Orange Men’s Tennis

Softball: Everything thrilling and frustrating about the Cedar Ridge softball team was on full display during its two-game series against Northern Durham.

On Tuesday, the Red Wolves rolled past the Knights 12-2 at Knights Field. The Red Wolves played an errorless game as they handed the Knights just its second loss of the season.

On Wednesday, Cedar Ridge committed five errors in a 15-14 loss to the Knights in Hillsborough. Northern scored eight unearned runs as they held on for dear life as the Red Wolves mounted another patented seventh inning comeback that fell just short.

In the series-opening win, Red Wolves third baseman Takia Nichols went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. In the fourth inning, Nichols drilled a three-run homer to dead centerfield to push the Red Wolves ahead 6-1. It was Nichols’ 19th career home run.

Nichols started the game with a line drive to centerfield. Ava Lowry reached on an error by the pitcher, which allowed Nichols to score the game’s opening run. In the second, first baseman Alex Matthews looped a two-run single to centerfield to score Tori Carden and Lajoan Stuart, a courtesy runner for Hayley King.

After Nichols’ home run, Olivia Aitkin singled home Ava Lowry. Marlee Rakouskas got an RBI groundout to send in Aitkin and increase the Red Wolves’ lead to 8-1. In the fifth, Nichols doubled home ShiLi Quade.

On Wednesday, both teams battled the elements on a blustery day where wind gusts reached nearly 30 miles per hour and the temperatures plummeted after first pitch. Cedar Ridge scored four runs in the first inning, including an RBI double by Nichols to score Quade. After Lowry was hit by a pitch, Aitkin laced a two-run triple to centerfield.

Northern chipped away until an 8-run fourth inning where all the runs came in with two out. Third baseman Jessica Wolter reached on an infield error to score Aubrey Clayton and Abi Walker and the Knights were off to the races. Alana Holland, who finished 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, laced an RBI single to left field. Pitcher Taylor Penne earned the win despite piling up 167 pitches.

Nichols had her 20th career home run with an inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning. With Cedar Ridge trailing 15-11 going into the seventh inning, Quade got on board via an error to lead off the frame. Quade eventually scored off an RBI single by Aitkin. Second baseman Reagan Rhul laced a line drive down the left field line for another inside-the-park home run to pull within 15-14. Northern first baseman Savannah Burton threw to Clayton for a 3-4 out for the final out.

Cedar Ridge will host East Chapel Hill on Friday.

Men’s Tennis: The Cedar Ridge men’s tennis team defeated Carrboro 9-0 on Tuesday at Jaguars Tennis Courts. Josh Mayhew, Eli Rachlin, Lev Bearman, and Walker Richards-Baker each earned straight sets singles wins for the Red Wolves. The most exciting matches for the Red Wolves came at #2 singles, where Will Ballenger defeated Joseph Lee 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, winning the third set tiebreaker 12-10. At #5 singles, Holden Rachlin defeated Tristan Reid 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, taking the 10-point tiebreaker 10-4.

Mayhew & Ballenger won at #1 doubles for Cedar Ridge. Carter Tholes and Bearman teamed together for a win at #2 doubles, while Colby Alford and Derrick Stephens captured the #3 doubles.

On Wednesday, East Chapel Hill defeated Cedar Ridge 7-1 at Lindsey Linker Tennis Courts. Mayhew won the Cedar Ridge match at #1 singles over East’s Max Winzelberg.

As for Orange, the Panthers defeated Northwood 5-4 in Pittsboro. Justin Conover and Joseph Clark captured the double match that earned the Panthers the team victory by an 8-3 tally. Orange’s Colin O’Hagerty & Brandon Gwinn won its #1 doubles match. Conover, Gwynn and O’Hagerty also won their singles matches.

On Wednesday, Chapel Hill defeated Orange 9-0. The Panthers, 5-6 overall, will host Southern Durham next Tuesday to end the regular season. The Big 8 Conference Tournament is slated for next week.

Golf: Orange had two men’s players qualify for the 3A Mideast Regionals during the final Big 8 Conference match of the season at Umstead Golf Course in Durham on Tuesday. Senior Joshua Frank and sophomore Thomas Loch each shot an 88. However, their year-long nine hole average was enough for them to qualify for regionals. Both players averaged below a 42 for their nine-hole average.

In addition, Cedar Ridge senior Bradley Monschien also qualified for the Mideast Regionals.

The Mideast Regionals will be held at Keith Hills Golf Club in Lillingston on May 3.

The Orange men’s tennis team defeated Roxboro Community School at Orange Tennis Courts on Thursday. Playing at #1 singles, junior Justin Conover earned his third win in his last four singles matches. Also earning wins for Orange were Colin O’Hagerty, Brandon Gwinn, Joseph Clark, Nathan Pavalonis and Tristian Plummer at singles. Conover has amassed a 4-3 singles record this season for the Panthers. he also defeated Northwood’s Jo Sumogod 6-4, 6-4 on March 24. Later this month, Conover will be Orange’s representative in the Big 8 Conference singles tournament, which will determine who will make the 3A Mideast Regionals at the Burlington Tennis Center. On Friday, Orange will host crosstown rival Cedar Ridge. The Red Wolves defeated the Panthers earlier this year in the western end of Hillsborough.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior tennis player Bassem Elbitar. On Wednesday night, Elbitar won a three-set match against Northwood in the #1 singles match. Elbitar prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 11-9 (10-point tiebreaker). On Monday, Orange won over Cedar Ridge 7-2. Elbitar won at #2 singles in straight sets. Elbitar also played doubles with Ronan Towell. Elbitar was a member of the Orange team that qualified for the team state playoffs last year. Orange finished 14-5 in 2019, its best record under head coach Justin Webb. After wins over Northwood and Cedar Ridge this week, Orange will go into the pandemic break with a 4-1 mark, 2-1 in the Big 8 Conference. The break that will start on Friday will serve as a needed break for Elbitar. In addition to his duties on the tennis court, Elbitar is a member of the Orange BETA Club.

After the Orange men’s tennis team made the 3A state playoffs for the first time since 2016, three members of the Panthers have been named to the All-Big 8 Conference team.

In addition, two players from Cedar Ridge were honored in the season-ending awards.

Orange’s Colin O’Hagerty, Joshua Van Mater and Ronan Towell were named to the All-Big 8 team. Cedar Ridge’s Cameron Koehler and Grayson Ramos were also named All-Big 8.

Koehler became the first athlete in Hillsborough this season to make All-Conference in two different sports while qualifying for regionals in a third sport. In the fall, Koehler was named All-Big 8 in men’s soccer. In the winter, he joined Devin Bunner, Gabriel Castaneda and John Garcia on a 200 meter relay team that qualified for the Central Regional Swimming Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center with a time of 1:37. 89. He played four different sports at Cedar Ridge. After graduating last month, Koehler plans to major in naval architecture.

O’Hagerty and Towell qualified for the 3A Mideast Regionals after beating a team from Northwood in the Big 8 Men’s Tennis Tournament at East Chapel Hill on April 24.

Van Mater qualified for the Mideast Regionals after pulling an upset over the 3-seed in the opening round 10-8. He defeated a player from Hillside in the 2nd round to advance to the semifinals.

On the final day of the regular season, Orange defeated Northwood 5-4 to finish 3rd in the Big 8 with an 8-4 record. After losing to Terry Sanford in the opening round of the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs, the Panthers finished the season 14-5, its best record in three years.

Orange opened the season with a 6-3 win over Southern Alamance. After losing consecutive matches to East Chapel Hill, the Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance on March 7 to start a four-match winning streak, which helped propel them to the playoffs.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is men’s tennis player Bassem Elbitar. Last week, Orange won four matches in Big 8 Conference play to improve to 13-4 overall, 7-4 in the Big 8 Conference. Elbitar has been a consistent starter at singles for the Panthers, who opened the season with a 6-3 win at Southern Alamance. Elbitar has been a tennis player since his days at Stanford. A junior, Elbitar is also a model student who has regularly appeared on the honor roll throughout his middle school and high school years. Now, he’s preparing for Monday’s match at Northwood. A victory could lead to Orange receiving an at-large birth in the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs. The Big 8 Men’s Tennis Championships will be held on Wednesday at East Chapel Hill High School.