Orange High School

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At a time when Orange needed it most, senior pitcher Derek Lindaman provided his best performance of the season. Lindaman threw a complete game on Tuesday night, holding Northwood to one run as Orange defeated the Chargers 2-1. The Panthers and the Chargers are now tied in the loss column for first place in the Big 8.

Jaden Hurdle drove in five runs as Orange defeated Northwood 10-7 on Tuesday night to remain undefeated in the Big 8. Hurdle, a first baseman, went into the game leading the team with a .545 batting average. Her two-run double in the sixth but Orange ahead 10-2, and turned out to be vital as the Chargers rallied for five runs in the seventh to put a scare in the Panther faithful. The two teams meet again in Pittsboro on Friday.

In mid-March, Orange Coach Dean Dease hoped his young Orange squad would be a good team by April.

On Thursday night at the Hilltop Invitational, there were reasons to believe he hopes would come to fruition. On Friday night, there weren’t.

Athens Drive, coming in 3-10, bolted out to a 5-0 lead and defeated Orange 7-3 at Panther field. Jaguars centerfielder Sam Enders went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, while 2nd baseman Braxton Boddorf came off the bench to score twice and finish the game in relief of freshman starter Zach Hurand, who earned his 3rd win.

The Panthers briefly had hopes of tying the game in the 3rd. After centerfielder Jaydin Poteat lined a single to left field, second baseman Jason Slaughter doubled to right field to reduce the Orange deficit to 5-1. After Caige Clayton walked, Mark Willms singled to left field to score Slaughter. With two on and two out, 1st baseman Eric Nichols slapped a 2-1 fastball to left that cleared the wall, albeit around 10 feet foul. Nichols walked, but Ryan Puckett flew out to Enders to end the threat.

Orange’s only other run came in the 5th when freshman shortstop Joey Berini dropped an opposite field floater to left field, leading to a triple. In the subsequent at-bat, Slaughter singled him in.

The Panthers conclude the Hilltop Invitational against Western Harnett on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 at Panther field. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com.

So far in Big 8 Conference play, Orange has won all six of its games by a combined score of 126-0.

After Easter, things will get real.

The Panthers completed its latest series sweep by beating Chapel Hill 21-0 on Thursday at Orange Softball Field. The Panthers took the opener on Monday 28-0 over the Tigers to improve to 11-0 overall.

Orange is tied with J.F. Webb for 1st in the Big 8 at 6-0. The Warriors are 12-1 overall, its only loss against defending 2-A state champion South Granville 9-4 on March 8.

On Monday against the Tigers, Mia Davidson hit her 49th career home run and finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Davidson has 33 RBIs this season (1st on the team) and 135 for her career.

Freshman 1st baseman Jaden Hurdle went 3-for-4 with four runs and two RBIs, improving her team-leading average to. 594 with 17 runs and 20 RBIs. Hurdle also leads the squad with 19 hits. Senior Abby Hamlett finished 3-for-4, scoring five runs. Hamlett leads the team with 21 runs scored. Olivia Latta-Harshaw also homered, her second of the year.

Hayley Funk, Jansen Manley and Kristina Givens had multi-hit games for Orange.

Orange hosts Northwood on Tuesday at Orange. They travel to Pittsboro next Friday to complete the series against the Chargers.

Junior Pitcher Will White struck out 11 for his 2nd career win as Orange won on the opening night of the Hilltop Invitational over Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA) 9-0 on Thursday night.

The all-time leading home run hitter in North Carolina Prep Softball history added to her total on Tuesday night. Mia Davidson hit three home runs as Orange swept a doubleheader over Southern Durham, 16-0 & 25-0. The Panthers are now 9-0.