In a power pitching display reminiscent of Bryse Wilson’s days at Orange, Panther sophomore Ryan Hench struck out 16 batters as the Panthers defeated Chapel Hill 5-0 at Tiger Field on Tuesday night. It may very well have set a school record for strikeouts in a game. For good measure, Hench drove in Jackson Berini in the seventh inning. Hench, in just his second start for Orange, won despite throwing on only four days rest. He earned the win in Friday’s game against Northwood. Senior center fielder Jaren Sikes scored Orange’s first two runs. Sikes reached on a bunt single in the third inning and scored off a wild pitch. In the fifth, Sikes hit a lead off double and scored off a fielder’s choice from Tyler Lloyd. Sikes slid into home plate safely under the tag of Chapel Hill catcher Trevor Liebe. Orange is 5-0 and has sewed up a spot in the 3A State Playoffs. The Panthers will face West Stokes in a recently scheduled non conference game on Friday in Hillsborough. You can hear that game on Hillsboroughsports.com.

There was no gas shortage at Tiger Field on Tuesday night.

That’s because Ryan Hench was throwing flames.

In only his second varsity start, the sophomore pitcher struck out 14 batters in a two-hit shutout to propel Orange past Chapel Hill 5-0. Hench did it on the same night where former Orange star Bryse Wilson started for the Atlanta Braves against Toronto at Truist Field.

According to MaxPreps, Wilson’s career-high at Orange was 15 strikeouts against East Chapel Hill on March 21, 2016.

Through nine innings over his past two starts, Hench has surrendered two hits, one walk and no runs with 18 strikeouts.

The Panthers, 5-0, ensured a playoff birth for the 19th consecutive season.

Hench started Orange’s victory over Northwood on Friday, where he and three other pitchers combined on a one-hitter. It was his first varsity win in just his second pitching appearance. Against the Chargers, he was pulled after three innings and 51 pitches without conceding a hit. On Tuesday, he needed only 90 pitches to blank Chapel Hill, 71 of which were strikes.

Hench’s brother Cooper, who graduated from Orange last June and recently completed his freshman year at N.C. State, was in attendance Tuesday. In Orange’s last trip to Chapel Hill on April 25, 2019, Cooper Hench threw a three-hit shutout in a 10-1 Panther win.

In a pivotal game for Orange’s playoff chances, Panthers Coach Jason Knapp didn’t hesitate to start Hench on four days rest.

“Absolutely,” Knapp immediately answered when asked if he felt Hench was capable of such a powerful performance. “I thought he could give us a good 4-5 innings after what we saw against Northwood. He was fired up tonight. He commanded the zone and wasn’t scared to pitch to contact.”

Hench’s emotional, confident nature was on full display right down to the final pitch. With an 0-2 count on pinch hitter Liam Carruthers with two out in the 7th inning, Hench slammed the rosin bag down on the back of the mound and forcefully turned to the plate, which got a rise out of an already boisterous Panther dugout. Hench unleashed yet another fastball that glanced off Carruthers bat in front of the plate. Orange catcher Davis Horton picked it up and threw to Jordan Underwood to end the game. Moments earlier, Underwood made the defensive gem of the night. With Tigers catcher Trevor Liebe at second following a double, Underwood made a diving stab on a grounder hit by Chapel Hill’s Becket Yates that hugged the first base line. Hench raced over to cover first as Underwood, still on the ground, chucked the ball across to preserve the shutout.

Chapel Hill only managed five baserunners. Liebe had both of the Tigers’ hits. Of Hench’s 14 strikeouts, Chapel Hill had two batters get on base after dropped third strikes. Four of the base runners were left on base, while the other was tagged out in a rundown.

Orange centerfielder Jaren Sikes scored the Panthers’ first two runs. Sikes led off the third inning with a beautiful bunt down the third base line. With Tyler Lloyd at bat, Sikes went station-to-station, going to second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third when Lloyd flew out to right. With two out and Conner Funk at bat, Sikes scored off another wild pitch.

Chapel Hill’s biggest threat came in the bottom of the second. Liebe lined a one-out single to right field. Third baseman Tyler Stillson was hit by a pitch. Carruthers, running for Liebe, advanced to third with one out after a wild pitch with Martin Nesbitt at bat. Hench shut down the threat with strikeouts of Nesbitt and Will Blythe.

It appeared Sikes would leadoff the fifth with a routine flyout to left field. But fly balls were as problematic as finding a gas pump on Tuesday night, and the outfielder lost it in the lights. Sikes, despite nearly being thrown out, still wound up at second, then went to third on another wild pitch. Lloyd sent a grounder to Stillson, who tried to nab Sikes at the plate, but Sikes slid in safely. Lloyd advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jackson Berini. Will Walker got on board after an infield hit with two out, and Lloyd would score off a wild pitch with Horton batting to increase Orange’s lead to 3-0.

In the fifth, Berini added another run following a leadoff walk. Horton singled to left field to extend his hitting streak to four games. Hench, as if his night wasn’t big enough already, lined a single to centerfield to bring in Berini. Right fielder David Waitt grounded a fastball through the hole in left for a RBI single to score courtesy runner Jacob Jones, running for Horton.

After Orange scored 15, 19 and ten runs in its first three contested games (Vance County was a forfeit on April 30), the Panthers picked up a reputation across the league as an offensive powerhouse with questions surrounding a young pitching staff. In one night, that may have changed with Ryan Hench delivering a power pitching performance not seen since Wilson’s high school glory days five years ago.

Now, Orange will prepare for Northern Durham next Tuesday in Hillsborough. It will be Orange’s final game that will count in the Big 8 Conference standings this year and could decide the league title. (Northern was scheduled to play Northwood in Pittsboro on Tuesday, but didn’t travel due to the gas shortage. Northern’s wrestling team did travel to Hillsborough to face Cedar Ridge).

While the conference crown will have to wait, Knapp went to bed on Tuesday night knowing that his postseason fate is secure.

“It feels real good,” Knapp said. “To get that sewed up and to get into nonconference games, we’re just excited. These guys are getting better every single day.”

For his first Mideast Regional tournament, Cedar Ridge sophomore Josh Mayhew set a goal of beating one of Chapel Hill’s top players.

Mission accomplished.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayhew defeated Chapel Hill senior Eddy Ferreira 6-2, 6-2 to reach the championship match of the Mideast Regional at the Burlington Tennis Club. In the final, Chapel Hill’s Dennis Perumov defeated Mayhew 6-2, 6-2 for the regional title.

Mayhew had the best singles finish in a regional for any singles player from Hillsborough since 2014. It was the third time this year that Mayhew had faced Perumov, a senior who is 13-0 this year.

Mayhew will be the #2 seed from the Mideast for the 3A NCHSAA State Singles Tournament, which begins Friday morning in Burlington. Mayhew, in his first varsity season, is 11-2. His only losses in singles play have come against Perumov.

Also on Tuesday, Orange’s doubles team of Brandon Gwinn & Colin O’Hagerty lost to East Chapel Hill’s Kabir Grewal & Michael Gannon 6-2, 6-1. Gwinn & O’Hagerty will become the first representatives from Orange in the state tennis championships since 2013 on Friday. They will be the #4 seed in the 3A State Doubles Tournament.

Wrestling: Orange 60, Northwood 9

Though wrestling season falls during the spring this year, that doesn’t mean it will be any different than most others within the Big 8 Conference. Once again, the conference title will come down to Chapel Hill vs. Orange.

On Tuesday night, Orange defeated Northwood 60-9 to improve to 7-0. It was senior night at Panther Gymnasium for grapplers like Kessel Summers, who won his 100th match last week. On Tuesday, Summers pinned Northwood’s Asher Rockriver in 40 seconds at 132 pounds for his 103rd career win.

Senior Hayden Horne pinned Northwood’s Jacob Dunning in 5:41. At heavyweight, Tyler Larkin pinned George Gilson in 1:42.

Matthew Smith Breeden, who has wrestled four years at varsity, scored a major decision over Ian Morrison 10-2. Henry Joubert-Stanzel pinned Ryan Brinker in 1:09. At 195 pounds, Elliot Woods earned another major decision against Hunter Klingel 15-1.

At 120 pounds, Colton Jones pinned Coltrane Northington in 1:19. Jared Hutchins put Orange ahead 12-0 after he pinned Aiden Vigus in 1:14.

Avery Clark won via forfeit at 138. Andrew Hill pinned Northwood’s Nathan Davis in 1:31 at 160 pounds.

Orange will prepare for Tuesday’s match against Chapel Hill when they face Riverside and Hillside in a tri-meet in Durham on Thursday.

Cedar Ridge 36, Eastern Alamance 33; Cedar Ridge 54, Northern Durham 12

Fernando Martinez, James Rosati-Brown and Daina Pritchard maintained their undefeated individual records for 2021 as Cedar Ride swept a tri-match inside Red Wolves Gymnasium on Thursday night.

The Red Wolves defeated Eastern Alamance 36-33. Kaden Tatro won the deciding match for the Red Wolves after he pinned Aidan Clark in :45 at 170 pounds. Martinez started the dual match with a pin of Caden Parsons in 48 seconds. Martinez would go on to a forfeit victory over Northern Durham to improve to 8-0 with four pins this season.

At 152 pounds, Rosati-Brown pinned Northern Durham’s Khayree Dixon in 1:24. Rosati-Brown, who picked up a forfeit win over Eastern Alamance, is also 8-0. His victory over Dixon was the 63rd of his Cedar Ridge career.

Pritchard pined Cameron Rivera of Eastern Alamance in 6:30. It was Pritchard’s sixth pin of the year. A forfeit win over Northern Durham improved Pritchard’s record to 8-0 this year. Pritchard now has 59 career wins.

Senior Kady Watkins also earned two wins on the night. Watkins pinned Eastern Alamance’s Mason Tanner in 2:49. She earned a forfeit win against Northern. Watkins pinned Southeast Guilford’s Colton Krall for her first win this season last week at Orange High.

At 132 pounds, Cedar Ridge’s Mac McGhee pinned Khamani Dixon in 1:46. Gavin Mintz got a forfeit win at 160 pounds for the Red Wolves, as did Wyatt Robinson at 182 pounds.

Cedar Ridge improved to 4-4 and will travel to East Chapel Hill for a tri-meet on Thursday.

True to the makeup of a team that achieved success despite limited varsity experience, five Orange softball players were named to the All-Big 8 Conference team.

Most notably, three of the honorees had not played a full varsity schedule before this season.

Junior 2nd baseman/3rd baseman Mary Moss Wirt, junior catcher Lauren Jackson, sophomore shortstop Carson Bradsher, sophomore centerfielder Serenity McPherson and freshman right fielder/pitcher Caden Robinson were all named to the first-team following a poll of the Big 8 Conference’s coaches.

In addition, Orange’s Gracie Walker was named Big 8 Pitcher of the Year.

Orange finished the regular season 12-0 and lost to Southwestern Randolph in the opening round of the 3A State Playoffs last Monday. It was the first Orange softball team to ever finish the regular season undefeated.

Wirt, who committed to Elon University before the season started, hit .457 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. She hit home runs in Orange’s opening games against East Chapel Hill and Cedar Ridge, which was the beginning of a season’s worth of domination for Orange. While Wirt’s offensive contributions were impressive enough, her biggest value came on defense. During a three-game stretch where 3rd baseman Emma Puckett was out of the lineup, Wirt took over her spot while freshman Delaney Shaffer played second. Wirt had a team-high five assists in Orange’s 11-9 win over Cedar Ridge in nine innings on April 15, a classic game where the Red Wolves scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after trailing 9-2. Wirt made two huge defensive plays during Cedar Ridge’s rally. The first came after Cedar Ridge’s ShiLi Quade laid down a gorgeous bunt towards third with runners at first and second. Wirt, realizing that discretion was the better part of valor, opted to hold the ball and surrender the hit instead of potentially throwing it into right field.

After Cedar Ridge tied the game 9-9, the Red Wolves had the bases loaded with two out when Wirt fielded a grounder hit by Emma-Rae Sharp. Instead of going to first, Wirt threw to Jackson at the plate to retire Marlee Rakouskas, the potential winning run, and send the game into extra innings. Wirt scored the game-winning run and recorded the final out.

Jackson, a junior, hit .526 in her third year as a varsity starter. She led the team with five home runs and was tied for second with 17 RBIs. She hit four home runs in Orange’s last three games, including two against Northern Durham in a 12-0 win, which concluded the regular season. Against the Knights, she went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Jackson hit safely in eleven of Orange’s 12 games, and it would have been 12, but she was walked and hit by a pitch against Southern Durham in her only two plate appearances. Against Vance County, Jackson had a two-run double in the fourth inning for a victory that officially clinched the conference championship.

In her first full season at the varsity level, Bradsher led Orange in nine offensive categories. She hit .700 with 28 hits, 20 RBIs, 24 runs scored, seven doubles, four triples, 16 stolen bases, a 1.075 slugging percentage, and a .739 on-base percentage. McPherson and Bradsher occupied the top two batting slots in Coach Johnny Barefoot’s batting order in almost every game. The combination triggered an offense that outscored opponents 172-23. In her season debut against Cedar Ridge, Bradsher went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Against Northwood on April 23, Bradsher went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs and three runs scored. Stretching back to her freshman year, limited to four games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradsher has hit safely in 15 of 16 career games. The only exception was a 22-0 win over Chapel Hill, where she was walked three times.

McPherson hit .533 with 24 hits and 22 runs scored. She was second on the team in all of those categories. McPherson also was fourth on the team with 16 RBIs. In Orange’s first meeting with Northern Durham, McPherson started the game with a triple and scored off a sacrifice fly by Bradsher. The following inning, McPherson laced a three-run homer to centerfield to put the Lady Panthers ahead 5-2. In the fifth inning, she threw out Northern shortstop Macey Ellis at the plate trying to score, which secured an Orange win that guaranteed a playoff spot.

Robinson, who usually hit third in Orange’s order, finished with a .429 batting average. She was second on the team with 17 RBIs. Robinson was also the backup pitcher to starter Gracie Walker. In the circle, Robinson was 5-0 in ten appearances with four starts. She had a 0.70 ERA with 34 strikeouts and three walks. In her first varsity game, Robinson went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple against East Chapel Hill. The following week against Cedar Ridge, she went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, including two doubles. She hit safely in all of Orange’s regular season games. Against Northwood on March 25, Robinson had four RBIs during a 12-run second inning. She started with a 2-run double, then drilled a two-run homer to centerfield.

Walker and Kelsey Tackett were named honorable mention. As Orange’s top pitcher, Walker went 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA. She had 37 strikeouts and eleven walks. Walker, who also played right field, hit .407.

Tackett, as a designated player, hit .462. Of her 12 hits, five were doubles.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is senior wrestler Daina Pritchard. Last week, Pritchard scored three pins as the Red Wolves faced Carrboro, Southeast Guilford and Orange. Pritchard pinned Carrboro’s Berk Kesimer in 57 seconds, pinned Sam Crawford of Orange in 3:50 and defeated Southeast Guilford’s Xavier Jones in 1:36. This season, Pritchard is 6-0 with five pins. Last season, Pritchard finished third in the 132-pound weight class of the Jim King Invitational at Orange High. In the third place match, Pritchard defeated Orange’s Matthew Smith-Breeden 9-1. He also won the 138-pound championship at the Buccaneer Cup at Bartlett-Yanchey High School in January 2020. Pritchard scored three pins to take the championship, ending with a victory over Bartlett Yancey’s Jakob Casselmann in three minutes. Many of the traditional tournament that Daina has competed in over the years, like the Jim King Invitational and the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill, were canceled this year because of the pandemic. In addition to wrestling, Prichard was a linebacker for Cedar Ridge football this season. Pritchard will look to continue his strong senior season tonight when Cedar Ridge hosts a tri-meet inside Red Wolves Gymnasium.

Mia Davidson: The inevitable finally happened this weekend as Mia Davidson became the all-time home run hitter in Mississippi State history. On Saturday, Davidson blasted a solo homer against Georgia for her 68th career home run. She surpassed Rafael Palmeiro for the most home runs in Mississippi State history, softball or baseball. The accolade included a congratulatory video from Palmeiro:

Davidson is now tied in Southeastern Conference softball history with Georgia’s Alyssa DiCarlo for second place on the all-time home run list. The career leader is Florida’s Lauren Haeger with 71. Davidson went 1-for-3 on Saturday. On Friday, Mia finished 0-for-2, but scored a run after she walked in the fourth inning. She was driven home off a single from Jackie McKenna. On Sunday, Davidson went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs. She hit a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning to score Brylie St. Clair. In the first, Davidson had an RBI single.

Montana Davidson: Mississippi State concluded the regular season by sweeping the weekend series from Georgia. On Friday, Montana went 1-for-3 when she reached on a bunt single and stole a base in the third inning. It was her fourth stolen base of the season as Mississippi State won 4-2. On Saturday, Montana drew a bases-loaded walk in the 2nd inning. In the fourth inning, she scored off a fielder’s choice. In Sunday’s 4-3 win, Montana went 1-for-3. Mississippi State finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, which matches the 1999 team for the second-longest SEC winning streak in school history. The Bulldogs are 32-22, 8-15 in the SEC. They will open the SEC Tournament against Ole Miss on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Tori Dalehite: The UNC Greensboro softball team has claimed the Southern Conference regular season championship. On Sunday, the Spartans completed a three-game sweep of Western Carolina at UNCG Softball Stadium and will host the Southern Conference Tournament this week. UNCG will start play against Mercer on Thursday.

Grace Andrews: The Catawba Valley Community College softball team completed its first full season in the opening round of the Region X Tournament on Saturday. Top-seeded Louisburg swept a best-of-three series from the Red Hawks at Sheila Cotton Field in Louisburg. The Hurricanes won game one 24-5 in five innings and the final game 8-7. Andrews went a combined 0-for-5. It was the first time all year that Andrews went hitless in consecutive games and ended a seven-game hitting streak. In her freshman year at Catawba Valley, Andrews led the team with 41 RBIs and 53 hits. She finished with a .442 batting average (2nd on the team), with eight home runs (also 2nd on the team). Catawba Valley ends the season 23-13 overall, 12-8 in the Region X West Division.

Marvin Jones: Jones earned the gold medal in the high jump during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro on Saturday. Jones, a senior who lettered at Cedar Ridge, leaped 2.09 meters for his first collegiate gold medal. It was his second career MEAC medal. He claimed a bronze in the 2020 MEAC Indoor Track c& Field Championships.

Jaylin Jones: For the first time in school history, the Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse team is going to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Falcons defeated Piedmont 17-13 to win the USA South Conference Tournament at Lefko Field in Misenheimer on Sunday. Jones, who was named All-Conference as a defensive midfielder last week, had one ground ball for the Falcons. Pfeiffer will face Lynchburg College in Shellenberger Field for the opening round of the Division III Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Bryse Wilson: After being optioned by the Atlanta Braves last week, Wilson made his first start for the Gwinnett Stripers of Triple-A East on Thursday night. Wilson threw five scoreless innings to earn the victory as Gwinnett defeated the Charlotte Knights 4-0 at Truist Field. He became the first pitcher in Gwinnett history to win seven consecutive starts. Dating back to July 21, 2019, Wilson is 7-0 with a 0.80 ERA for Gwinnett. Against the Knights, Wilson scattered four hits with five strikeouts and one walk in his first Triple-A start of the season.

Cooper Porter: The Pensacola State baseball team had its season come to an end in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8 Tournament. The Pirates lost to Santa Fe College 10-0 on Friday night in Lakeland, FL. In the opening game last Wednesday, Pensacola State edged Seminole State College of Florida 4-3 in ten innings. Porter entered the game as a pinch hitter. In 18 games this season, Porter hit .256 with one home run and six RBIs. He also pitched in three games. In one-and-two-thirds innings, Porter gave up two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.