Cedar Ridge Softball

For the first time since 2019, the Cedar Ridge softball team will host a game in the state playoffs. On Thursday night, the Red Wolves defeated Southeast Alamance 5-3 to finish the regular season 14-6. It’s the most regular season wins for Cedar Ridge since they finished 21-3 in 2019, when they last won a conference championship. The Red Wolves finished the regular season 9-3 in the Central Conference, good enough for 2nd place. Senior pitcher Charlotte Lowry threw a complete game to earn the win. She struck out four and improved to 10-2 with a 3.11 ERA. With the game against the Stallions tied in the bottom of the fifth inning, Mia Best stroked a double with one out. Best would go on to score the game-winning run off a passed ball. After she reached on a single earlier in the inning, Raegan Remaly put the Red Wolves ahead 3-1 off a single from Lowry. In the sixth inning, Remaly drove in Madeline Galindo-Woodring with an RBI single. On the same play, Qiaura Rogers would score off an error. Remaly went 3-for-4 against the Stallions. Best finished 2-for-3 with two doubles. Rogers added a triple. Cedar Ridge will start play in the Central Conference Tournament against Walter Williams on Monday.

Cedar Ridge softball’s Rylee Capps discusses win over Southeast Alamance with Curran Campbelll

For the first time since 2019, the Cedar Ridge softball team will host a game in the state playoffs. On Thursday night, the Red Wolves defeated Southeast Alamance 5-3 to finish the regular season 14-6. It’s the most regular season wins for Cedar Ridge since they finished 21-3 in 2019, when they last won a conference championship.

The unpredictable softball race in the Central Conference had one wild, final turn before the regular season ended on Thursday night. Orange defeated Eastern Alamance 6-4 at Panther Softball Field. Eastern Alamance, who had already clinched the Central Conference championship, suffered just its second league loss of the year. Hayleigh Hammond cleared the bases with a three-run double in the fourth inning to pout Orange ahead 3-1. Addison Guentensberger came on in relief of Malynne Roemmich in the fifth inning and delivered the save for Orange. Guentensberger, who started in left field, also drove in a run in the fifth inning with a fly ball that dropped between the second baseman and right fielder, allowing Katie Carden to score. Hammond led off the sixth inning with a double and scored off a single by Katie Carden that dropped fair along the left field line by 18 inches. Allie Carden roped an RBI single to score Sadie Cecil. It was the third game in fourth days for an Orange team that has played in one of the best conference in the state. Senior Rhiley Crabtree went 3-for-3. Hammond finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Orange will start play in the Central Conference Tournament with a home game against Southern Alamance on Monday.

Orange softball’s Crabtree, George, Cecil, Carden and Neighbours discuss win over Eastern Alamance

The unpredictable softball race in the Central Conference had one wild, final turn before the regular season ended on Thursday night. Orange defeated Eastern Alamance 6-4 at Panther Softball Field. Eastern Alamance, who had already clinched the Central Conference championship, suffered just its second league loss of the year.

It was a special night for Cedar Ridge softball in several respects on Thursday night. The Red Wolves edged Orange 5-4 at Orange Softball Field. It was the first time since 2018 that the Red Wolves swept the season series from the Lady Panthers. It was also the 100th career win for Cedar Ridge head coach Allen Byrd, the first fast pitch softball coach in Hillsborough history to win 100 games. In 2018, Byrd led Cedar Ridge to its first softball conference championship in school history. It was an undefeated run through the Big 8 Conference keyed by pitcher Rivers Andrews and All-Conference players like Tori Dalehite, Kimberlie Thacker and Kara Wagoner. The following year, a freshman named Takiya Nichols joined the team and the Cedar Ridge record books were never the same. Nichols set the school record with 32 home runs, despite playing a majority of her games in a ballpark that was larger than some college stadiums. Following its win over Orange, Cedar Ridge has won seven in a row behind seniors Kimber Shambley, Charlotte Lowry and Reagan Simmons. Cedar Ridge is 12-5 overall and one game behind Eastern Alamance for first place in the Central Conference. The Red Wolves will continue the season against Walter Williams on Tuesday in Burlington.

Cedar Ridge softball coach Allen Byrd discusses 100th career win

It was a special night for Cedar Ridge softball in several respects on Thursday night. The Red Wolves edged Orange 5-4 at Orange Softball Field. It was the first time since 2018 that the Red Wolves swept the season series from the Lady Panthers.

His players will tell you it was a win for Allen Byrd.

But Byrd will tell you his 100th victory as Cedar Ridge softball coach was about his players. Not just the ones in uniform who won at Orange for the first time since 2019 on Thursday night, but the ones who put their trust in him when he became head coach in 2016.

Charlotte Lowry understands this as well as anyone. Byrd trusted her to win Thursday’s game during white knuckle time against the Lady Panthers in the seventh inning.

Trailing 5-2 going into the final frame, Orange nailed down two runs after Mary Kate Ollis scored off a sacrifice fly hit by Allie Carden, cutting the Red Wolf lead to 5-4. The bases were empty when Addison Guentensberger stepped up to the plate. Guentensberger didn’t keep fans watching at Orange Softball Field up the entire night, but she sure did try.

Guentensberger fouled off seven pitches during an eleven-pitch at-bat before Lowry finally struck her out. It clinched Cedar Ridge’s 5-4 win over its crosstown rival and Byrd’s 100th win as head coach.

It was the first time that Cedar Ridge swept the season series from Orange since 2018.

“Charlotte never gives up,” Byrd said. “She works really hard at her craft. We’re here because of her. When you have a pretty big strike zone, you have to adjust to it. And we did.”

Cedar Ridge (12-5 overall, 8-2 in the Central Conference) has won seven in a row.

Byrd joined Cedar Ridge as an assistant coach in 2012. He’s been the head coach for nine seasons, leading the Red Wolves to two conference championships and the third round of the 3A State Playoffs in 2018 and 2019.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with each one of those kids since I started here,” Byrd said. “We’ve had players who have played in college and are still going to college. I’ve enjoyed the process and I’m excited right now.”

Cedar Ridge senior Kimber Shambley, whose father Kevin played centerfield for the 1992 Orange baseball team the won the PAC-6 Conference championship, drilled a two-run home run under the scoreboard in left field to open the game.

“We’re hitting the ball really well,” Byrd said. “Charlotte is throwing the ball really well. We’re minimizing our errors. We still have some stuff to clean up. We still have some things we want to accomplish. We have three big games next week. We’re taking it one game at a time.”

Orange freshman pitcher Malynne Roemmich kept Cedar Ridge scoreless in the second and third innings. The Lady Panthers cut into Cedar Ridge’s lead after Sadie Cecil reached on an infield single. Cecil moved around the bases off an error and scored off a groundout by sophomore Katie Carden.

Cedar Ridge immediately got the run back in the fourth when Rylee Capps led off with a double to left field. After Laci Sykes flew out to Hayleigh Hammond in centerfield, courtesy runner Parker Kennedy moved to third. Lowry drove a single to left field to bring in Kennedy.

Orange appeared to have a threat going in the bottom of the fourth when Guentensberger and Hammond each singled. Cedar Ridge third baseman Mia Best turned a crucial double play on a ground ball she sent to Shambley at first.

Best turned right back around and hit a leadoff homer to left field to start the fifth inning. Later in the inning, Capps extended Cedar Ridge’s lead to 5-1 when she sent an RBI single to the outfield to score Raegan Remaly.

Katie Carden started an Orange comeback when she scored Kylee Allen on a base hit to right field in the bottom of the fifth.

In the seventh, Cecil led off with a basest. Ollis drilled a triple off the right field wall to cut the Red Wolf lead to 5-3.

Lowry threw 116 pitches to earn the win.

The Cedar Ridge softball team continues its most successful year since 2019. On Monday, the Red Wolves dominated Person 10-0 in five innings at Cedar Ridge Softball Field. Junior third baseman Mia Best went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Best laced two doubles, including one that started the first inning that led to the opening run of the game. Best scored off a wild pitch with Madeline Galindo-Woodring at the plate. Best leads the team with 25 hits and six doubles. She is second on the squad with 20 RBIs. Senior Kimber Shambley earned the 100th hit of her career with a RBI double that closed out the game, bringing in Raegan Remaly for the tenth and final run. The Red Wolves completed a season sweep of the Rockets with both wins coming via the run rule. Best, Shambley, Remaly and Charlotte Lowry each finished with multiple hits as Cedar Ridge improved to 11-5 overall, 7-2 in the Central Conference. They remain one game behind Eastern Alamance for first place in the league. Shambley, who has committed to play at Western Carolina, leads the team with a .438 batting average. It was the 99th career win for Cedar Ridge head coach Allen Byrd, who led the Red Wolves to Big 8 Conference championships in 2018 and 2019. On Thursday night, the Red Wolves will travel to Orange and attempt to sweep the season series from the Lady Panthers for the first time since 2018.

Cedar RIdge softball third baseman Mia Best discusses win over Person with Curran Campbell.

The Cedar Ridge softball team continues its most successful year since 2019. On Monday, the Red Wolves dominated Person 10-0 in five innings at Cedar Ridge Softball Field. Junior third baseman Mia Best went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Best laced two doubles, including one that started the first inning that led to the opening run of the game.

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The Cedar Ridge softball team continues its best start since 2019 after beating Roxboro Community School on March 27. The Red Wolves scored six runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-4 lead. After the Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run at third base, pitcher Charlotte Lowry struck out McKenzie Cobb to secure the win. Cedar Ridge centerfielder Madeline Galindo-Woodring made a game-changing double play in the 7th when she caught a line drive hit by Leah Griffin, then got up and fired a laser to home plate and retire Leah Cook. Catcher Reagan Simmons laid down the tag. Senior Kimber Shambley went 2-for-3 and scored a run in the sixth inning. Lowry threw 151 pitches to earn the win, striking out three. Galindo-Woodring also scored a run and reached on an error in the seventh inning. On Wednesday night, Cedar Ridge returned from spring break and dominated Southern Alamance 12-2 in Graham to claim its fourth straight victory. Brittany Goddard went 3-for-4 with three RBI as the Red Wolves scored eleven unanswered runs to claim a run-rule victory. Cedar Ridge is 9-5 and in second place in the Central Conference. They will travel to Falls Lake on Thursday afternoon.

Cedar Ridge softball’s Charlotte Lowry, Kimber Shambley & Madeline Galindo-Woodring talk RCS win

The Cedar Ridge softball team continues its best start since 2019 after beating Roxboro Community School on March 27. The Red Wolves scored six runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-4 lead. After the Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run at third base, pitcher Charlotte Lowry struck out McKenzie Cobb to secure the win.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is softball junior Rylee Capps. The Red Wolves are off to its best start since 2019 after beating Roxboro Community School last week. Through 13 games, Capps is hitting .432. She leads the team with 19 hits and is second on the squad with 16 RBIs. In Cedar Ridge’s win over Southern Alamance on March 14, Capps went 4-for-5 with a grand slam and seven RBIs as the Red Wolves defeated the Patriots 15-2 in Hillsborough. Against Person on March 11, Capps went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs as Cedar Ridge won 15-2 in five innings. On March 18, Cedar Ridge defeated Orange 7-1 for the first time since 2019. Facing the Lady Panthers, Capps finished 2-for-4 with an RBI Against Roxboro Community School on March 27, Capps finished with an RBI single as the Red Wolves held on for a 10-9 victory in Hillsborugh. Capps had a string of four consecutive multi-hit games in mid-March, including going 2-for-4 against Falls Lake. Against Walter Williams on March 28, Capps went 2-for-3 with an RBI single. Capps has brought extra offensive to a formidable Cedar Ridge offense that is going for a home state playoff game for the first time since 2019. Cedar Ridge will continue its season against Southern Alamance in Graham on Tuesday.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Rylee Capps

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is softball junior Rylee Capps. The Red Wolves are off to its best start since 2019 after beating Roxboro Community School last week. Through 13 games, Capps is hitting .432. She leads the team with 19 hits and is second on the squad with 16 RBIs.

Charlotte Lowry can rest her arm this week on Spring Break.

No one can deny she’s earned it.

As Cedar Ridge cringed to a 10-9 lead in the 7th inning against Roxboro Community School on Thursday night, Lowry what thrown 144 pitches The Bulldogs’ had reduced Cedar Ridge’s 10-4 lead to one run following a single by Lexi Powell, which scored Karrie Obie. Cedar Ridge left fielder Laci Sykes raced down the third base line in time to keep RCS’ Presley Leonard at third base instead of scoring the tying run.

Facing McKenzie Cobb, Lowry’s mother let out a piercing yell from the wooden press box along the first base line in support of her daughter. Charlotte was so tuned in trying to block out the fatigue, she couldn’t hear her.

Cobb worked the count to 3-2 until Lowry came up with a fastball. Cobb swung and missed to end the long struggle as Cedar Ridge held on to win 10-9, further helping its chances of hosting a state playoff game for the first time since 2019.

Earlier in the seventh inning, Cedar Ridge centerfielder Madline Galindo-Woodring came up with the defensive play of the night. Trailing 10-4 going into the seventh inning, five consecutive RCS batters reached, scoring two runs. Leah Griffin sent a soft liner to centerfield. Galindo-Woodring made a diving catch. Leah Cook tagged up from third base trying to cut the lead to 10-7, but Galindo-Woodring quickly got to her feet and delivered a strike to catcher Reagan Simmons, who tagged out Cook at the plate for a crucial double play.

Cedar Ridge scored six runs in the sixth inning to break open a 4-4 game. Six consecutive Red Wolves reached to start the frame, including Kimber Shambley laying into a fastball that bounced off the fence in right centerfield. Simmons drove a fastball to the wall in center to score Shambley and Raegan Remaly. Rylee Capps followed with a ball that skipped out second base to bring in Simmons. After Sykes and Lowry walked, Brittani Goddard sent a grounder to shortstop Karlie Barringer, who threw out Sykes at third. Qiaura Rogers, running for Lowry, scored on the fielder’s choice. Goddard would later score off an error by Barringer on a ball hit by Remaly. Parker Kennedy scored off another fielder’s choice on a grounder from junior Mia Best.

In the top of the sixth, Powell sent a deep fly ball to left field with two runners on base. Sykes made a huge catch at the fence to retire the side.

The following night, Cedar Ridge rolled past Walter Williams 15-0 in three innings. Shambley hit a three-run homer to start an eight-run first inning. Shambley finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs. Simmons finished with a triple and an RBI.

Mia Best threw a complete game for her second win of the season. Best struck out nine in a three inning no-hitter. The Red Wolves improved to 5-2 in the Central Conference as they capped three games over four days at home.

On Tuesday, the Red Wolves defeated Western Alamance, the defending Central Conference champions, 3-0. Remaly led off the fourth inning reaching on an error on a grounder to second base. Simmons lined a double to the right field gap, allowing Remaly to score the opening run.

The Red Wolves added an insurance run when Goodard sent a one-out single to right field. After Galindo-Woodring grounded out to second base, Goddard advanced to second base. Best bounced a fastball through the heart of the right field hole that allowed Goddard to score and increase the Red Wolf lead to 2-0.

Lowry struck out ten batters in a complete game two-hitter. It was the second straight year that the Red Wolves defeated the Warriors in Hillsborough.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is softball junior Mia Best. On February 28, Best earned the victor in the circle striking out nine as Cedar Ridge defeated Chapel Hill 16-1 at Tiger Softball Field. At the plate, Best went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Best has been the regular starting third baseman for head coach Allen Byrd. On March 14, Cedar Ridge defeated Southern Alamance 15-2 at Red Wolves Softball Field. Best, hitting leadoff, went 1-for-5 with two RBIs. The Red Wolves defeated Person 15-2 in Roxboro on March 11. Best drove in four runs and finished 2-for-4, including a double. Best’s presence at the top of the lineup has helped Cedar Ridge to its best start in Central Conference play since 2019. Earlier this week, Best delivered an RBI single as the Red Wolves shoutout Western Alamance, the co-defending conference champions, 3-0 in Hillsborough. On Wednesday night, Best drove in two runs as the Red Wolves held off Roxboro Community School 10-9. In addition to playing softball, Best is the scorer for the Cedar Ridge men’s basketball team. She attends every game, even during the holiday tournaments. She’s not just a Red Wolf player, she’s also a faithful supporter of Cedar Ridge athletics. The Red Wolves will return to action against Southern Alamance in Graham on April 8.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Mia Best

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is softball junior Mia Best. On February 28, Best earned the victor in the circle striking out nine as Cedar Ridge defeated Chapel Hill 16-1 at Tiger Softball Field. At the plate, Best went 2-for-5 with three RBIs.