*Robbinsville baseball season preview
Robbinsville – It seems to be an overarching narrative at the outset of each Black Knights baseball season: could this be the year Robbinsville qualifies for the playoffs?
The drought stretches back to 2011, but Robbinsville is focused on the here and now – not the years gone by.
“This may be the year we break the playoff drought, if the players will buy in and put in the work,” touted skipper Brent Icenhower. “This season, I feel like we should be really competitive once our core guys start getting in plenty of reps.”
Icenhower has opted to forego a JV team this year, with only 15 players filling out his varsity roster. Five starters return from the 2023 campaign, which started off 0-6 before the Knights went .500 for the remainder of the season.
Robbinsville will rely heavily on the work produced by its rotation: seniors Bryc Garrison, Graylen Orr and Ethan Orr will toe the rubber, as will junior Quinn Jumper and sophomore Luke Lovin.
“I expect Ethan and Graylen to have a big year – not only on the mound, but at the plate as well,” Icenhower noted.
The “core” Icenhower eluded to also includes juniors Dayne Webster and Avery Webster; as well as sophomores Tyler Martinez and Everett Taylor. New to the Knights’ depth chart this season are seniors Chase Calhoun and Bruce Helms; junior Tytan Teesateskie; and freshmen Zander Davis, Levi Roberts and Teagan Werner.
“We have some great leadership on this year’s squad – not only from the seniors, but the juniors as well,” Icenhower observed. “We have at least five kids on the team this year that have plenty of power. So far in practice, Dayne, Avery and Quinn have looked really good. Once we get Luke’s strength built back up, he should get lots of innings on the mound and build on the success he had last year.”
Things are still a toss-up on who will fill what roles on the field and slots in the line-up.
“As long as we get better every week, we should be okay this season,” said Icenhower.
Robbinsville’s scheduled home opener today against Mountain Heritage has been postponed; a make-up date has not been announced. The Black Knights will begin the season Friday at Rosman; the home debut is now set to be against Swain County on Monday, March 11.
Money from ticket sales to the home opener will be donated to Conley’s Care Baskets.
Look for more on the Black Knights in our regional Spring Sports preview, available next month. Catch Robbinsville baseball all season long on grahamstarsports.com.