Cedar Ridge Baseball

Cedar Ridge’s Quinn Finnegan, Grant McGuffey, Jesus Velazquez & Aidan Ryan talk win over Orange

Following years of heartbreak, it’s hard to imagine a more gratifying win for the Cedar Ridge baseball team. Trailing crosstown rival Orange 1-0 going into the seventh inning, the Red Wolves scored six runs in the seventh inning. Freshman Jesus Velazquez delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single to score Hudson Kelly and Dominic Sena to put the Red Wolves ahead for good. Grant McGuffey started the inning with a leadoff single to left field. He scored the game-tying run with two out in the seventh inning. Pitcher Quinn Finnegan drilled a three-run home run to left field to cap the 6-run inning, a fitting moment after the senior had suffered two heartbreaking playoff losses at Orange in 2022 and 2024. Finnegan earned his first career win at Orange, tossing a complete game. He struck out eight with just one walk. His home run was his third of the season. Grant McGuffey was responsible for ten outs at shortstop, including a double play that ended the first inning. It was Cedar Ridge’s first win at Orange since 2012 and the Red Wolves first victory over the Panthers since 2018. The Red Wolves are now are 4-4 in the Central Conference. They will host Orange to finish the two-game series on Thursday night at Red Wolves Field.

Cedar Ridge’s Quinn Finnegan, Grant McGuffey, Jesus Velazquez & Aidan Ryan talk win at Orange

Following years of heartbreak, it’s hard to imagine a more gratifying win for the Cedar Ridge baseball team. Trailing crosstown rival Orange 1-0 going into the seventh inning, the Red Wolves scored six runs in the seventh inning.

Breaking the curse–Finnegan, Velazquez key 6-run 7th, Cedar Ridge baseball wins at Orange for 1st time since 2012

The painful moments endured by Cedar Ridge baseball at Orange High Field are too numerous to mention and come to mind easily for anyone who has witnessed them in recent years.

That’s why the irony of Tuesday night’s game is rich, unforgettable and for Cedar Ridge, oh so sweet.

Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, the Red Wolves were down to its last strike against Orange’s Ryan Sawyer, who was working on his first career complete game shutout. He was poised to get it as he worked against Cedar Ridge’s Dominic Sena, who had become the first Red Wolf to face a full count the entire game. Sawyer’s payoff pitch was outside. Sena joined Grant McGuffey, who lofted a soft liner to shallow left field to lead off the 7th inning, on base.

On a 3-1 count, Hudson Kelly sent a grounder to shortstop that appeared to be routine.

For once, fortune favored the Red Wolves on the northern side of town.

The throw went over the head of first baseman Wren Hash, allowing McGuffey to score the game-tying run. Almost as importantly, Sena took third off the error.

At that point, Sawyer was at 93 pitches and was replaced by left fielder Mason Grooms. Cedar Ridge freshman Jesus Velazquez, who had flown out to right fielder Dominic O’Keefe twice on the night, sent a searing line drive that landed on the lip of the outfield grass.

Sena and Kelly scored easily to give the Red Wolves its first lead of the game as the visitors grandstand, located down the third base line, shook in joyous cheering.

Orange’s defense, which had played an errorless game leading up to the seventh, was plagued by problems that proved to be fatal. Carter Warren reached on a dropped infield pop-up, which led to the sweetest moment of all for Cedar Ridge.

Senior Quinn Finnegan, who had firsthand experience with two painful state playoff losses at Orange in his freshman and junior years, delivered a blast to left field that cleared the fence by plenty. It was a three-run blast that put the Red Wolves ahead 6-1.

In past years, there may have been a lingering doubt if the Red Wolves could even hold on to that lead inside Panther Field. But not on Tuesday.

Finnegan finished the complete game in the seventh with no turbulence.

Cedar Ridge (7-10, 4-4 in the Central Conference) defeated Orange 6-1, its first victory at Panther Field since 2012. The Red Wolves had not beaten Orange period since 2018.

Orange could fill a book with all the dramatic wins they’ve had against Cedar Ridge and it appeared they would add another page on Tuesday night.

Going into the sixth, Finnegan had tossed a clinic. He needed only 41 pitches to get through the first five shutout innings.

With one out in the sixth, Kayden Bradsher poked a low line drive to centerfield that Ian McGuffey dove for and missed. The ball bounced over McGuffey’s outstretched body. Warren raced in from right field to back him up, but Bradsher reached second base. Oliver Van Tiem broke the scoreless tie with a line drive up the middle. Bradsher, the fastest man on Orange’s team, easily beat McGuffey’s throw to the plate.

The startling rally provided hope for a Cedar Ridge team that drove up Orange High Road having dropped three straight conference games, including a disappointing loss to Western Alamance in Hillsborough last week.

“We had one mindset and that was to finish,” Massey said. “This season hasn’t gone the way we want it to in the first half. We had a reset and a week off. Our guys really bought into finishing and trusting each other. We talked before the seventh inning and I told them they had to believe in each other and that they could do this. And they did.”

Finnegan struck out eight in a complete game victory, allowing only six hits and one walk. His three-run homer in the seventh was his third dinger of the year.

“That was the best game I’ve seen Quinn throw,” Massey said. “There wasn’t a doubt in my mind how he was going to pitch here. There was a reason why he switched him in the rotation to throw on Tuesdays. It was so he could come here to throw on this field where, to be honest, he’s dominated every time. The Quinn that we saw tonight was the Quinn that has worked his tail off.”

Oddly enough, the same Orange defense that collapsed in the seventh inning came up with big plays throughout the game to keep it scoreless. Cedar Ridge’s John Grove was thrown out at the plate by Sawyer when Sena tried to bunt him across in the second inning.

Aidan Ryan doubled to leadoff the fourth inning. After Sawyer was called for a balk, Ryan moved to third. Grove flew out to Van Tiem, who delivered a laser to catcher D.J. Woods to nab Ryan at the plate and end the inning.

Last May in the opening round of the state playoffs, Cedar Ridge led Orange 4-0 going into the seventh inning. Finnegan retired the first two batters before the Panthers made an improbable rally with seven straight players reaching base. Orange was down to its last strike twice before Kayden Bradsher delivered a two-run, game-tying single to centerfield. Then Ryan Honeycutt jolted a walkoff three-run homer, the first ball to go over Orange’s right field fence all season.

“I can tell you that all offseason, you have a bad taste in your mouth after the playoff game,” Massey said. “This is a big rivalry and our guys wanted this one bad. But we still have a lot of goals left for this season. This is just a little bit of a taste that they can have the rest of the year.”

 

Cedar Ridge notebook: Finnegan throws complete game, Velasquez hits two singles in Red Wolves win over Person 5-1; Softball falls to Eastern Alamance

Once again, facing Person brought out the best in Quinn Finnegan.

Last year, Finnegan struck out five in four innings as Cedar Ridge won in Roxboro. On Friday night, Finnegan delivered his best performance of his senior season thus far, striking out nine in a complete game two-hitter as the Red Wolves defeated Person 5-1 on Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association night at Cedar Ridge Baseball Field.

After Person’s Wyatt Carden drew a bases-loaded walk to score Gavin Dodson in the first inning, the Rockets only had one more runner reach third base the rest of the game. Finnegan saved his best for last, retiring the final 15 Person batters. The Rockets’ Brady Holmes led off the third inning with a double. It was Person’s final hit. Finnegan ended the game striking out the side in order.

Person didn’t have the lead for long. In the bottom of the first, Grant McGuffey sent a dribbler to right field to score John Grove, who led off the inning with a single.

Freshman Jesus Velazquez led off the third inning with a double to right field. After Ian McGuffey dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Velasquez to third, Dominic Sena reached on an infield hit up the middle to give Cedar Ridge a 2-1 lead.

Finnegan and Carter Warren drew walks to start the fourth inning. Finnegan, going without a courtesy runner despite being the pitcher, stole third while Warren went to second. Ian McGuffey knocked a two-run single to centerfield to put the Red Wolves ahead 4-1.

The Red Wolves added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Velazquez earned his second hit of the game with a single to shortstop. Aidan Ryan, who was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning, scored.

Cedar Ridge improved to 5-6 overall, 3-1 in the Central Conference. They’re tied with Person for third place as they prepare to travel to Eastern Alamance on Tuesday night.

Softball: Eastern Alamance 6, Cedar Ridge 4:

Through odd scheduling, it’s possible the two best softball teams in the Central Conference could have its entire two-game series decided before April Fool’s Day.

It’s clear that with two-thirds of the season remaining, Eastern Alamance is the favorite to win its second consecutive league title.

As was the case in its initial meeting earlier this month, the Eagles made a late rally to defeat Cedar Ridge 6-4 on Friday at Eagles Softball Field. Cedar Ridge took a 4-3 lead into the sixth inning, but the Eagles’ Edie Stewart drove in the game-winning runs with a fly ball to right field. Courtesy runner Jones Stewart and Brylea Warren scored for the margin of victory.

Cedar Ridge built a two-run lead scoring all four of its runs in the third inning. Madeline Galindo-Woodring drew a four pitch walk against Delani Straughan to lead off the inning. Mia Best sent a cue shot up the line and beat out the throw from catcher Kayden Manning. After Galindo-Woodring and Best each moved up 60 feet after a groundout, Kimber Shambley knocked in Galindo-Woodring with a sacrifice fly to right field, cutting the Eastern Alamance lead to 2-1. Reagan Simmons tied the game with a line drive to right field. Rylee Capps stroked a grounder up the middle for a single. Laci Sykes loaded the bases when she got aboard off a dropped third strike. Charlotte Lowry stroked a double to right field, leading to Qiaura Rogers scoring the go-ahead run. Capps also scored to put the Red Wolves ahead 4-2.

Eastern Alamance started with two runs in the second inning. With two out, Addison Hester knocked in Kinley Henderson and Mckenzie Blevins.

The Red Wolves will return home to face Western Alamance on Tuesday night.

Cedar Ridge baseball’s Hudson Kelly and Quinn Finnegan discuss win at Walter Williams

Cedar Ridge baseball gained a sweep of Walter Williams to start its Central Conference season this week. On Friday night, Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win as the Red Wolves defeated Williams 3-1 at Bulldogs Field. Kelly only allowed one unearned run off of hit over five innings. After he started the week with a win over Williams in Hillsborough, senior Quinn Finnegan came over from first base in the sixth inning and earned a six-out save. It was the second year in a row that Finnegan earned a save in a win at Williams. Kelly also drove in the game-winning run with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Williams mounted threats in the sixth and seventh innings, but Cedar Ridge’s Carter Warren made a huge catch in right field with runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the sixth. Warren managed to force a double play after making the big grab. After the Bulldogs got two runners on base off infield singles in the seventh inning, Finnegan struck out the final two Williams batters to end the game. Cedar Ridge is atop the Central Conference with a 2-0 record as they prepare to travel to Person on Tuesday night. The Red Wolves will also have a home game against Clover Garden School in Hillsborough on Wednesday night at 6.

Cedar Ridge baseball’s Quinn Finnnegan and Hudson Kelly discuss win at Walter Williams

Cedar Ridge baseball gained a sweep of Walter Williams to start its Central Conference season this week. On Friday night, Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win as the Red Wolves defeated Williams 3-1 at Bulldogs Field. Kelly only allowed one unearned run off of hit over five innings.

Kelly hits two-run single, earns 1st varsity win in Cedar Ridge baseball’s 3-1 victory at Williams

BURLINGTON–Carter Warren’s name won’t be in the box score for Friday night’s game.

But it should be.

With Cedar Ridge clinging to a two-run lead in the sixth inning against Williams, Warren moved from centerfield to right field after Quinn Finnegan replaced Hudson Kelly on the mound. With runners at 1st and 2nd, Williams’ Will Allen lined a first-pitch fastball to the right field gap.

Warren had barely got his cleats in place at his new position before he had to make a move that may decide the game. As the ball soared closer to wall, he reached up with his glove hand and snagged the hardest hit ball of the night.

Williams’ baserunners frantically moved in opposite directions. Vince Coker lunged back to first and got back safely. But it was too late for Charlie Smith, who was a step away from third base by the time Warren made the catch. Grant McGuffey took Warren’s throw from right field and tossed it to Jesus Valezquez for the easy double play.

It was the biggest defensive play as Cedar Ridge completed a two-game sweep of Williams 3-1 on Friday night. For the first time since the two teams became league rivals in 201, Cedar Ridge swept a series from the Bulldogs.

Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win, allowing just one unearned run over five innings. Kelly also knocked in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning with a liner to centerfield, scoring Noah Heckman and Grant McGuffey.

For the second year in a row, Cedar Ridge senior Quinn Finnegan earned the save at Williams. After Williams got Aidan Pullman and Liam Kerr Finger on board in the seventh inning off infield singles, Finnegan struck out Chris Gonzalez-Gomez and Cooper Rice to end the game.

Coker scored Williams’ only run when he reached off an error in the first inning. Rounding the bases with a passed ball and a groundout, Coker scored off an grounder to second by Angel Mora. Kelly limited the Bulldogs to one hit over the first five innings.

John Grove reached on an error at second base with one out in the fourth inning. Heckman replaced Grove as a courtesy runner. Grant McGuffey lined a double to the left field gap, sending Heckman to third. Kelly drove a liner to left field, which bounced away from Williams’ Jazion Bigelow and came to a rest just shy of the fence, allowing Heckman and McGuffey to score standing up.

Cedar Ridge (3-5, 2-0 in the Central Conference) will start a two-game series against Person in Roxboro on Tuesday.

Baseball wrapup: McGuffey keys Cedar Ridge in conference opening win; Sawyer homers in Orange’s victory over East Chapel Hill

The past four years, Cedar Ridge baseball has started each Central Conference season by splitting a two-game series against Walter Williams.

For an experienced team with lofty expectations this year, the Red Wolves want to start the league campaign with a sweep of the Bulldogs. On Tuesday night, they couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Junior Grant McGuffey drove in four runs as Cedar Ridge stormed out to a 5-0 lead and dominated Walter Williams 12-2 in five innings at Red Wolves Field. Senior Quinn Finnegan, who has committed to Division I Wagner College, earned his first win of the season by striking out five in four innings.

The first six Red Wolves to step up to the plate all reached in the bottom of the first, starting with a line drive up the middle by Ian McGuffey. After junior Dominic Sena walked, John Grove loaded the bases on an infield hit. Grant McGuffey drove in two runs with another single to centerfield. Finnegan scored Grove on a throwing error to first base. Freshman Jesse Velazquez drew a bases-loaded walk to score Finnegan.

Cedar Ridge added two more runs in the second inning starting with singles from Sena and Grove. Aidan Ryan lined to right field to score Sena and McGuffey.

Grove, who finished 3-for-3, doubled to right field in the bottom of the third to score Ian McGuffey, who reached off a single to centerfield.

Finnegan led off the fourth with a hard grounder to left field for a single. John Morgan reached on an error, allowing Finnegan to reach third base. Cedar Ridge executed a double steal where Morgan reached 2nd while Finnegan scored off the throw. Velazquez popped out to centerfield and scored Morgan on a sacrifice.

Cedar Ridge (2-4 overall, 1-0 in the Central Conference) will host Chapel Hill on Wednesday night at 7.

Orange 7, East Chapel Hill 1: After struggling offensively in consecutive losses to Millbrook and Grimsley last week, Orange took advantage of free bases to secure a win over the Wildcats in Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

Garrett Sawyer sent a classic pop-up home run over Orange’s left field porch  to even the game in the third inning, then reached base on the most crucial sequence of the game during a four-run 4th inning. After Mason Grooms got on board with a roller to right field with two out, Kayden Bradsher was beaned on the front leg. Sawyer swung and missed at a 1-2 pitch, but the ball bounced off the dirt and ricocheted off the fence. Sawyer raced down the line off the dropped 3rd strike to load the bases.

Sophomore Oliver Van Tiem walked with the bases loaded to put Orange ahead 2-1. Designated hitter Henry Hoffman, batting cleanup for the first time in his career, drilled a two-run single up the middle to score Grooms and Bradsher. Gary Miller drilled a single to left field, advancing Hoffman to third. East Chapel Hill installed Tomas Robertson as pitcher to replace starter Ryan Cabe, who moved to catcher. As Eli Horton was at bat, Cabe threw the ball back after an 0-1 pitch over the head of Robertson, which allowed Hoffman to score and increase the Orange lead to 6-1.

Ryan Sawyer earned his third win of the season by striking out ten over five innings. He allowed one run over six hits with zero walks.

Garrett Sawyer started the sixth inning with a double to Scoreboard Ally in right centerfield, the deepest part of Panther Field. Van Tiem sent a fly ball to right field that was dropped, sending Sawyer to third. Hoffman drove in his third run of the game with a fielder’s choice to East Chapel Hill shortstop Sam Smith, who threw out Van Tiem to second but scored Sawyer.

Brown and Grooms threw the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to close out the win for Orange (4-3).