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.

Cedar Ridge 2B Jake DeFranco Discusses Win Against Chapel Hill

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.

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.

Orange CF Jaydin Poteat Talks Win vs. East Chapel Hill

No Description

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.

Orange Catcher Caige Clayton Talks Home Run vs. East Chapel Hill

No Description

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 Lacrosse Coach Chandler Zirkle Discusses 1st Win as Head Coach

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.

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.

Orange ML Koren Mangal Discusses Game-Winning Goal vs. Eastern Alamance

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.

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.

Orange Lacrosse Goalkeeper Tyson Wolter Discusses 18 Saves in Win vs. E. Alamance

Moments after Orange’s Koren Mangal scored a goal with :37 remaining against Eastern Alamance on Thursday night, senior goalkeeper Tyson Wolter stopped a shot with :02 remaining that could have potentially sent the game into overtime. Instead, it was the last of Wolter’s 18 saves, and ensured Chandler Zirkle’s first win as Orange Head Lacrosse Coach as the Panthers defeated the Eagles 7-6.

After setting the bar along the defensive line for three conference championship teams, Orange senior Ryan Sellers is now undaunted.

He will be an East Carolina Pirate.

On Thursday night, Sellers released a statement saying he will continue his career at East Carolina next fall. Sellers will start in Greenville as a preferred walk-on, not on scholarship.

Sellers was contacted by an East Carolina assistant coach after basketball season ended. He received offers from Division II Methodist University and Division III Randolph-Macon College, but felt playing under Scottie Montgomery at ECU offered him an opportunity to shine in the American Athletic Conference.

Listed at 6’0, 220 pounds, Sellers was the defensive end that recorded 32 sacks in three varsity seasons. During his junior season, Sellers was a star on possibly the greatest Orange defense in school history. Playing alongside current Vanderbilt defensive end Stone Edwards, Noah Rodgers and future N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson, Sellers recorded 15 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. In 2016, Orange allowed only three offensive touchdowns during an 11-0 regular season, the first undefeated regular season at OHS since 1978.

In his senior season, Sellers led the team with eleven sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He also had the only interception of his career and recovered two fumbles.

Sellers has also been a varsity basketball player for three years, where he was a key reserve during Orange’s run to the 2016 Big 8 Tournament Championship and the 2017 regular season title. This winter, when Mitch Portman was in concussion protocol after suffering a knee to the head against Hillside and sophomore Mechai Holt broke his left foot, Sellers served as the team’s point guard for the duration of the season.