Middle school Knights sweep title games
Hiwassee Dam – For one team, the championship was a foregone conclusion.
For the other, it was a first.
Robbinsville Middle School shipped both its baseball and softball teams to Hiwassee Dam on Monday to play in their respective de facto Smoky Mountain Conference title games. The middle school league opted this season to hold outright championship games between the two teams with the best records.
This meant that the Lady Knights (13-0) were going to be season champs regardless; the Black Knights (10-3) had split with Murphy during the year, so a rubber match was necessary.
In the end, Robbinsville brought both trophies back to Graham County. The Lady Knights vanquished Cherokee 16-5; the Black Knights defeated the Bulldogs 4-2. The wins gave the softball program its first title since 2017; the baseball team collected its inaugural crown.
“I am so proud of my girls and all we have accomplished this year,” Lady Knights head coach Anna Stewart said. “This is an amazing group of athletes and it has been my honor to be their coach.”
“I am especially proud of the improvement of the team, the attitude and the effort put forth all season,” said Black Knights skipper Adam Brooks. “The team was great to coach all season long. I can’t say enough about how hard they have worked and how good their attitudes have been.”
The softball squad rolled to its championship, outscoring opponents 160-34 this year.
“They are all truly amazing,” Stewart added. “They have put in the work to come out on top and they have earned it. I love them all and have enjoyed every day we have spent together.”
On the baseball side, Robbinsville more than reversed its fortunes. The Black Knights went “from worst to first,” after turning in just one victory in 2023.
“We were beaten by mercy rule numerous times, but a few of the players really put in a lot of work in the offseason and improved tremendously,” Brooks said of the turnaround.
“Last season, a good hit for many of the players was to get it out of the infield; now, the same players hit it to the fence or over it.
“I look forward to seeing what this group does in the future. They have developed a love for the game and I know they will continue to work hard in the future.”
To wrap up the regular season, Robbinsville had back-to-back days of an away/home tilt with Murphy. The Black Knights split the bill, winning 6-3 before falling 7-6; the Lady Knights swept the series 17-1, 13-3.
Baseball jerseys were also donned Friday, as the Knights hosted Andrews in a make-up game. Robbinsville prevailed, 14-6.
