ORANGE FINDS THE WINNING WAY
By Noah Ricks
MORELAND HILLS, OH – The Orange baseball team has dealt with a rocky 2025 campaign. However, coach Fred Zupancic kept his guys grounded and towards the end goal. His leadership was on full display as after falling behind 2-0, he and his team mounted 3 unanswered runs to upset visiting Wickliffe 3-2.
Following a scoreless first two innings, Wickliffe got on the board in the top of the third as Dominic Porcello hit a single, sending Nunzio Zivnoska home for the RBI and a 1-0 Blue Devil lead. He would then pick up another RBI in the top of the fifth with a well-rounded triple after Frankie Bucar hit home plate.
Coach Zupancic then went to his bench in the bottom of the same inning, calling in senior Major Calhoun, who started the Orange rally with an RBI single of his own, bringing in Tyler Diviney. Shortly after, a costly error in the infield by Wickliffe brought Jake Valone to home plate to tie up the scoring. That would help set the key moment in the bottom of the sixth inning as Russell Melvey hit a sac fly in the outfield, opening up home for Alexander Carlisle-Winston to give the Lions the 3-2 advantage.
Orange sealed the deal in the top of the seventh with three consecutive putouts by first baseman Branden Wang, two of those coming from Diviney at third base. The Lions also had a field general at the pitcher’s mound in John Neal. The Baldwin Wallace commit held the Blue Devils at bay, compiling seven strikeouts on the evening in six innings pitched.
Orange will now play host to Bristol Friday evening in the second day of a consecutive three-day stretch. With Coach Zupancic dialing up the tricks in the dugout, the Lions have shown that they are far better than their record shows. You can watch a full interview with coach Fred Zupancic below: