Photo Credit: Orange Baseball website http://www.orangepanthersbaseball.com/id4.html.[/caption]The baseball team has had a fantastic season so far, winning all of their games except one against East Chapel Hill. They split series, winning the first game 5-2 but losing the second 4-5. Currently their conference record is 3-0 and overall record is 7-1.
The team played Northern Vance in the Big 8 opener which they won 6-0. Bryse Wilson and Jonah Neville both pitched and only allowed one hit. Wilson struck out nine players on the opposing team. Brad Debo had a triple. They won the next game against Northern Vance 15-0. Joe Piscitelli, Matthew Crabtree, and Debo all got three hits. Debo had four runs and Wilson had three runs.
The Panthers then played Cardinal Gibbons and won 8-5. The next game played against Cardinal Gibbons was suspended due to rain and darkness. The game ended with a tie, 4-4 in the fourth inning. They plan to finish the game April 9 at Cardinal Gibbons at 4:30.
The Hilltop Tournament starts April 3 and continues until April 5. The first two days will be held at Jordan High School but the third day is TBD. April 3, they will play Holly Springs High School but the other two days are TBD who Orange will play.
The severe ice storm that Orange and surrounding counties encountered left the baseball field at OHS in pieces, literally.
The ice storm hit Orange County with an unexpected combination of low temperatures, freezing rain, and snow. Without much of a heads up, there was no time to prepare.
Over the duration of the storm, ice accumulated on the net behind the backstop. After enough of the ice had built up, it started to pull on the support poles, causing them to snap. Since the support poles fell, they brought down the fence that they were also holding up. The chain link fence, brick wall, and the PA system were all damaged.
At the moment, the baseball team isn't doing anything to fix the damage, but it plans on repairing it all around the middle of April.
Senior Joe Piscitelli hits a line drive single during the Panthers 8 to 1 win over Graham.[/caption]Wednesday, March 5 the Orange High School Panther baseball team earned their second win of the season following an 8 to 1 victory over Graham. The win moved the Panthers to 2-0 on the season after defeating Eastern Alamance last week, while knocking Graham to 0-2.
The Varsity Panthers were lead by a strong pitching performance from junior Josh Kiehle. Kiehle tossed four innings, while only ushering four hits and one earned run, and striking out four. Sophomore catcher Brad Debo spoke about Kiehle’s performance, saying, “He[Kiehle] had good command and was hitting his spots and keeping guys off balance.” Orange also received good performances from juniors James Cunningham and Miles Acosta and senior Jonah Neville, who pitched one inning apiece and gave up no runs.
Orange was also strong at the plate, scoring eight runs on ten hits, while having a .357 team batting average and 6 different players drive in a run. Senior second baseman and leadoff hitter Joe Piscitelli went 2 for 2 while scoring 3 runs, and reaching base in all four plate appearances. Senior centerfielder Collin Pope and sophomore Bryse Wilson each had two hits and two RBI’s, while senior Matthew Crabtree, sophomore Cameron Mehl, and Wilson all hit a double.
The Panthers lead the entire game and Graham’s only threat came in the sixth inning. The Red Devils were one swing away from making it a one run game when Cunningham pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Debo, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI single, says the team can still improve, saying, “We just want to get better everyday and win games.” The Panthers play on Saturday at home against Corinth Holders with the first pitch scheduled for 2 pm.
Photo Credit: Kate Ter Haar on Flickr[/caption]September 17-18, the annual “It Can Wait” campaign swept through Orange High School once again. This year, it placed more of an importance on the effects that texting and driving can cause to others and oneself.
Wednesday, during advisory, students focused their attention on the T.V. screen, where the school administrators broadcasted a video by the “It Can Wait” foundation. This video compiled of five individual videos, in which personal stories were told about loved ones that have died because they were texting and driving or someone else was. The video even showed the point of view of someone who accidently killed people because they were texting and driving.
In hopes that the video would influence the students, on the next day the school set up a booth outside of the cafeteria and a link on the school website where students could sign up to take the pledge. Senior Jonah Neville said, “I’m pledging because it will make the road that much safer with one more person choosing not to text and drive.” While Neville has that point of view, junior, Colby Scott states, “I’m pledging so I won’t die!” Junior, Mitzy Ibarra said “I think this pledge will make a difference because the students saw what might happen if they do, so [not texting and driving] will cause less accidents.”
The outcome number of pledges were no where near the goal by only receiving 324. “Hopefully next year the number will increase” says Mrs. Deloach, head of the event at Orange. With high hopes and encouraging students, Orange High School may reach the goal of 1000 pledges next year.