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Desean Motley: The former quarterback for the Orange football team and guard for the basketball team has been named the new head coach of the Division II Lees-McRae men’s basketball team. Motley has been an assistant coach for the Bobcats since 2017. He has served on the staff of Steve Hardin, who resigned after 14 years earlier this month. Motley is a 2013 graduate of Orange High who was the leading scorer on the men’s basketball team his senior year. He played for his father, Greg Motley, the all-time winningest head coach in Orange men’s basketball history. Desean was also the quarterback at the dawn of the Orange football revival under former head coach Pat Moser. With Motley operating the single-wing offense, the Panthers went 11-3 in 2012, its first 10-win season since 1978. Motley was behind center when Orange defeated Eastern Alamance 14-13 in the 3A State Quarterfinals. His appointment as the head coach at Lees-McRae capped an incredible week for the Motley family. Greg Motley led the Southern Durham men’s basketball team to a win over Swansboro at Lawrence-Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem to capture the Spartans’ first Eastern Regional championship since 1959.

Mia Davidson: The Diablos Rojos del Mexico have advanced to the championship series  of the Mexican Softball League. The Diablos defeated Charros de Jalisco three-games-to-one in a best-of-five series. In the fourth and deciding game on Saturday, the Diablos won 7-3. Davidson hit two home runs in game three, which Charros won 17-9.

Takia Nichols: In its first MEAC series of the year, North Carolina Central was swept by Howard at Nationals Youth Park in Washington, D.C. this weekend. Nichols hit her first home run of the season on Saturday, a two-run blast in the third. The Bison came back to win 6-5. On Sunday, Nichols hit a solo home run in the fifth that put the Eagles ahead 5-4. Nichols started the game with a RBI double in the first inning. The Bison scored four runs in the fourth inning to beat the Eagles 8-5. On Wednesday, the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T 4-3 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. Nichols drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

Carson Bradsher: The former Orange High softball shortstop was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Playing for Division III Averett College in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic at Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, Bradsher hit .600 over eight games. She scored eight runs and stole six bases in six attempts. In a 2-1 win over #19 Muskingham, Bradsher finished 2-for-3. On March 8, Bradsher went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base in an 8-1 Cougars win. On Saturday, North Carolina Wesleyan swept a doubleheader from Averett in Rocky Mount. Bradsher went 4-for-7 with a run scored in the doubleheader. Averett is 8-8.

Ava Lowry: Starting for N.C. Wesleyan at shortstop, Lowry hit .500 in the Battling Bishops doubleheader sweep of Averett. In a 12-3 nightcap win, Lowry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, driving in two runs with a single during a six-run 3rd inning. In the opener, Lowry went 1-for-3. N.C. Wesleyan went 4-2 in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic. Lowry hit .467 over the six games. Wesleyan defeated #23 Randolph-Macon 4-2 on March 8, which included Lowry hitting a home run. She finished 2-for-3 in a 15-5 win over Randolph. Lowry is hitting .282 over the first 16 games.

Mary Moss Wirt: The Elon softball team grabbed a series from Hampton at Pirates Softball Field this weekend. Wirt started Saturday’s game as a designated player and drew a bases-loaded walk in Hampton’s 4-3 victory over the Phoenix. Wirt also scored a run as a pinch-runner in Elon’s 13-1 win over the Pirates on Friday. On march 7, Elon defeated Hofstra 9-5. Wirt had a two-run double in the second inning.

Olivia Aitkin: The former Cedar Ridge Red Wolf started both games in centerfield as Division III Amherst started its season with a sweep of Southern Maine and Macalester in Clermont, FL this weekend. Amherst will face the University of Chicago and Endicott College on Monday.

Brianne Foster: The Wake Tech Community College Eagles swept four straight games over Southwest Virginia last week. Foster started at catcher in the Eagles 11-1 win on Saturday.

Photo by Abigail Pfeiffenberger 

Orange baseball has spent the first three weeks of this season trying to rebuild its pitching staff, which lost its top two starters, its top middle relievers and closer from 2024.

On Friday night, Coach Jason Knapp’s rebuilding project got strong results when three pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the defending DC6 Conference champions.

Oliver Van Tiem earned his second win by striking out a career-high 12 batters while Mason Grooms earned his first career save as Orange defeated Jordan 6-2 at Panther Field. Van Tiem also drove in two runs as the Panthers won its final nonconfernece game before its Central Conference opener against Western Alamance on Tuesday night in Hillsborough.

Jordan scored two runs off seven walks and two Panther errors. Of Van Tiem’s 83 pitches, 47 were strikes. Grooms inherited the bases-loaded in the seventh inning as he replaced Garrett Sawyer with Orange leading 6-1. Grooms struck out C.J. Carrow. All the Falcons could muster was an RBI groundout from Bode Hickey that brought in Harris Mangum. Peyton Jones flew out to Sawyer in centerfield for the final out.

Orange put runners in motion to break open a scoreless game in the third. Sophomore Kayden Bradsher, who has hit safely in seven of Orange’s eight games, stole third after drawing a walk. Henry Hoffman, hitting cleanup, blooped a fly ball into centerfield to score the opening run. With Van Tiem at the plate, Hoffman stole second, then advanced to third after an errant throw from Hickey, the catcher. Van Tiem sent a 1-2 pitch into left field to score Hoffman and put Orange ahead 2-0.

Orange’s Cam Brown reached on a bunt single in the fourth and also swiped second base, then took third on a wild pitch. Brown eventually scored off a throwing error by Hickey to increase the Panther lead to three runs.

Bradsher led off the fifth inning with a triple to Scoreboard Alley in right centerfield. Hoffman drove in his second run with a line drive to center, bringing in Bradsher. Van Tiem would drive in Garrett Sawyer and Hoffman with a grounder up the middle to put the Panthers ahead 6-0.

Softball: 

Game 1: Orange 15, Walter Williams 0

Game 2: Orange 15, Walter Williams 0 

The Orange softball team remains atop the Central Conference following a doubleheader sweep of Walter Williams on Friday night in Hillsborough.

Freshman Lexi Bowes earned her first wins at the varsity level, needing just three innings of work in each outing. In the opening game, she struck out five and allowed just one hit.

In the opening game, Orange scored nine runs in the first inning. Senior Sadie Cecil notch the first run off a passed ball. Rhiley Crabtree sent an RBI single to centerfield to score courtesy runner Evelyn George, who just finished her senior season in women’s basketball. Junior Hayleigh Hammond scored twice in the opening inning. She touched the plate off a wild pitch for the second Orange run. Later, she lifted a single to left field to bring in Molly Kate Ollis. Freshman Kylee Allen drilled a triple to left field to score Cecil and Hammond.

Hammond would hit an inside the park home run in the third and final inning. George delivered an RBI single to score Allie Carden. George closed out the game when she came home on a passed ball.

In the second game, Allen delivered a two-run homer in the third inning. Allen finished with 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Ollis went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. George started in centerfield and finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Allie Carden finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Orange will travel to Cedar Ridge on Tuesday in what will be a key matchup in the Central Conference. The Red Wolves haven’t defeated Orange since 2019 in a special game to determine the #1 seed for the then-Big 8 Conference.

Cedar Ridge baseball gained a sweep of Walter Williams to start its Central Conference season this week. On Friday night, Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win as the Red Wolves defeated Williams 3-1 at Bulldogs Field. Kelly only allowed one unearned run off of hit over five innings. After he started the week with a win over Williams in Hillsborough, senior Quinn Finnegan came over from first base in the sixth inning and earned a six-out save. It was the second year in a row that Finnegan earned a save in a win at Williams. Kelly also drove in the game-winning run with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Williams mounted threats in the sixth and seventh innings, but Cedar Ridge’s Carter Warren made a huge catch in right field with runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the sixth. Warren managed to force a double play after making the big grab. After the Bulldogs got two runners on base off infield singles in the seventh inning, Finnegan struck out the final two Williams batters to end the game. Cedar Ridge is atop the Central Conference with a 2-0 record as they prepare to travel to Person on Tuesday night. The Red Wolves will also have a home game against Clover Garden School in Hillsborough on Wednesday night at 6.

Cedar Ridge baseball’s Quinn Finnnegan and Hudson Kelly discuss win at Walter Williams

Cedar Ridge baseball gained a sweep of Walter Williams to start its Central Conference season this week. On Friday night, Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win as the Red Wolves defeated Williams 3-1 at Bulldogs Field. Kelly only allowed one unearned run off of hit over five innings.

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior wrestler Ava Lytle. Only two years ago, Lytle started wrestling but became a first learner. She didn’t even know the sport existed for women until her sophomore year when she was at Wakefield High School in Raleigh. The head coach of the Wolverines, Russell Williams, approached Lytle about going out for wresting. When she transferred to Orange for her junior year, Lytle began working with Orange wrestling coach Spenser Poteat. Lytle was joined by several other female wrestlers who has helped women’s wrestling grow to such an extent that now there are dual matches between Central Conference teams. This season, Lytle finished 3rd int he 126-pound division at the Red Wolf Invitational at Cedar Ridge High School. She pinned Aaliyah Pearson of Southeast Raleigh to win the consolation final. On December 7 at the Jim King/Orange Invitational, Lytle finished 2nd in the 126-pound division. It was the best finish ever by an Orange female wrestler at the JKO. Lytle pinned Rebecca Parker of East Chapel Hill in the semifinals. She finished 2nd in the Central Conference at 126 pounds, pinning Laura Blanchard of Walter Williams during the league tournament in Burlington. At the Mideast Regionals, Lytle won three matches and missed qualifying for the state championships by one match. As her wrestling career has ended at Orange, Lytle plans to continue her career as a wrestling coach.

Orange Panther of the Week: Ava Lytle

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior wrestler Ava Lytle. Only two years ago, Lytle started wrestling but became a first learner. She didn’t even know the sport existed for women until her sophomore year when she was at Wakefield High School in Raleigh.

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior runner Henry Alexander. This season, Alexander helped the Cedar Ridge men’s cross country team finish second in the Central Conference. At the Central Conference championships in October, Alexander finished fourth with a time of 17:25.84. It led to the Red Wolves finishing with 44 points, second only to Orange in the conference. At the Mideast Regionals at Owens Recreation Park in Louisburg, Alexander finished seventh at 17:07.53. It led to Cedar Ridge finishing finishing second in the Mideast Region with 83 points. Alexander had a 5th place finish at a tai-conference meet at Orange High School on September 10. This winter, Alexander competed in indoor track and field. He finished fourth in the 3,200 meters at the East Chapel Hill Polar Bear inside Dave Thaden Stadium with a time of 10:49.95. At the final regular season meet on February 4, Alexander finished 5th in the 3,200 meters at 10:37.19. Since indoor season ended, Alexander has started running outdoor track and field. Last week, he started the outdoor season by running in the 800 meters inside Red Wolves Stadium. He finished in 7th place at 2:23.80 in a meet that also included Western Alamance and Southern Alamance. Alexander will spend the spring trying to qualify for the 3A State Outdoor Track & Field Championships at North Carolina A&T State University in May.

Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week: Henry Alexander

This week’s Cedar Ridge Red Wolf of the Week is junior runner Henry Alexander. This season, Alexander helped the Cedar Ridge men’s cross country team finish second in the Central Conference. At the Central Conference championships in October, Alexander finished fourth with a time of 17:25.84.

BURLINGTON–Carter Warren’s name won’t be in the box score for Friday night’s game.

But it should be.

With Cedar Ridge clinging to a two-run lead in the sixth inning against Williams, Warren moved from centerfield to right field after Quinn Finnegan replaced Hudson Kelly on the mound. With runners at 1st and 2nd, Williams’ Will Allen lined a first-pitch fastball to the right field gap.

Warren had barely got his cleats in place at his new position before he had to make a move that may decide the game. As the ball soared closer to wall, he reached up with his glove hand and snagged the hardest hit ball of the night.

Williams’ baserunners frantically moved in opposite directions. Vince Coker lunged back to first and got back safely. But it was too late for Charlie Smith, who was a step away from third base by the time Warren made the catch. Grant McGuffey took Warren’s throw from right field and tossed it to Jesus Valezquez for the easy double play.

It was the biggest defensive play as Cedar Ridge completed a two-game sweep of Williams 3-1 on Friday night. For the first time since the two teams became league rivals in 201, Cedar Ridge swept a series from the Bulldogs.

Hudson Kelly earned his first varsity win, allowing just one unearned run over five innings. Kelly also knocked in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning with a liner to centerfield, scoring Noah Heckman and Grant McGuffey.

For the second year in a row, Cedar Ridge senior Quinn Finnegan earned the save at Williams. After Williams got Aidan Pullman and Liam Kerr Finger on board in the seventh inning off infield singles, Finnegan struck out Chris Gonzalez-Gomez and Cooper Rice to end the game.

Coker scored Williams’ only run when he reached off an error in the first inning. Rounding the bases with a passed ball and a groundout, Coker scored off an grounder to second by Angel Mora. Kelly limited the Bulldogs to one hit over the first five innings.

John Grove reached on an error at second base with one out in the fourth inning. Heckman replaced Grove as a courtesy runner. Grant McGuffey lined a double to the left field gap, sending Heckman to third. Kelly drove a liner to left field, which bounced away from Williams’ Jazion Bigelow and came to a rest just shy of the fence, allowing Heckman and McGuffey to score standing up.

Cedar Ridge (3-5, 2-0 in the Central Conference) will start a two-game series against Person in Roxboro on Tuesday.

The dominance of the Orange lacrosse team has stretched on for so long, even their head coach didn’t know the last time they had lost a regular season conference game until it finally happened.

It was April 27, 2019. A span of 47 games.

“It was really that long?” Orange coach Chandler Zirkle said as he walked to the team field house postgame.

That was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Before Orange won four consecutive conference championships, the first four in program history. Before they hosted three consecutive 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional championship games. Before they played for the state championship last spring.

It was even before Seaforth High School opened in 2021.

As Seaforth has done in so many different sports recently, they served notice that they are the new kings of the hill on Thursday night in Hillsborough. Behind five goals from junior Ivan Grimes, the Hawks outscored Orange 7-1 in the second half to win 11-6 at Auman Stadium.

Orange, who defeated Seaforth by scores of 17-3 and 22-6 during its Eastern Regional championship season last year, suffered its first loss of the season after opening the year beating 4A teams Pinecrest and Northern Guilford.

“They’re a tough squad,” Zirkle said. “They hit more tough shots and they got more ground balls. They deserved to win.”

Orange (6-1, 4-1 in the Central Conference) didn’t trail in the first half after junior Matthew Macneir opened with an overhand shot assisted by Aidan Monteith with 9:53 remaining in the first quarter. Grimes responded with an equalizer off a pass from Liam McCann. Brett Clark, who led Orange with three goals, notched his first off a feed from Brady Pfeiffenberger to put the Panthers ahead 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Clark’s goal started a 4-1 run that pushed the Panthers ahead 5-2. Following a man-up tally from Grimes to tie the game, Orange scored consecutive goals from Gray Crabtree, Jay Parker and Clark in a span of 1:18. Clark’s second goal, assisted by Macneir, came with 3:19 remaining in the first half.

The Panthers would notch just one more goal the rest of the game.

Seaforth junior Cameron Exley started the Seaforth comeback with a man-up goal after two Panthers were penalized. Senior Connor Yalch scored with 1:50 remaining in the first half off an assist from Exley to close Orange’s lead to 5-4.

The second half was total Seaforth domination. Grimes opened with the game-tying goal on a sidearm from 12 yards away to even it up at 5-5. The Panthers had uncharacteristic problems clearing the ball, leading to Seaforth dominating possession for most of the quarter. Grimes gave the Hawks the lead with his fourth goal off a pass from junior Jack Petrusa. Yalch added his second goal, followed by another marker from Exley with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter to compete a string of six consecutive Seaforth goals, pushing the Hawks lead to 8-5.

Clark scored Orange’s final goal with :48 remaining in the third quarter. Seaforth midfielder Jackson Powell squelched any chance of an Orange comeback when he took a pass from Exley in front of Orange goalkeeper Jackson Runkle and scored from point-blank range. Exley would finish with three goals and two assists.

On the chances Orange did muster in the fourth quarter, they were shut down by Seaforth goalkeeper Finn Prospero, a freshman who finished with 22 saves.

Exley, Yalch and Grimes all scored in the fourth period as the Panthers couldn’t take advantage of some man advantage opportunities late, including a 6-on-4 following a skirmish in front of the scorer’s table.

Earlier in the week, Orange defeated Cedar Ridge 13-4 at Red Wolves Stadium. The Panthers will face 4A foe Millbrook at Human Stadium on Wednesday night in Hillsborough, then return to conference action against Southeast Alamance on Friday.

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