Former Panther Marquis Riley was named second team All-Conference in the MEAC for 2011.  A second baseman for North Carolina A & T University, Riley made the All-conference team for the second strait year.  Riley hit .353 this season 12 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homeruns and 38 RBI.  Riley struckout just 4 times in 240 plate appearances.

1/30/11 - Anthony Kent, a senoir pitcher for the Panthers, recently signed his letter of intent to attend Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia.  Patrick Henry competes in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association.  Congratulations Anthony.

11/1/10- Duke Baseball Coach Sean McNally to Speak at "First Pitch" Dinner  

Sean McNally, a 1994 graduate of Duke University, returns for his sixth year as head baseball coach and will be the featured speaker at the fourth annual Orange Baseball "First Pitch Dinner on February 12th at Orange High School. McNally has led the Duke program to great success during his tenure.

With a 116-107-1 record in his first four years, McNally is off to the best start by any coach in Duke history. In 2009, McNally became the first coach to reach 100 wins by his fourth year and the first to compile two 30-win seasons during that span. McNally has also led Duke to more ACC wins in each of his first four seasons, capped by a 15-15 ACC record in 2009.

During his playing career at Duke, McNally was a four-year starter and served as team captain for his final two seasons. As a senior in 1994, he received All-ACC honors and set single-season school records for batting average (.408) and slugging percentage (.775) while finishing the season with 89 hits, 19 doubles, eight triples, 17 home runs and 71 RBI. He ranks among the top five in school history with 17 triples and 181 RBI in his career and among the top 10 in runs scored, batting average, hits and doubles.

Following four seasons in the Blue and White, McNally was selected in the 16th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals and played nine seasons of professional baseball. He reached as high as the Triple-A level with Calgary (Florida Marlins) in 2002, and Buffalo (Cleveland Indians) and Tucson (Arizona Diamondbacks) in 2001. In 1999, McNally was named to the Texas League (AA) All-Star Team after posting a .282 batting average along with 36 home runs and 109 RBI.

Prior to taking the reigns of the Blue Devil baseball team, McNally spent three years coaching in the professional ranks for Cleveland Indians affiliates Burlington (A) and Akron (AA). He served as the hitting coach for both squads before being promoted to manager of the Burlington Indians in 2005.

2011 Orange Baseball Schedule Released

Panthers will play 14 of the 24 game schedule at home this season.  Orange will once again host the 2011 Hilltop Invitational Tournament.  The Panthers will open the season at home on March 1 against East Chapel Hill.  The first Carolina 3A conference game will be against Northern Vance on March 9.

This year's nonconference schedule includes home and away series with traditional powers East Chapel Hill, Graham, Jordan, and Cedar Ridge.  Orange will renew an old rivalry when they travel to Burlington Williams for an endowment game.  The Panthers will host single games with Cary's Panther Creek High School and Moeller High School from Cinicnnati, Ohio.  Moeller finished the 2010 season ranked 12th in the nation.  Past Moeller players include Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, Buddy Bell, Adam Hyzdu, and Andrew Brackman.

The Hilltop will have 16 teams playing at four seperate sites.  Other sites are Cedar Ridge,East Chapel Hill, and Chapel Hill.  Orange will open tournament play on March 31 at 7:00.

The Panthers will look to improve on their 4-6 Carolina 3A Conference record last season, where four of the six conference teams qualified for the playoffs.  Defending champion Chapel Hill made it to the Eastern Regional Finals and return most of their starters from 2010.  Oxford Webb, Cardinal Gibbons, and Orange all advanced to the second round of the state playoffs a year ago.  Cardinal Gibbons return conference player of the year and University of South Carolina commit Max Schrock.

"This is one of our most challenging schedules in recent memory.  Every time we take the field, we better be ready to play.  It's excitng to play teams of this quality.  There is not an easy or sure win on this schedule." - Coach Dease

McCay accepts position as Head Baseball Coach at Brevard College

Former Tar Heel standout and Assistant Coach takes over reins of Tornados Baseball program

Brevard, N.C. - Brevard College Athletic Director Kim Pate is pleased to announce Matt McCay, a former University of North Carolina letter-winner and a six-year standout in professional baseball, has accepted the position of Head Coach of the Brevard College Tornados Baseball Program.

"I am delighted to announce the hiring of Matt McCay as our next head baseball coach. Coach McCay brings an incredible depth of experience having played and coached at all levels. Coming out of the top level collegiate baseball program of UNC Chapel Hill, he understands what it takes to establish a successful winning program," said Athletic Director Pate.

An assistant coach for the Tarheels for three years, McCay assisted in all areas of the UNC program, but worked specifically with the hitters and catchers.

"I am very excited to be the Head Coach at Brevard College. This is such a great opportunity to be a part of a truly great baseball tradition," Coach McCay had to say. "Brevard College is in one of the most beautiful places in North Carolina and my family and I are extremely happy to be joining the Brevard family. My wife and I love the community and the college, and we are very thankful that Brevard College has given me this opportunity to lead the Tornado Baseball Program. I know, that through hard work, this program will be a place that alumni, the town of Brevard, and Brevard College will be very proud of."

In addition to his on-field work, McCay worked closely with the Tar Heels' strength and conditioning program and with the team's nutritionist regarding all team meals. He also assisted with on-campus recruiting and other administrative duties.

McCay was an instrumental part of Carolina's run to the 2008 and 2009 College World Series and he has worked with a pair of catchers that were selected in the first seven rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft - Tim Federowicz and Mark Fleury - over the past two seasons.

"Matt has been an extremely valuable member of our coaching staff these past three seasons. I cannot thank him enough for his hard work and dedication to our program. I have known Matt since high school and as a player for me both at N.C. Wesleyan and North Carolina," said UNC Head Baseball Coach Mike Fox. "No one cares more about UNC, the game and its people than Matt. He was beloved by all our players here not only for his knowledge of the game but his willingness to help them in any way and his great sense of humor. Matt is most deserving of this opportunity at Brevard and I am extremely confident he will do well. I personally will miss him and Julie [his wife] dearly."

In the summer of 2008, McCay skippered the Thomasville Hi-Toms to the Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup Tournament title.

Prior to joining the UNC staff, McCay worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Hillsborough's Orange High School, for seven seasons and spent the summer of 2007 working as a coach and instructor at the Impact Baseball showcase camps and with Dirtbag Baseball, an elite North Carolina-based travel team. McCay graduated from Carolina in December 2006 with a degree in exercise and sport science after playing six years of independent league professional baseball.

McCay played the 2000-03 seasons with the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints of the Frontier League. He was a three-time all-star selection, earned a spot on the organization's all-time team and was named the team's MVP in 2003. He ranks as the Paints' record holder in both career and single-season hits (2002). Before returning to Chapel Hill to finish his degree, McCay played the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Northern League's Joliet (Illinois) Jackhammers.

McCay played for Fox for two seasons at North Carolina Wesleyan (1997-98) before joining him in Chapel Hill for the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. In two seasons at Carolina, McCay hit .297 with seven home runs and 78 RBI in 119 games as an outfielder.

While at Wesleyan, he was a second-team NCAA Division III All-America and also earned all-region and all-conference honors in 1998 when he hit .441 with 10 homers and 60 RBI. McCay also led the team in hitting as a freshman with a .391 average.

Coach McCay’s final comment was, "I want to lead the Brevard College Baseball program in a way that is one of the best experiences for the student athlete. I want our players to work hard to earn a degree, work hard on the athletic field, and leave the school and program as a better person because they chose to come to Brevard College."

The Brevard College Tornados baseball program went 9-35, 2-22 in the South Atlantic Conference in their second full season as members of the NCAA Division II.

7/2/09- Daniel Hargrave Named New Assistant Coach at UNC-Wilmington

Former All-State Orange player Daniel Hargrave was recently named as an assistant baseball coach for the Seahwks at UNCW.  Hargrave was an All-Conference player for UNCW and graduated in 2008.  After being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and spending a year in the minors, Hargrave developed a desire to coach.  His father Doug Hargrave has coached baseball in Orange County for many years.  The younger Hargrave now joins Matt McCay, asssistant coach for the UNC Tarheels, as former Panthers now coaching in the college ranks.

6/18/09-  North Carolina and South Carolina split the All-Star games in Myrtle Beach.  Orange High head baseball coach Dean Dease was selected to coach the North Carolina team last winter.  "It was an honor to go down there with some of the best players in the state and complete with squad from South Carolina.  The South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association did a wonderful job hosting these games.  All of our players were Division I college signees and a few were drafted in the recent Major League Draft.  It was a great experience." 

5/4/09- The Orange and Cedar Ridge baseball teams joined together on Thursday May 7 to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.  Both teams wore pink during the game.  OHS players collected donations during school.  There was a special collection at the game.  Over $500.00 was raised for breast cancer awareness.  Thanks to all who contributed their time and money.