Cedar Ridge High School

The Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team made a successful return to the pitch after spring break with a 5-2 win over Walter Williams on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. Fleury Nicholson scored two goals and added an assist. Sophomore Kate Finnegan, Cedar Ridge’s leading scorer, added a goal in the 10th minute when she took a through pass from Nicholson and tucked into the right corner of the net off a breakaway. Senior co-Captain Anna Peterson came up with a key defensive play in the final five minutes as she blocked a shot at the goal line that went off her face, but kept the ball out of the net. It was Cedar Ridge’s second straight win over the Bulldogs after losing to Williams five straight times between 2021-2024. Finnegan has now scored 16 goals this season. In 2024, the Red Wolves won a state playoff game behind a stellar season from junior Katie Paulakonis. Shortly after announcing her commitment to Division I Bellarmine, Paulakonis underwent a medical procedure and opted not to play this year. Finnegan has stepped in at striker and the Red Wolves are now 5-3-1 overall, 2-1 in the Central Conference. On Thursday night, Cedar Ridge will face Eastern Alamance in Hillsborough. On Monday night, they will travel to Orange for the opening leg of the Hillsborough Derby.

Cedar Ridge women soccer’s Fleury Nicholson, Kate Finnegan & Anna Peterson discuss win vs. Williams

The Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team made a successful return to the pitch after spring break with a 5-2 win over Walter Williams on Wednesday night at Red Wolves Stadium. Fleury Nicholson scored two goals and added an assist.

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.

Rivals on the field, the Orange and Cedar Ridge lacrosse are in a different type of competition to benefit the entire community.

Starting Monday, Orange and Cedar Ridge will compete in a food drive that will culminate at next Friday’s game between the two crosstown rivals at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough.

Fans can bring food to the contest, which begins at 7PM. The deadline for donations is the end of the first quarter.

The drive itself starts on Monday, when only online donations will be accepted.

Cedar Ridge attacker Josh Hart and Orange sophomore Jackson Wrenn have organized the food drive. Previously, Wrenn has organized similar efforts for Orange High’s PORCH club. He has raised 249 pounds of food in two previous food drives.

“We thought the competition would be a great way to get both schools involved,” Wrenn said.

Donations will go to PORCH Hillsborough, where it will be distributed.

Anyone wishing to donate online can go to porchcommunities.org. Write down Orange or Cedar Ridge in the memo to inform organisers which schools the donation is being sent on behalf of.

Starting Tuesday, donations will be accepted at Cedar Ridge front office as well as inside the athletic offices.

At Orange, donations will be accepted inside the Orange High Fieldhouse for Tuesday’s game against Southern Alamance. There is also a food donation box in Orange High’s front office.

Food can also be dropped off during Friday’s game between the Panthers and the Red Wolves, where the final count will be distributed and a winner declared during halftime.

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.

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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 waited a long time to defeat its crosstown rival in softball. Nearly six years, in fact. The Red Wolves got a complete game four-hitter from senior pitcher Charlotte Lowry to defeat Orange 7-1 on Tuesday night at Cedar Ridge Softball Field. Lowry struck out nine over seven innings. The Red Wolves used the long ball to stay ahead of the Panthers. Laci Sykes hit a two-run single to right field in the first inning. Reagan Simmons and Kimber Shambley both hit home runs for the Red Wolves. Simmons added a double as Cedar Ridge earned its fourth win of the season. Lowry, the younger sister of former Cedar Ridge shortstop Ava Lowry, also went 2-for-3 at the plate. Lowry, Sykes, Simmons and Rylee Capps each had multi-hit games. The last time Cedar Ridge defeated Orange was in 2019 during a one-game playoff to determine which team would earn the #1 seed for the 3A State Playoffs. Lowry has been a strong presence in the circle for the Red Wolves. Cedar Ridge will return to action against Western Alamance on Tuesday night in Hillsborough, the first of three straight home games. The Red Wolves will host Roxboro Community School on Thursday night, then play Walter Williams on Friday.

Cedar Ridge softball pitcher Charlotte Lowry discusses win over Orange

Cedar Ridge waited a long time to defeat its crosstown rival in softball. Nearly six years, in fact. The Red Wolves got a complete game four-hitter from senior pitcher Charlotte Lowry to defeat Orange 7-1 on Tuesday night at Cedar Ridge Softball Field. Lowry struck out nine over seven innings.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore cross country runner Gracie Whitaker. Last fall, Whitaker helped the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team win the Mideast Regional Championship at Owens Recreation Park in Louisburg. She also helped the Red Wolves win the Central Conference championship, finishing sixth at Lake Cammack Cross Country Course in Burlington. She finished with a time of 23:01.63, helping the Red Wolves finish with 31 points, beating out Orange, who registered 50. At the Regional Championships, Whitaker finished 21st at 23:01.38. Whitaker had several top ten finishes last fall, including at a meet at Orange High School where she came in seventh overall, clocking in at 24:27. Whitaker finished 46th at the 40th annual Greensboro Cross Country Invitational at Hagan Stone Park in Pleasant Garden. Whitaker helped the Red Wolves finished seventh at the 3A State Championships at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. Whitaker came in with a time of 22:06.79 as the Red Wolves finished highest in the state championships than any other Central Conference team. Whitaker started the year by finishing sixth at the Eno River Academy Invitational in Hillsborough. Whitaker was among a group of young runners who stepped up last fall and helped the Red Wolves women’s cross country team to its best season as a 3A squad.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Gracie Whitaker

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is sophomore cross country runner Gracie Whitaker. Last fall, Whitaker helped the Cedar Ridge women’s cross country team win the Mideast Regional Championship at Owens Recreation Park in Louisburg. She also helped the Red Wolves win the Central Conference championship, finishing sixth at Lake Cammack Cross Country Course in Burlington.