Andrews – At the end of the first inning of Robbinsville Middle School’s season debut Tuesday, the Lady Knights and the hosting Lady Wildcats were tied, 2-2.
By the bottom of the second, the tally was 17-2.
Robbinsville (1-0) made the short trek to Andrews Recreation Park for its first middle school softball game since 2019 – the 2020 season never got underway, due to the COVID-19 pandemic – and made quick work of the Wildcats, sealing up a 19-2, 3-inning victory.
“I’m so proud of my girls,” said Robbinsville head coach Anna Stewart. “It was a team effort; they all played great.
“We are so happy and thankful to get to play this year.”
The Knights’ pair of first-inning runs came courtesy of an RBI single from Anna Williams and Abby Adams scoring on a wild pitch. Andrews plated both of its runs on fielding errors in the bottom of the frame, then whittled Robbinsville down to two outs in the top of the second.
But instead of letting the deadlock spill over into the home-half of the inning, the Lady Knights started raking.
Liz Carpenter alone had five RBIs in the second, with her second plate appearance of the segment resulting in an inside-the-park grand slam that made the score 16-2.
Keilee Pressley also doubled home two runners for Robbinsville, while Lakelyn Eller tripled home Pressley and Williams singled to score Bailie Conley. The rest of the Knights’ runs in the inning came on wild pitches. Ella Atwell tacked on an RBI single for Robbinsville in the third, while Williams scored the 19th run on a wild pitch later in the stanza.
Pressley toed the rubber to begin the game, striking out one batter in the first inning.
After Robbinsville built the 15-run advantage, Presley Caylor took her spot inside the circle and fanned four Wildcats across the remaining two innings.
Robbinsville will travel to Cherokee on Friday, before welcoming Swain for its first home game at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
March 9, 2021
Robbinsville 2(15)2 – 19 12 2
Andrews 2 0 0 – 4 1 5
WP – Caylor (1-0). LP – Rattler. 2B – Pressley. 3B – Eller. HR – Carpenter. RBI – Carpenter 5, Pressley 2, Williams 2, Eller, Atwell.