Sun January 1, 2023
Orange High School Preview
PROGRAM INFORMATION
HIGH SCHOOL NAME Orange High School
MASCOT Panthers
CLASSIFICATION 3A
CONFERENCE Central Carolina
HEAD COACH Jason Knapp
TWITTER @baseballorange
INSTAGRAM orangepanthersbaseball
HOME FIELD: 500 Orange High School Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
PROGRAM HISTORY
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Current College players:
Joey Berini- East Carolina
Donte DeFranco- UNC Charlotte
Will Walker- Pitt CC
Current MLB Players:
Bryse Wilson- Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB Alumni:
Chris Maples- Detroit Tigers AAA
Josh Horton- Oakland Athletics AAA
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Conference Championship: Central Carolina 3A- 2022
State Championship: 2A State Champions- 2008
PREVIEWING 2022
SCHEDULE: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/hillsborough/orange-panthers/baseball/schedule/
ROSTER: https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/hillsborough/orange-panthers/baseball/roster/
PRESEASON EVENT:
East Forsyth/Rockingham County/Orange (Feb. 18 @ East Forsyth)
SPRING BREAK:
Hilltop Invitational at Orange HS:
April 10 Lee County 6:00
April 11 Union Pines 6:00
April 14 Wakefield 6:00
STARTERS RETURNING: 7
RETURNING PITCHERS: 4
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Expectations for Team - The reigning Central Carolinas 3A Champions return several key contributors in 2023 including 2022 Conference Player of the Year Ryan Hench. Jackson Berini gives them a quality defender at short and will be a spark plug for the lineup. The Panthers are set up to make another strong playoff push this season.
Expected Team Strength - Orange returns several key starters and role players off of their 2022 Central Carolina conference championship club. 2022 Central Carolina Player Of The Year, Ryan Hench, and 2022 Central Carolina Pitcher of the Year, Cross Clayton, will anchor an experienced pitching staff along with Joey Pounds and Josiah Gibbs. Jackson Berini, David Waitt, Cam Guentensberger, Connor Nordan along with Hench and Clayton will also bring an experienced offensive line up for the Panthers.
QUOTE FROM THE COACH:
Our players at Orange are very dedicated and have bought into competing every time they step in the weight room, practice field and game field. Our 2023 schedule is very tough and we'll have to be mentally and physically prepared to compete at a high level every time we step on the field.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
