Phillip Berger nearly had his first shutout of the season against Chapel Hill on Monday. He yielded only four hits as the Red Wolves won its second straight, defeating the Tigers 3-1. Berger retired nine in a row during the middle innings. In the 3rd inning, Berger laced a double to left field to drive in the game’s opening run. Cedar Ridge is now 2-1 in the Big 8 Conference as they prepare to travel to Chapel Hill on Friday.

In the midst of a difficult schedule, Cedar Ridge found a way to win on Monday against Chapel Hill. Red Wolves 2nd baseman Jake DeFranco laced an RBI single in the 4th, and also drew a walk against Chapel Hill’s Jake Smith, who surrendered only three hits. Cedar Ridge has won two in a row and is 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big 8.

It was another strong all-around game for Orange centerfielder Jaydin Poteat in Friday’s 9-8 extra innings victory over East Chapel Hill. Poteat stole his eleventh base of the season and scored in the first inning. In the fifth with the game tied 2-2, he hit a two-out triple down the left field line, leading to three runs crossing the plate. In the sixth, he threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate from centerfield unassisted. He led off the eighth with a walk, improving his on-base percentage to .440.

Without Caige Clayton, it’s doubtful the Orange baseball team would have won its first Big 8 Conference game of the year on Friday afternoon. Caige slammed a two-run homer to left field in the eighth inning, scoring the game-winning run as the Panthers defeat the Wildcats 9-8 in eight innings. In the sixth, Clayton gave Orange a 6-2 lead with a double to left field. Clayton had a strong series against the Wildcats, reaching base six times in nine plate appearances.

It’s too early to tell if the balance of power in Big 8 Conference softball has changed after the first week of league play, but it’s clear that Cedar Ridge will have a big role in determining who the top team  is.

For the second time in four days, Cedar Ridge whitewashed Northwood on Friday. Kara Wagoner went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Tori Dalehite had a triple as the Red Wolves shutout the Chargers 12-0 at the Chargers Softball Complex in Pittsboro.

Rivers Andrews posted her 2nd consecutive shutout. She struck out ten while allowing just one hit. Through 18 innings so far this season, Andrews has alllowed four hits, one run, two walked and struck out 34.

Cedar Ridge (3-0, 2-0 in the Big 8) pounded out 16 hits against the Chargers. Sophomore Tori Dalehite went 4-for-4 with a triple and 4 RBI. Dalehite has made up for lost time after she sat out her freshman season because of a torn ACL suffered during the 2016-17 basketball campaign. Through three games, Dalehite is 8-for-10 with seven RBI, two triples and a home run in the season opener against Eastern Alamance.

Junior Kara Wagoner went 3-for-4 on Friday with a double and two RBI. Tionna Carter had her multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Cedar Ridge is slated to host Chapel Hill on Tuesday, then travel to CHHS on Friday. CRHS will play at Western Alamance on Wednesday. The Warriors are 3-2 after splitting its opening four Mid-State Conference games,  defeating McMichael and Rockingham County, but losing to Person and Morehead.

On Friday, East Chapel Hill swept Orange in a doubleheader at Panther Softball Field on scores of 6-5 and 9-7. The Wildcats had a huge day from senior pitcher Katie Agatucci, who went 1-for-3 in the opener. In the nightcap, Agatucci went 2–for-3 with 5 RBI, including a home run in the second innng as part of a six-run 2nd inning. Sophomore Ella Pedersen went 2-for-2 with a triple in the 2nd game.

Orange designated hitter Alisha Pettiford hit a home run in each game, but the Lady Panthers fell to 1-3, 0-2 in the Big 8. Orange will travel to Hillside on Tuesday,  then will have consecutive home games against Roxboro Community School on Thursday and Hillside again on Friday.

Chandler Zirkle grew up in a lacrosse family. He played at East Chapel Hill, where he was coached by his father, Franklin. He led the Wildcats to a state championship game, before lacrosse was even sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. He played at Guilford College, where he scored 29 goals in four years…and was the President of the school’s German Club. On Thursday night, he earned his first victory as Orange Head Coach after Koren Mangal scored the game-winning goal with :39 remaining as the Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 7-6.

Orange junior Koren Mangal’s 2nd goal against Eastern Alamance came in frantic fashion. With the game tied 7-7 and time running out in regulation, Caleb Davis batted a loose ball to keep it inbounds, where Jay Taylor scooped up the ground ball, approached the net and found junior Koren Mangal all alone on the opposite end. Mangal’s scored with :37 remaining and would be the game-winner as Orange held off the Eagles 7-6 for its first win under new head coach Chandler Zirkle.

Read More

Moments after Orange’s Koren Mangal put the Panthers ahead on a goal with :37 remaining in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, Panther goalkeeper Tyson Wolter made a save with :02 remaining, ensuring Orange’s 7-6 win, the first victory for new Orange Lacrosse Coach Chandler Zirkle. In a defensive battle,  Wolter made 18 saves.