Orange Softball

The Orange softball team has won the Big 8 Championship and it wasn’t close.

On Tuesday, the Lady Panthers rolled past Vance County 11-1 in five innings in Hillsborough to officially clinch the title.

But that’s only part of the story.

Among the ten players on Orange Coach Johnny Barefoot’s lineup card on Tuesday, there were two freshmen, four sophomores, and three juniors. The only senior was first baseman Gracie Colley, who was at first base and wasn’t even in the batting order.

The conference title may only be the beginning for a team that is still young in terms of class, but has grown wise through years of summer travel ball and success in various middle schools.

When the season started a month ago, no one was sure what to expect since it was a new chapter for Hillsborough softball. Cedar Ridge lost five seniors after the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. Orange lost six, including two starters from its 2017 3A State Championship team.

Lady Panthers Coach Henry Horn retired shortly after the season was canceled. Barefoot replaced Horn. It was his first high school head coaching job.

“A lot of people thought we were young with new coaches,” Barefoot said. “Some might have thought with a new staff, we wouldn’t do very well. But I knew what was here and I knew what was coming with me. I was praying that COVID wouldn’t shut us down because I knew we could put the chemistry together. I had it in the back of my mind that we were capable of winning this conference.”

Orange’s last outright Big 8 Championship team was the 2017 state title squad, but it was a different time. For one thing, the regular season race was a full-fledged 14-game season, not a 7-game campaign sawed in half because of a pandemic. In 2017, there were four seniors in the starting lineup, along with freshmen Jaden Hurdle and Grace Andrews. The Panthers of Eddie Davidson went 26-3, but lost a conference game to J.F. Webb. They held off Northwood 3-0 in Pittsboro.

It was a stronger league back then. Nonetheless, the 2021 Orange team (7-0, 6-0 in the Big 8 Conference) has dominated its league counterparts with all the suspense of a mid-1980s Super Bowl blowout.

They’ve won all seven games by at least ten runs. None of the contests have gone beyond five innings.

With the Big 8 Championship now in the bag, Orange finds itself in a unique position. They have four more games against league opponents that won’t count as conference games, starting with Friday’s trip to Cedar Ridge. To get a sense of what awaits Orange in the 3A State Playoffs, Barefoot has scheduled a nonconfernece game at Southern Alamance on April 28 to guard against letdown.

“I was talking to the girls about it after Tuesday night,” Barefoot said. “I told them we’re going to work hard and take the rest of this season to prepare. Anybody in our conference can come up and knock our feet out from under us. I told them that. We have got to keep practicing hard and playing hard.”

Against Vance County, Barefoot installed freshman Caden Robinson in the pitching circle, where she improved to 4-0. In her fourth complete game, Robinson struck out eight, and allowed four hits and one unearned run with zero walks.

Vance County’s Tymiah Wimbush scored the game’s opening run in the 1st inning after she reached on an error. Pitcher Blake Vick drove her in on a fielder’s choice groundout. The Vipers had only three singles the rest of the day.

Orange took the lead in the second inning with two runs. After a leadoff infield single by Mary Moss Wirt, Savannah Wynn reached on a fielder’s choice. Right fielder Gracie Walker hit a grounder up the middle that reached the fence to bring in Wynne. Designated player Kelsey Tackett, who finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, drove in Walker with a double that reached the fence in left centerfield.

The Lady Panthers added two more runs in the third. After sophomore shortstop Carson Bradsher pushed a drag bunt to shortstop, Robinson walked. Catcher Lauren Jackson reached on a throwing error to score Bradsher and courtesy runner Courtney Watkins.

Tackett opened the fourth inning with an infield single, freshman Delaney Shaffer lined a double to left centerfield to bring in Tackett and increase Orange’s lead to 5-1. Bradsher legged out an infield single to shortstop to bring in Shaffer. After Robinson walked, Jackson lined a 1-1 fastball to right field to bring in two runs. Wirt, who moved to third base for this game, reached on an error, leading to Bree Harris, running in place of Jackson, scoring.

Orange ended the game with two more runs in the fifth to complete the run-rule victory. Tackett and Shaffer opened with singles. McPherson looped a 0-1 pitch to right field, bringing in Tackett. Bradsher plated Shaffer with a single to right field.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is center fielder Serenity McPherson. Last week, Orange gained the inside track on taking the Big 8 Championship with a 13-3 win in five innings over Northern Durham on April 6. In that game, McPherson went 3-for-4 with a triple and a three-run homer that broke the game open. McPherson also threw out a runner at the plate from centerfield. On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers defeated East Chapel Hill 17-0 in three innings at Wildcat Softball Field. McPherson went 3-for-4 with a double. As a sophomore, McPherson is hitting .520. She’s second on the team with 13 hits. Even though she’s the lead off batter, she’s still second on the squad with 11 RBIs. She’s also tied for the team lead with two home runs. Orange has wrapped up the Big 8 Conference Championship. McPherson also won an Orange-Person Athletic Conference Championship in her eighth grade year at Stanford Middle School. Orange will travel to Cedar Ridge on Friday afternoon at 5:30. You can hear that game here on Hillsboroughsports.com.

Brittany Daley: The former Cedar Ridge soccer star started for the Greensboro College Pride against Pfeiffer on Saturday. The Pride defeated the Falcons 2-0 at Pride Field to win the USA South East Division Championship. Daley played the full 90 minutes as Greensboro ended its abbreviated spring season with a win. Daley started all eight games that Greensboro played this spring. She played the maximum 740 minutes as the Pride finished 6-1-1. Ordinarily, Greensboro would be preparing to play for the NCAA Division III Tournament, but the event was canceled this year. Daley will start her senior season with the Pride this fall when play hopefully returns to normal.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon Phoenix women’s soccer team defeated William & Mary 2-0 at the Dillard Complex in Williamsburg, VA on Saturday. With the win, Elon clinched a spot in the Colonial Athletic Association postseason tournament. Hodges started her seventh game of the season. The Phoenix is 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the CAA. Elon will face Hofstra, on Thursday in Towson, MD in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament.

Landon Riley: The Liberty baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Lipscomb at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, VA over the weekend. Riley appeared in two games and was used as a setup man instead of the closer role that had been customary so far this year. On Friday in the Flames 4-1 win, Riley faced one batter, who grounded into a double play. On Sunday in the Flames 5-4 win, Riley threw the eighth inning and allowed one hit. He retired the other three batters he faced. Liberty currently leads the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 7-1 record, one game ahead of Kennesaw State for first place.

Phillip Berger: The winningest pitcher in Cedar Ridge history earned his third win of the season for Division III William Peace on Friday. The Pacers defeated Mary Baldwin 14-2 in five innings in the second game of a doubleheader in Stauton, VA. Berger threw four innings. He struck out six and allowed two runs off four hits. Berger is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA for the Pacers this season. The Pacers improved to 13-12.

Mia Davidson: After its weekend series against Tennessee was canceled, the Mississippi State softball team arranged a doubleheader against #1 Oklahoma and Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA on Saturday. Against La. Tech, Davidson went 0-for-3. Mississippi State won 2-0 behind a no-hitter by pitcher Annie Willis. Against the Sooners, Davidson went 0-for-1 with a walk. Oklahoma won 9-0 in five innings.

Montana Davidson: Montana started at third base against Louisiana Tech and went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt. Against Oklahoma, Montana went 0-for-1. Mississippi State is 20-16 and will travel to Samford on Tuesday.

Jalen Hurdle: On Saturday, the Patrick Henry Community College softball team split a doubleheader with Spartanburg Methodist. Hurdle threw a three-hit shutout in the second game as the Patriots won 11-0. Hurdle struck out three over five innings and allowed only one walk. She also went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. It was the second pitching win of Hurdle’s career. The Pioneers won the first game 11-6. Hurdle finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Patrick Henry is now 10-14 overall, 4-4 in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Marvin Jones: The North Carolina Central track & field team competed in the Aggie Invitational at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro on Saturday. Jones earned a fourth place finish in the high jump with a 2.05-meter jump. Hoova Taylor of Virginia State finished first with a jump of 2.10 meters.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team ended the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Mary Baldwin in the Physical Activity Center in Stauton, VA on Sunday. The Avenging Angels won the first match 3-1 on scores of 25-17, 17-25, 25-18 and 27-25. Lucas came off the bench in the first match and finished with 20 assists and seven digs. Meredith swept the final match on scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-11. Lucas had three kills, 15 assists and four digs. The Avenging Angels end the regular season 9-4 overall, 6-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference. Meredith now enters the USA South East Division Championship as the #3 seed. They will travel to face second-seeded Averett on Wednesday.

Taylin Jean: The former Cedar Ridge goalkeeper returned to action for Division II Limestone on Monday night. The Saints defeated Lincoln Memorial University 2-1 in Harrogate, TN. Jean earned the win after she played 98 minutes. It was her first win of the season. On April 1, Jean came on as a substitute for starter Katie Maher in a 1-0 loss to Queen’s University at Saints Field. Limestone is 5-2 overall, 4-2 in the South Atlantic Conference.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer team defeated North Carolina Wesleyan 3-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference East Division Finals on Saturday. Daley played in her 41st career game for the Pride. Greensboro will face Pfeiffer for the USA South East Division Championship on Saturday.

Kayla Hodges: The Elon women’s soccer team defeated the College of Charleston 1-0 at Patriot’s Point Stadium in Mt. Pleasant, SC on Sunday. Hodges was one of six Elon players to play the entire match. The Phoenix is now 3-3 overall, 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Conference. Elon will travel to William & Mary on Saturday.

Landon Riley: The Liberty baseball team defeated Wake Forest 8-4 on Wednesday at Worthington Field in Lynchburg, VA. Riley finished out the game with a scoreless ninth inning. He surrendered one hit and one walk. Liberty is now 4-1 against ACC teams. This was Riley 10th appearance in 2020. He still has not surrendered a run. In eleven innings, Riley has given up five hits and five walks with 12 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .135 against him. The Flames are 18-8, 5-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. They will host Lipscomb for a three-game weekend series starting Friday.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State Junior College baseball team defeated Gulf Coast State College 4-3 on Wednesday night. Porter started in right field and finished 1-for-4 with a run scored. On Tuesday, Pensacola State defeated Gulf Coast 3-1 in Panama City, FL. Porter went 2-for-3 with a walk. In the last six games in which he’s played, Porter has had a base hit. (He sat out last weekend’s series against Northwest Florida State College) In 12 games, Porter has increased his average to .290. Pensacola State is 18-14, 8-3 in the Panhandle Conference.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team rallied to defeat Central Arkansas 4-3 at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS on Wednesday. Davidson passed Will Clark in MSU baseball and softball history with her 62nd career home run in the fifth inning. Davidson needs only three more home runs to enter the SEC all-time top five. Davidson finished 2-for-4 with a double, putting her at 197 career hits. On Monday, Southeastern Louisiana defeated Mississippi State 6-4 in Hammond, LA. Davidson finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against the Golden Lions.

Montana Davidson: Montana started at 3rd base for Mississippi State against Southeastern Louisiana and finished 0-for-3. She also started against Central Arkansas on Wednesday. Mississippi State’s weekend series against Tennessee has already been canceled because of COVID-19 protocols within the Volunteers program.

Jaden Hurdle: The Patrick Henry Community College softball team split a doubleheader against Pitt Community College in Winterville on Tuesday. Pitt captured the nightcap 5-3. In that game, Hurdle hit a solo homer for PHCC. She finished 2-for-3 with a double and the dinger. Hurdle also started in the Patriots’ 3-0 win over the Bruisers in the opener. She went 0-for-4. Hurdle is now hitting .390 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 20 games. Patrick Henry is 9-13 overall, 4-4 in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association. This weekend, Patrick Henry will travel to Spartanburg Methodist for a Saturday doubleheader.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith College volleyball team swept Methodist in a senior day doubleheader at Weatherspoon Gym in Raleigh on Friday. Meredith took the first match 3-2 on scores of 20-25, 25-23, 26-24, 21-25 and 15-8. Lucas started and finished with two kills, 28 assists and seven digs. The Avenging Angels also won the second match 3-1 on scores of 22-25, 32-30, 25-15 and 25-20. In the final match, Lucas started and registered three kills, 24 assists and eight digs. Meredith is 7-4 overall, 4-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference. They wrap up the regular season with a trip to Mary Baldwin for a doubleheader on Sunday. Lucas leads the team with 263 assists. She is fourth on the squad with 82 digs.

Dylan Boyer: The #17 Queen’s University men’s lacrosse team lost to #20 Limestone 11-5 at Saints Field in Gaffney, S.C. on Wednesday night. Boyer, a freshman with the Royals, came in as a reserve and fired one shot. Queens is now 6-4 overall, 6-2 in the South Atlantic Conference.

At least Northern Durham can say they were the first team to lead against Orange this season. In a campaign that has quickly turned into a Panther domination, the fact that the Knights gave the Lady Panthers its first dose of adversity for 2021 has to count for something.

But even when early fortunes aren’t going Orange’s way, Johnny Barefoot’s Lady Panthers have proven that they’ll simply create their own luck when the situation warrants it.

When all was said and done Tuesday, Orange still hasn’t had a game go beyond five innings this year. And the Lady Panthers are all alone in first place.

With the Big 8 Championship likely on the line due to the league’s peculiar setup this season, the Orange softball team scored ten unearned runs to defeat Northern 13-3 in five innings at Orange Softball Field on Tuesday night. With the win, the Lady Panthers are one game ahead of Northern with two conference games remaining.

Sophomore centerfielder Serenity McPherson laced a three-run homer over the centerfield wall to cap a five-run 2nd inning for Orange, where the Lady Panthers got all of its offense with two outs. Senior third baseman Emma Puckett, who finished 3-for-3, started the rally with a fly ball to right field that fell between three Northern players.

Orange pitcher Gracie Walker improved to 3-0 on the season with a complete game six-hitter.

Orange and Northern came into the game tied for first place in the Big 8 Conference with identical 4-0 records. It was certainly the biggest game for the Lady Panthers since 2019, when they faced D.H. Conley in the second round of the 3A State Playoffs in Greenville. The kicker is that two years ago, the majority of Orange’s starting lineup was at Stanford Middle School.

“I knew what was at stake, but I kept it quiet from them,’ Barefoot said. “Now that we’ve won this one, we just need to beat Vance County and it will be a done deal.”

Still, the big game dynamic was new for some Lady Panthers. Against a Northern team that started five seniors, the nerves were apparent early. Catcher Abi Walker doubled down the right field line to open the game against Walker, who had to shield her eyes from the fading sun behind home plate to catch the signals from catcher Lauren Jackson. After Northern’s Macy Ellis walked, second baseman Aubrey Clayton connected on a long single that brought in Walker. Ellis later scored on a groundout by Kassidy Smith to push Northern’s lead to 2-0.

It was the first time this year that Orange trailed.

On the very first pitch of Orange’s initial at-bat, McPherson slapped a line drive down the left field line for a triple. Shortstop Carson Bradsher looped a shallow fly to left field that was caught by Northern’s Alana Holland, and McPherson scored on the tag-up.

After Northern’s two runs in the first, the sun had faded into the trees, and Walker allowed only five baserunners the rest of the game. She retired eleven of the next 13 Knights she faced.

It appeared Orange would go quietly in the second after their first two batters were retired. Then Puckett singled, and Walker reached on a dropped ball by a Northern infielder. Designated player Kelsey Tackett hit a fly ball to centerfielder, which was also dropped and led to Puckett coming in to tie the game. Then McPherson delivered the pivotal blow of the night, a three-run blast to centerfield that carried all the way down to the old football practice field, valuting Orange ahead 5-2.

Bradsher lined a 1-1 fastball to right field and flew around the bases, eventually getting caught in a rundown between third and home plate. Bradsher took advantage of a low throw on the subsequent rundown to slide into home plate safely and put Orange ahead 6-2.

Orange added three more runs in the third. Jackson reached on an error. After Savannah Wynne got an infield hit on a bunt, Emma Puckett got aboard off a fly ball to left field, bringing in courtesy runner Delaney Shaffer. Walker sent a ground ball to shortstop, where Ellis made a diving stop for the out, but also scored Wynne. Tackett grounded an RBI single to centerfield to bring Puckett home and push the Lady Panthers lead to 9-2.

After Jackson started the fourth by reaching on another error, junior second baseman Mary Moss Wirt lined a double over the centerfielder’s head to score Shaffer. Puckett stroked a 1-1 fastball to left field for her second RBI, scoring Wynne.

Bradsher scored the game’s final run in the fifth. After she singled up the middle, Caden Robinson lined a comebacker off the left leg of Smith in the circle. The ball ricocheted off Smith’s leg into foul ground along third base, and Bradsher raced around the bases to put Orange ahead 13-3 to complete another run-rule victory. Smith walked off the field without help.

Orange will travel to East Chapel Hill on Wednesday. Since only the first matchups between two teams count in the conference standings, this will be a nonconfernece game. Orange defeated East Chapel Hill 14-1 on March 16 in Hillsborough.

Orange has two more conference games remaining. The first is against Vance County next Tuesday and the other against Southern Durham on a date to be determined.

The Orange softball team has clinched a tie for the Big 8 Conference championship after beating 13-3 in Hillsborough on Tuesday night. Orange sophomore center fielder Serenity McPherson laced a three-run homer during a five-run second inning, where Orange pulled away. Senior third baseman Emma Puckett went 3-for-3 and started the Lady Panthers’ rally in the second inning with a single to right field. Remarkably, Orange scored all five of its runs in the second inning after two out with the bases empty. This is the second straight time that Puckett has been a member of a conference championship team at Orange. Junior pitcher Gracie Walker improved to 3-0 on the season. She surrendered four hits, but only two of them came after the first inning. Walker struck out four, and also recorded an RBI. Orange is now 5-0 in the Big 8. They will return to action against East Chapel Hill on Wednesday, but that game will not count in the conference standings based on the arrangement by the Big 8 Conference this year. The Lady Panthers will host Vance County next Tuesday. If Orange wins, they will clinch the Big 8 title outright for the first time since 2017.

Mia Davidson: The Mississippi State softball team swept North Alabama in a doubleheader at Hilda B. Anderson Stadium in Florence, AL on Saturday. In the opening game, the Bulldogs trailed 7-1 at the end of five innings, but stormed back to win 9-7 in nine innings. It was Mississippi State’s largest comeback win since 2004. In the third inning, Davidson hit her 61st career home run, tying her with Will Clark on Mississippi State’s career home run list. She’s also now tied for sixth on the Southeastern Conference’s career home run list. In the opener, Davidson went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks. She also drew a key walk that set up a grand slam by Fa Leilua that sparked the comeback. Mississippi State won the second game 9-1 in five innings, where Davidson went 0-for-2 with two walks. Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs edged Southern Miss 2-1 in nine innings. Davidson went 0-for-4 with one walk and one run scored.

Montana Davidson: Against Southern Miss last Wednesday, Montana had an RBI groundout which led to the first Mississippi State run. She finished 0-for-3 with the RBI. Against North Alabama, Montana started both games at third base. In the opener, Montana went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. In the nightcap, Montana finished 1-for-3 and scored off a double by Leilua in the 4th inning. Mississippi State is 18-14 and will travel to Southeastern Louisiana today (Monday).

Jaden Hurdle: The Louisburg College softball team, #4 in the National Junior College Division II rankings, swept Patrick Henry Community College in a doubleheader in Martinsville, VA on Saturday. Hurdle started both games for Patrick Henry and went 0-for-6 combined in both games. Hurdle also started as pitcher in the second game. She threw five-and-one-third innings. She struck out five and conceded three runs and five hits. The Patriots are 8-12 overall, 4-4 in Region X of the NJCAA. Hurdle is hitting .396 over 18 games, which is 4th on the team. She has three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Marvin Jones: Another big week for the former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf. Jones was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week after his performance last weekend at the Raleigh Relays, where he finished 2nd in the high jump. That was the MEAC’s best mark so far this outdoor season. On Saturday, Jones responded by winning the high jump competition at the VertKlasse Meeting in Dick Very Stadium at High Point University. Jones cleared 1.99 meters to take his first championship of the outdoor season for the Eagles. Tanner Henry of Wofford finished second at 1.94 meters.

Phillip Berger: Division III North Carolina Wesleyan baseball swept a three-game series from William Peace over the weekend at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. Berger threw five-and-one-thirds innings of middle relief for the Pacers in the opening game of a doubleheader on Saturday, which the Battling Bishops won 4-0. Berger gave up seven hits, three runs, three walks with three strikeouts. So far this season, Berger is 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA in nine pitching appearance with four starts. Peace is 12-11 overall, 4-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Dylan Boyer: Boyer tallied another goal for the Queen’s men’s lacrosse team in a 22-6 win over Lincoln Memorial at Dickson Field in Charlotte on Saturday. Boyer scored on an unassisted goal with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter to put the Royals ahead 8-2. Queens, which is ranked #15 in Division II, improved to 6-3 overall, 6-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. Boyer has played in nine games thus far in his freshman season with one start. He has five goals and four assists with the Royals, who will travel to Limestone on Wednesday.

Olivia Ward: The former Cedar Ridge All-Big 8 tennis player won for Division III Methodist University at the Clayton Tennis Center in Fayetteville on Saturday. Ward defeated Hannah Smith of Southern Virginia in #3 singles 5-7, 6-1 and captured a 10-point tiebreaker 10-3 to take the match. Southern Virginia won the team match 7-2. Later in the day, the Lions defeated Pfeiffer 8-1 in its final home match of the year. Methodist is 5-11 overall, 2-0 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Adam Chnupa: The remaining game of the Elon football team’s season is in question. The Phoenix’s game against James Madison was postponed on Saturday because of COVID-19 protocols at Elon. A decision on rescheduling the contest will be made at a future date. This was supposed to be the regular season finale for Elon, who are 1-5 overall, 0-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Chnupa, a former All-Big 8 Conference linebacker at Cedar Ridge, has played in every game for the Phoenix this year.

Joey Berini: The former Orange High shortstop had his first college base hit for #11 East Carolina in its 11-10 win over North Carolina at Clarke-LeClair Field in Greenville on Tuesday night. Berini pinch-hit for Zach Agnos to lead off the 7th inning, when the Tar Heels were ahead 10-6. Berini reached on a single to left field. He advanced to second on a wild pitch with two out, but the inning ended after a flyout to centerfield. The Pirates rallied with five runs in the 8th and 9th innings to improve to 18-5.

Cooper Porter: On Saturday, Porter had the biggest day of his young college career in Pensacola State Junior College’s 15-5 win over Chipola College. Porter went 2-for-3 with 5 RBIs with a home run in the second game of a doubleheader. Chipola won the opening game 10-5. Porter went 1-for-3 in the opener. Last Thursday, Pensacola State defeated Chipola 8-4, where Porter went 1-for-4. Pensacola State Junior College’s baseball team defeated Tallahassee Community College 6-2 on Tuesday. Porter went 1-for-3 for the Pirates. He has increased his batting average to .250 and is now on a four-game hitting streak. Pensacola State is 14-13 overall, 4-2 in the Panhandle Conference.

Bailey Lucas: The Division III Meredith volleyball team split a doubleheader against Greensboro College on Saturday. Inside Hanes Gym in Greensboro, the Avenging Angels won the first match in five sets 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 18-25, 16-14. Lucas started and finished with 31 assists, three kills and 12 digs. Greensboro won the final match 3-1 on scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-27 and 25-23. Lucas also started the second match for the Avenging Angels and registered two kills, 19 assists and four digs. Meredith is 5-4 overall, 3-2 in the USA South Athletic Conference. They host Methodist on Saturday in its final two home matches of the regular season.

Grace Andrews: Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute swept a doubleheader from Catawba Valley Community College on Tuesday in Lenoir. Caldwell took the first game 5-1 and captured the nightcap 7-2. Playing shortstop for Catawba, Andrews went 2-for-3 with a walk in the opener. In the nightcap, Andrews finished 1-for-4 with a run scored. Andrews, who extended her hitting streak to five games, leads Catawba Valley with a .486 batting average. She also leads the team with 35 hits. Catawba Valley is 15-7. Caldwell Community College now leads Catawba Valley by two games for first place in the Western Division of Region 10 in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Ivy Garner: Garner spent her freshman year at Cedar Ridge, where she was a part of the Red Wolves’ tennis and soccer teams. She transferred to Eno River Academy at the beginning of the 2018 academic year. Garner hasn’t played high school sports since, but has played with the North Carolina Courage’s U-17 team. Garner recently announced her commitment to play at N.C. State.

Kayla Hodges: Wake Forest defeated Elon 3-0 in women’s soccer on Sunday at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem. Hodges, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week last week, had one of nine shots fired by the Phoenix. On Thursday, South Carolina defeated the Phoenix 3-0 at Rudd Field. Hodges started as a wingback. The Phoenix are 2-3 overall, 1-1 in the CAA. Elon will travel to the College of Charleston on Saturday.

Brittany Daley: The Division III Greensboro College women’s soccer program shut out Meredith 1-0 on Saturday at Meredith Athletic Field in Raleigh. Former Cedar Ridge center back Brittany Daley helped Pride goalkeeper Lauren Rodriguez secure the shutout as Greensboro improved to 4-1-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference. This was also the regular season finale for Greensboro. The Pride will host one of the USA South Division semifinals on Saturday.

Jordan Rogers: Methodist defeated Division III William Peace women’s soccer team on March 24. Rogers, who graduated from Orange, started at wingback for the Pacers. Peace is 3-5 overall, 2-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Pacers wrap up the regular season against Mary Baldwin University on Friday. If Rogers plays, it will be her 40th game for Peace.