Wachacha, Garrison combine for no-no
Andrews – The Black Knights (2-3, 2-3) pushed Rosman (3-2, 3-2) into extra innings during Robbinsville’s home opener Friday, before freshman Greyler Orr connected on an opposite-field single in the bottom of the eighth that allowed Ethan Beavers to sprint home and give the Knights a 4-3, walk-off win over the Tigers at Loudon Orr Memorial Field.
And that wasn’t even the biggest news of the week.
Robbinsville hurlers Rossi Wachacha and Kade Garrison combined to throw a no-hitter at Andrews (2-2, 2-2) on Tuesday, as a fired-up Knights offense took care of the rest in a 16-0, 4-inning win over the Wildcats.
“This is exciting,” Wachacha said after the game, which was also his first career start. “The team obviously made it easier by scoring in the first inning.
“We’re feeling good right now. We feel like we can make a run at (a) conference (title) and make the playoffs.”
Indeed, the Knights got right to work, plating five runners in the opening frame. Jeb Shuler would reach on an infield single to begin things – and later score on an error – while Wachacha drove in his first of four RBIs by doubling home Ethan Orr and Greylen Orr. Cole Patterson would follow up with a 2-bagger of his own, which sent Alex Knight and courtesy runner Kamdyn Jordan sprinting across the dish.
Greylen Orr and Ethan Orr would both score on passed balls in the second and though the Knights offense was held to a lone Shuler single in the third, Robbinsville blew the game wide open in the fourth, with a 9-spot that included three RBI doubles, two RBI singles and 15 Black Knights making a plate appearance.
Needless to say, Wachacha had all the run support and confidence needed to succeed on the hill. He struck out three Wildcats in three innings of work, with Garrison stepping in to fan two Andrews batters in the fourth.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Garrison admitted. “I just went in and threw strikes.”
Extra heroics
Robbinsville – The Knights struck early against Rosman as well, with Shuler dashing home on a pick-off attempt and Ethan Orr scoring on a wild pitch.
The Tigers began chipping away at the deficit in the second, as Andrew Stamey crossed the dish on a wild pitch. Rosman then took a 3-2 lead in the third, when Randy Moretz launched a lead-off homer and Robert Stewart later beat out an infield single that plated Tyler Stamey.
Shuler knotted things at 3-all in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer of his own, but both offenses failed to dent the scoreboard further until Greylen’s extra-inning heroics.
As the starting pitcher, Shuler logged seven innings of work – striking out eight Tigers – and credits his defense for limiting Rosman’s damage in the game.
“I think the reason we won this game was that we finally gelled together, as a team,” Shuler noted. “Everybody was up and excited for this game. The last few games, we’ve been down, but today we played with some heart.
“My defense backing me up helped boost my confidence (on the mound). This win is a big momentum-shift for us.”
The win marked the first time Robbinsville had defeated the Tigers since a 5-4 home victory on March 6, 2017.
Road split
Bryson City – The big wins Friday were wrapped around a tough outing May 5, with Robbinsville dropping a 9-1 road game to Swain County (2-2, 2-2).
The Knights scored their lone run against the Devils in the top of the first, when Shuler scored as a pickoff play took place at second base. Swain promptly got the run back in the bottom of the inning and continued to tack on runs throughout the game, taking advantage of three Robbinsville errors.
Devils starter Gabe Lillard recorded 12 strikeouts.