Cedar Ridge Baseball

For a sophomore, Matthew Kahn has grown up quite quickly.

Two weeks ago in a vital Big 8 Conference game against Northwood, Kahn took over on the mound in the 7th inning for starting pitcher Eric Zehnder with the game tied 2-2. He got the final two outs before Cooper Lamb laced the game-winning hit in the bottom of the inning as the Red Wolves won 3-2, avenging an embarrassing 17-6 loss in the conference opener from three days beforehand.

On Friday night, Kahn’s challenge was even steeper.

He entered Thursday’s game against Orange with the Red Wolves down 3-1 in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and two out. The night before at OHS, Orange dominated the Red Wolves 8-0 behind a three-hit shutout from senior ace Will White. Another conference loss would have put the Red Wolves conference record to 2-4 and left them in sixth place in the Big 8 going into Easter break.

In other words, their chances for the state playoffs would be iffy, at best.

Yet Kahn was undeterred. He struck out Dayne Watkins to end the inning and Cedar Ridge proceeded to take over the game quickly.

The Red Wolves (5-3, 3-3 in the Big 8) scored the final seven runs of the game to beat Orange 7-3. It was the second year in a row that Cedar Ridge defeated the Panthers at Red Wolves Territory. Kahn earned the win after he surrendered one hit in the final 4-and-a-third innings, walking two and striking out three.

Cedar Ridge shortstop Dante DeFranco started the rally by getting hit by a pitch to leadoff the 4th. After stealing 2nd, DeFranco scored on a wild pitch. Red Wolves left fielder Sailor Ramos looped a single to right field to score Chris Cox. Erik Zehnder gave the Red Wolves the lead with a two-run homer to left field to conclude a 4-run 4th inning.

Ramos came up huge again in the 5th inning, when Cedar Ridge struck for three more runs. Ramos laced a two-out double to left field to score Jake DeFranco and Phillip Berger, both of whom reached on walks.

Orange jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind two runs in the first inning. Shortstop Joey Berini ripped a double off the left field wall, which was followed by a two-run homer by Jason Slaughter, which hugged the third-base fair pole but faded well into the trees. The Panthers loaded the bases with one out after Slaughter’s homer after a single by pitcher Dalton Brown and walked to Caige Clayton and Cooper Porter, but Dante DeFranco started a 6-4-3 double play to get the Red Wolves off the field.

In the third inning, Berini hit a leadoff single to center and moved to second after a pickoff throwing error. Clayton smashed a RBI single down the left field line to give Orange a 3-0 lead.

Orange (6-5, 4-2) is now tied with Northern Durham for third place in the Big 8.

Both Orange and Cedar Ridge will start play in the Hilltop Invitational on Thursday. Orange will host Wake County Home School on Thursday night at 7. Cedar Ridge will host First Colonial, based out of Virginia Beach, VA, on Thursday afternoon at 4:30.

Sailor Ramos is starting to get used to big games against Orange. Last season, he went 2-for-2 with an RBI double as Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 6-0, its first win over the Panthers since 2012. Last night against Orange, Ramos had a two-run double and an RBI single as the Red Wolves scored seven consecutive runs to defeat Orange 7-3 at Red Wolves Territory. Cedar Ridge goes into spring break 5-3, 3-3 in the Big 8.

To say Matthew Kahn left Cedar Ridge’s game against Orange in a better place than he found it on Thursday night would be an understatement. Kahn entered in the bottom of the third inning with Cedar Ridge down 3-0. In the subsequent four-and-a-third innings, Kahn gave up just one hit and two walks as Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 7-3 to split the series with the Panthers. Cedar Ridge is now 3-3 in the Big 8 and enters spring break right in the thick of a tight Big 8 playoff chase.

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.

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.

Mia Davidson: Last week, Davidson was named the SEC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season. Davidson knocked eight hits, six of which went for extra bases, as the Bulldogs earned wins over Boston College, Illinois and UMass Lowell. Davidson is the first Bulldog to be honored with the award twice in a season since pitcher Alexis Silkwood in 2014. Over the weekend, Mississippi State took two of three games in its opening conference series against Missouri in Columbia, MO. In the Bulldogs’ 4-0 victory on Friday, Davidson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. In Sunday’s 6-3 Mississippi State win, Davidson hit her 10th homer of the year in the 3rd inning. In the 4th inning, she drew a bases-loaded walk for her 29th RBI, tied for the team lead.

Brad Debo: For the first time in program history, N.C. State completed a three-game sweep at Clemson over the weekend. N.C. State is now 18-3, 5-1 in the ACC. Former Orange catcher Brad Debo started all three games, drawing two walks in Friday’s 4-0 win over the Tigers. Last Tuesday in an 15-11 win over UNC Asheville, Debo went 2-for-2 with an RBI single.

Mackenzie Cates: The Lenoir-Rhyne softball team went 6-0 last week, running its winning streak to 13. Former Orange catcher Mackenzie Cates hit .347 for the week, including a home run during the second game of a 3-1 doubleheader win over Tusculum in Greensville, Tennessee. In the opening game of the doubleheader against Pioneers, Cates went 2-for-4. On Thursday, the Bears swept a doubleheader from USC-Aiken in Aiken, South Carolina on scores of 9-0 and 5-0. In the opening game of the doubleheader, Cates went 2-for-4 and scored three runs. In the final game, Cates again went 2-for-4. This season, Cates is hitting .351 with seven doubles. She leads the team with five home runs and 21 RBIs.

Stephen Tanner: The former Cedar Ridge Goalkeeper made eight saves while facing 41 shots against Huntingdon in a 5-4 loss in a USA South Athletic Conference (Division III) match in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday. Tanner has started eleven games this season, recording a 6-4 record. He is 5th in the South Atlantic Conference with an 8.21 Goals Against Average and 7th with a 48.9% save percentage. Greensboro is 7-4 on the season.

Brandon Andrews: In his freshman year with Nicholls, Andrews threw two-thirds of an inning in the first game of a doubleheader against Houston Baptist in a 13-4 loss on Saturday. Andrews gave up two hits and an earned run. On Friday, Andrews threw 1 and two-thirds innings of middle relief, giving up one hit and striking out one as the Colonels defeated HBU 5-4.

Rachel Peel: Rachel Peel had a double as Meredith rallied to defeat Averett University 8-7 on Saturday. Peel also started in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Greensboro College.

Bowen Collins: The former Orange High star assisted on a goal as Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Tusculum 14-10 on Saturday. On the season, Collins has played in five games, scoring two goals and two assists. The Bears are now #3 Division II team in the country with an 8-1 record, 2-0 in the South Atlantic Conference. Lenoir-Rhyne has won 18 consecutive South Atlantic Conference regular season games.

Jordan Toney: In UNC Pembroke’s 12-6 win over Winston-Salem State on Friday, Toney threw a shutout inning of relief. The Braves are now ranked #25 in Division II.

Cole Churchill:  A former Cedar Ridge defenseman, Churchill saw action for Randolph-Macon on Saturday as the Yellow Jackets lost to Washington & Lee 12-6.

In the span of five days, the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves have gone from being blown out in Pittsboro to beating two state playoff teams in consecutive games.

Last Wednesday, Cedar Ridge junior pitcher Phillip Berger was ripped by Northwood for eleven hits  and 13 runs in a 19-7 loss to Northwood.

Then came Monday. Pitching a day earlier than originally scheduled due to rain forecasts, Berger returned to the poised, calm hurler that posted a 8-2 record in 2017.

On Monday, Berger threw a complete game four-hitter, striking out four while walking just one. Berger also laced an RBI double to left field on a day when hits were at a premium.

The Red Wolves defeated Chapel Hill 3-1 at Red Wolves Stadium Monday afternoon, its second straight win over a Big 8 team that made the state playoffs. The victory followed Friday’s 3-2 victory over Northwood in Hillsborough.

Chapel Hill left nine runners on base in losing its first conference game of the season. The Tigers (6-2, 2-1) had a three-game winning streak snapped.

CHHS starter Jake Smith suffered his first loss of the sesaon despite giving up only three hits in five innings. Smith, a senior, went 6-2 with a .58 ERA last season.

In their first at-bat, Chapel Hill put leadoff batter Tyler Tachman (who reached on an error) at third and Anthony Castellanon at second with two out, but Berger struck out designated hitter Ryan Lonegan to end the inning. The Tiger wouldn’t have another baserunner until the fourth inning as Berger set down nine Tigers in a row.

Sophomore second baseman Jake DeFranco got the first of Cedar Ridge’s three hits in the bottom of the third inning when he singled to left field to score Adam Chnupa for the opening run of the game. It was the first of three straight innings where Cedar Ridge scored.

In the fourth, designated hitter Sailor Ramos drew a one-out walk. Berger followed by lacing a double to left field that reached the fence, scoring Ramos to push Cedar Ridge’s lead to 2-0.

Red Wolves catcher Cooper Lamb led off the fifth inning with a double to left field, the only time all day Cedar Ridge put the leadoff batter on board in an inning. Nicholas Starr replaced Lamb as a courtesy runner. After Starr went to third on a throwing error, DeFranco drew a walk. After Dante DeFranco popped out to the catcher, Smith was called for a balk, allowing Starr to score.

Chapel Hill’s only run came in the 7th when Adam Guskiewicz drew a leadoff walk. Tachman roped a one-out single to left to send pinch-runner Troy Capalbo to second. After Tyler Hansen flew out to centerfielder Landon Badgett, Colin Liebe looped a single to right field to bring in Capalbo. However, on the next at-bat, Castellano grounded a fielder’s choice ball to shortstop Dante DeFranco, who flipped over to Jake DeFranco at second to retire Liebe and end the game.

Cedar Ridge is slated to travel to Chapel Hill on Friday to conclude the series.

Phillip Berger nearly had his first shutout of the season against Chapel Hill on Monday. He yielded only four hits as the Red Wolves won its second straight, defeating the Tigers 3-1. Berger retired nine in a row during the middle innings. In the 3rd inning, Berger laced a double to left field to drive in the game’s opening run. Cedar Ridge is now 2-1 in the Big 8 Conference as they prepare to travel to Chapel Hill on Friday.

In the midst of a difficult schedule, Cedar Ridge found a way to win on Monday against Chapel Hill. Red Wolves 2nd baseman Jake DeFranco laced an RBI single in the 4th, and also drew a walk against Chapel Hill’s Jake Smith, who surrendered only three hits. Cedar Ridge has won two in a row and is 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big 8.