Orange Baseball

Orange DH Will Walker discusses win over Northwood

For the first time since 2016, the Orange baseball team is in first place in the Big 8 Conference midway through the season. On Wednesday night, the Panthers defeated Northwood 9-1 at Panther Field, handing the Chargers its first league loss. Designated hitter Will Walker laced a triple to right centerfield in the 6th inning and scored off a wild pitch to put the icing on the cake for Orange’s third straight win. Walker, a sophomore, is hitting .367 . He is 4th on the team with eleven hits and eleven RBIs. Orange is scheduled to face Northwood on Saturday at noon, then travel up 15-501 to face Southern Lee at 4 PM in Sanford. Orange will look to go to 7-0 in the Big 8 against the Chargers.

Orange Panther of the Week: Dante DeFranco

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is 2nd baseman Dante DeFranco. In Wednesday’s 9-1 win over Northwood, DeFranco went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. He has a 17-game hitting streak extending back to last season, when he hit safely in his final seven games for Cedar Ridge. After transferring to Orange over the summer, DeFranco has had a hit in the Panthers’ first ten games this season. Hitting leadoff, DeFranco has helped Orange reach the top of the Big 8 Conference after beating Northwood in Hillsborough on Wednesday. This season, DeFranco is hitting .371 with 15 RBIs, which is actually 2nd on the team despite DeFranco leading off in all of Orange’s games. The Panthers return to action on Saturday against Northwood in Pittsboro.

Orange catcher Tucker Joseph discusses three-hit game in win at Cedar Ridge

Orange catcher Tucker Joseph went 3-for-4 with a double as the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 13-3 on Tuesday night at Red Wolves Territory. It was Orange’s first win at Cedar Ridge since 2016. Joseph also had an RBI as the Panthers remained tied for 1st in the Big 8 Conference with Northwood. Joseph fills an important gap behind the plate. Last season, Cooper Porter was the starting Orange catcher for the 2nd half of the season. Now, Porter finds himself as a starting pitcher who is 2-0 on the season. On Thursday night, Joseph walked as Orange defeated Cedar Ridge 13-0 to set up a showdown series with Northwood for 1st place in the Big 8. Orange will host the Chargers on Tuesday, then travel to Northwood on Friday.

Orange 3rd baseman Cooper Hench discusses win over East Chapel Hill

After beating crosstown rival Cedar Ridge on Tuesday night, the Orange baseball team remains undefeated in the Big 8 Conference with a 4-0 record. On March 13, the Panthers defeated East Chapel Hill 5-3. Cooper Hench went 3-for4 against the Wildcats, including an RBI single in the 3rd that put Orange ahead 3-2. Hench had nine assists at 3rd base. As if that wasn’t enough, Hench retired the last six Wildcats in order to earn his first varsity save and ensure senior starter Luke Riley earned the win. Orange returns to action on Thursday night against Cedar Ridge at Panther Field. The Panthers are 6-2 overall, 4-0 in the Big 8 Conference.