stanford Middle School last year. Originally, freshman Hunter Balog was penciled into Davidson’s spot, but she was hit in the head by a practice ball the night before the season opener against Eastern Alamance. Alaysia Sanford, who was supposed to play junior varsity, was rushed to the main roster as the emergency replacement.

Another factor for Cedar Ridge has been the emergence of sophomore Tori Dalehite, who missed last season after tearing her ACL in the first high school basketball game she ever played in. While going hitless on Monday against RCS, Dalehite is still hitting .615 with seven RBIs through her first four varsity games. In fact, she homered in her first high school game against Eastern Alamance.

Kymberlie Thacker is hitting .357 for Cedar Ridge, while junior Tionna Carter is hitting .287.

Orange has depth of its own. Alisha Pettiford hit two home runs during a doubleheader with East Chapel Hill. Freshman shortstop Emma Puckett went 3-for-4 in her first varsity game, also against Eastern Alamance.

The first game of the two-game series will be tonight at Orange starting at 6:30. Cedar Ridge will host Thursday night’s game also at 6:30.

Through the first five games of the year, Cedar Ridge junior midfielder Tyler Coleman leads the Red Wolves with six goals and eight points. Coleman added to that total on Wednesday night when the Red Wolves defeated J.F. Webb 15-1 in the home opener at Red Wolves Stadium. After Michael Mullenix opened the scoring with a goal only 19 seconds into the game, Coleman followed with a man-advantage goal on a pass from Colin Davis. Coleman ended the first half assisting on a goal from Noah Upchurch with :2.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Cedar Ridge is now 3-2, having won three in a row.

Nearly a month after the season started, the Cedar Ridge Men’s Lacrosse team finally played its home opener on Wednesday night. The defending 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Champions put away J.F. Webb 15-1 behind two goals and two assists from senior midfielder Noah Upchurch. After a 0-2 start, Cedar Ridge has won three straight against Northern Durham, Voyager Academy and the Warriors, winning by a combined score of 37-4. Upchurch now had three goals and three assists on the season.

Photo from Dave Lindaman. For more information, go to https://orangesportslindaman.smugmug.com/

Regardless of whether your wear burgundy or orange, there’s a piece of news that everyone can be happy about.

The March snow appears to be officially gone for 2018.

Its much aniticpated departure will lead to temperatures in the 70s, just in time for a crucial two-game baseball series between Orange and Cedar Ridge starting Tuesday at OHS (first pitch at 6).

Last May, Cedar Ridge captured the series finale from its crosstown rivals 6-0. It was the first time the Red Wolves defeated Orange since 2012.

This week, there’s more than bragging rights on the line.

In the new look Big 8 Conference, there are six very good baseball teams and only four guaranteed state playoff spots.

Orange enters the week tied for first in the Big 8 with Northwood, East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill with a 3-1 league record. Cedar Ridge comes in tied with Northern Durham for 5th at 2-2.

The Red Wolves received a tough draw to open conference play. Its first three Big 8 series are against the top teams from the Big 8 from 2017. The Red Wolves split their opening two-game series against defending Big 8 Champion Northwood and runner-up Chapel Hill (who tied with Orange for 2nd). The good news is they close the season with less-seasoned teams Southern Durham and Hillside.

Orange, 5-4 overall after losing to C.B. Aycock 7-2 on Saturday in Wilson, quickly swept Hillside in a doubleheader on Friday by scores of 12-0 and 11-1.

The opening pitching matchup on Tuesday will likely match two hurlers who threw their best games at the end of last season.

Cedar Ridge junior Phil Berger tossed a one-hitter against Orange last year, and that was on an infield single by Jason Slaughter which could have easily been scored an error. The following week, Berger earned the victory in a 4-1 victory over Nash Central in the opening round of the 3A state playoffs. Against the Bulldogs, Berger yielded just three hits, striking out five.

Berger will be opposed by Orange senior Will White, who also took a win in the 3A state playoffs last spring when he held Southern Lee to four hits in a 2-1 win in Sanford. This season, White is 2-1 after wins over Eden Morehead and Hillside, along with a 7-5 loss to East Chapel Hill.

Both teams have plenty of experience from last year. Cedar Ridge has seven starters back from last season. Only Brandon Andrews and Simon Little graduated for the Red Wolves.

Orange has six starters back after losing first baseman Eric Nichols, catcher/pitcher Ryan Puckett and catcher Dylan Hall.

The Red Wolves have power with 1st baseman Chris Cox, who has two homers this season. CRHS’ middle infield tandem of Jake and Dante DeFranco are usually in the top of the batting order and solid contact hitters.

For Orange, leadoff batter Jaydin Poteat has stolen eleven bases this season. Catch Caige Clayton swatted a two-run homer in the 8th inning of a crucial 9-8 win at East Chapel Hill on March 16th.

It’s also the final series for both teams before Easter break, which means both teams are gearing up for the Hilltop Invitational. Orange and Cedar Ridge will host three games over the course of three days starting next Thursday. Cedar Ridge will host First Colonia (of Virginia Beach, Virgnia) on Thursday, April 5th; Wake County HomeSchool on April 6th and Jordan on April 7th.

Orange will welcome Wake County HomeSchool on April 5th; First Colonia on April 6th and Panther Creek on April 7th.

Last Monday, the Cedar Ridge Women’s Soccer team defeated Orange 2-0, improving to 3-0-3 on the season. Emerson Talley has scored four goals this season and leads the team with ten points. Very quietly, Cedar Ridge has turned into Hillsborough’s most surprising success story so far this spring. They are 2-0-2 in the Big 8, good enough for 3rd place in the league. However, they have played East Chapel Hill to a 2-2 tie on March 5, and went to a scoreless tie against Chapel Hill on March 15. On Thursday, the Red Wolves defeated Northern Durham 4-0 at Jack Armstrong Stadium in Durham. Talley scores two goals and an assist, with Taylin Jean earning the win in net.

The first Orange Panther of the Week for the spring sports season is Orange softball pitcher/1st baseman Jaden Hurdle. A sophomore, Hurdle has pitched in victories over Eastern Alamance and Roxboro Community School this season. On Thursday against RCS, she led off the game with a home run. Last season, Jaden started at 1st base as a freshman, helping the 2018 Orange softball squad become the first team in OHS history win a female team sports state championship. Jaden also accepted an invitation to the prom after Thursday’s win over RCS, but it turns out she was prepared before she was even asked.

Koren Mangal and Wyatt Jones each scored four goals on Thursday night as Orange defeated Riverside 16-4 at Linny Wrenn Stadium in Durham on Wednesday night.

The Panthers improved to 2-2 under first-year head coach Chandler Zirkle.

Dylan Boyer added a hat trick, while Caleb Davis and Jeremy Carter each scored two goals. Andy Sollars added another goal for Orange.

It was the 2nd straight win for the Panthers, who defeated Eastern Alamance last Thursday at Auman Stadium for its first win under Zirkle.

After winning the 3A Eastern Regional Dual Team Championship for the 2nd straight year, the Orange Wrestling team swept the Big 8 Conference Honors for the 2017-18 season.

In his first season at the helm, Orange’s Spenser Poteat was named the Big 8 Coach of the Year. Last year, Poteat replaced his mentor Bobby Shriner as head coach after Shriner coached Payton Wilson and Josiah Ramirez to individual state championship matches in their respective weight classes.

This season, Poteat led Orange to a 22-1 record, winning its tenth Eastern Regional Championship and its 16th consecutive conference championship. Like Shriner in his final season, Poteat led two Orange wrestlers to state championship matches at the Greensboro Coliseum.

After going 41-1 during the season, Orange senior Braden Homsey was named the Big 8 Wrestler of the Year. Homsey claimed the Big 8 Conference and 3-A Mideast Regional Championships at 220 pounds. He advanced to the 3A state championship match, where he fell to Weddington’s Tyrie Houghton, who finished 59-0 on the season. As a junior, Homsey went 38-14 with 22 pins. This season, Homsey led the team with 346 points scored and 28 pinfall victories.

After winning the 182-pound state championship, Orange’s Josiah Ramirez also was named All-Conference. Ramirez ended his Orange career 139-19 after winning the state title at the Greensboro Coliseum by pinning Terry Sanford’s Finley Allen in 3:59.

Seven other Orange grapplers made the All-Big 8 team:

Mitchell Askew: Finished the season 31-10 with 15 pins. In his final match for Orange, he won his 100th match at the 3A Mideast Regionals, completing a bout where he injured his left shoulder in the 2nd period. He still finished the bout to earn a decision victory, which proved to be his final one at Orange.

Gavin Wiggins: Finished the season 35-8 with ten pins. Clinched his 100th career win at the Mideast Regionals at Chapel Hill High with a 9-6 decision over Lydell Canady. Captured the 126 pound championship at the King of Kings Tournament in Charlotte. Also finished 2nd at 126 in the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic On December 16th. Finished 3rd at the Tiger Holiday Championship and the Jim King Invitational.

Bailey Hawkins: Finished 4th in the state at 132 pounds after edging Northern Guilford’s Ethan King 4-3 in Greensboro. Qualified for the 3A State Tournament after a 38-9 season where he scored ten pins. Captured the 132-pound championship at the Jim King Invitational, as well as the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic. Finished 2nd at the King of Kings Tournament in Charlotte. Ended career with a record of 141-45.

Levi Anderson: A junior, Anderson finished 3rd in the state at 138 pounds after a 2-0 win over Mason Fisher of Piedmont. Also finished 3rd in the Mideast Regionals. Went 32-6 on the season with ten pins. Finished 2nd in the King of Kings in Charlotte.

Avery Jenkins: Shuttling between 160 and 170 pounds, Jenkins went 33-10 with 20 pins. Qualified for the state tournament at 160 pounds after finishing 3rd at the Mideast Regionals. Finished runner-up at the Tiger Holiday Classic, where he lost a 7-2 decision in the championship match. Finished runner-up at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic and the Jim King Invitational.

Trey Jones: After an injury-plagued junior season, Jones fought back to go 26-8 in 2017-18. He earned 18 pins. The highlight of the season was coming in 2nd at the Tiger Holiday Classic. Finished 3rd at the Jim King Invitational and the King of Kings Tournament, and 5th at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic.

Daylen Alston: The Mideast Regional Heavyweight champion, Alston won his 100th career match at the Tiger Holiday Classic. He also won the heavyweight championship at the Eastern Alamance Eagle Classic in Mebane, as well as the heavyweight championship at the Jim King Invitational. Finished 2nd in the King off Kings Tournament in Charlotte and 4th in the Tiger Holiday Classic. Also tied for the team lead for fastest pin scored this season at seven seconds. Ends his Orange career with a record of 118-32.

In addition, two Cedar Ridge wrestlers were named all conference. Darius McLeod made the team at 132 pounds.

Making the squad as an at-large selection was Cedar Ridge’s Colin Davis, who qualified for the state tournament at 182 pounds. Davis finished sixth in the state, ending the season 22-9.