Middle school diamond stars continue to shine
As both the high school baseball and softball teams continue to vie for a piece of the conference title, the next generation of varsity players are showing that the standard can – and will – be matched for years to come.
In the most recent slate, the Lady Knights (8-0) knocked off Hiwassee Dam/Ranger in a road game Friday, 13-1; before hosting Hayesville on Tuesday and buzzing the Jackets 17-2.
Not to be outdone, the Black Knights (8-1) delivered an 11-6 defeat to Hiwassee Dam/Ranger and handed the Yellow Jackets an 11-7 loss.
Against the Eagles, Robbinsville’s baseball program combined a fine pitching outing from starter Xamuel Wachacha (two innings) and reliever Easton Shuler (five innings). At the dish, Landon Pollard hit his second home run of the campaign; while Peyton Brooks was 3-for-3, with four RBIs.
The Knights’ prevailed from Tuesday’s home tussle, which was a see-saw affair from the first pitch. Robbinsville continually fought off Hayesville’s rally bids, staying one step ahead and holding all the cards when the time limit ended the game early in the bottom of the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Lady Knights brought a quick end to their game across the campus Tuesday before the time limit was even thought about. Hayesville did score in the top of the first, but Robbinsville answered with a 5-run bottom of the frame.
With two outs, Myah Winfrey singled in both Jayden Chekeleelee and Khaygen Buchanan; Ella Nelms smacked a hit to plate Winfrey; Zeyli Williams made it back-to-back-to-back hits, which scored Nelms; and Kynadee Spencer was later hit by a pitch to bring Natalee Myers dashing home.
The Lady Jackets’ final sting came in the top of the second, before Robbinsville poured six more onto the scoreboard in the home-half of the inning. With one down, Winfrey brought Chekeleelee in for her third RBI of the day; Nelms tripled to score Winfrey, then sprinted across the plate on an error; Spencer singled to drive in Williams; before Myers and Spencer each found home on wild pitches.
To seal the deal, Buchanan scored on an error in the bottom of the third; Myers later blasted a single to usher in Winfrey and Nelms; Myers and Loxley Burke both scored on wild pitches; and Buchanan polished off the showing with a hit to score Mylee Webster.
Spencer got the starting nod and struck out four; Webster took over in the third and fanned one.