Knights’ junior leads way for winning streak
Robbinsville – He was a one-man wrecking crew.
At the outset of Monday’s home game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Black Knights junior Graylen Orr had just 16 strikeouts across four starts.
Stats, schmats: Orr struck out eight of the first nine Cougars he faced and had a no-no when he left the mound before the top of the fifth – a victim of a busy schedule for Robbinsville this week and the need to minimize state-required pitch counts.
All told, Orr blanked 10 Copper Basin batters, but more than helped his own cause at the plate as well by hitting a 2-run double in the bottom of the third and launching a solo homer to leadoff the home-half of the sixth.
Robbinsville (3-6, 2-3) held firm during a pair of Cougars pushes elsewhere, which gave the Knights their third-straight win of the year: an 8-7 triumph on Loudon Orr Memorial Field.
“I was feeling a lot better than I usually do,” Orr said of his optimism while warming up in the bullpen. “I felt refreshed from the weekend, but this has been a really good day for the team: everybody’s been ready to play and in a good mood.”
The Knights pushed their first run across in the second, when Bryc Garrison scored on a two-out error. Wrapped around Orr’s 2-run double in the third was Bryce Adams drawing a bases-loaded walk, which brought Quinn Jumper home; Garrison finding the outfield on a single to plate Alex Knight; and Caleb Turpin recording an RBI hit, which scored Ethan Orr.
The Orr clan took care of Robbinsville’s final offensive touches in the sixth, as well. Graylen’s launch was later followed by a 2-out double from Ethan, which brought in Lathan Buchanan.
Copper Basin came to life once Graylen was lifted. Addison Hook – who relieved starter Landon Allen in the third, after the latter had issued a startling eight walks in just 2 ⅓ innings of work – drove in Harrison Brown on a one-out hit, before Bryce Walden charged home on a fielder’s choice. Isaac Deal then made a connection to score Hook, with Avery Crowder following up by delivering a 2-run double to cut the deficit to 6-5.
The Cougars’ final push came in the seventh, when Crowder posted his third RBI on a one-out single that brought in Cade Dean. Crowder then scurried home on an error, but a groundout ended Copper Basin’s rally bid.
Series sweep
Cherokee – Monday’s home tilt might have been Graylen’s chance to shine, but Friday belonged to Ethan.
Also a junior, Ethan put in six innings on the mound, striking out 12 Braves hopefuls. He also collected four RBIs and three hits (including a double) as part of a 15-6 rout at Cherokee (2-10, 1-6).
Robbinsville held a 2-0 lead before the fifth, but came to life at the plate in the frame by delivering seven runs to the dish. The Black Knights took a breath in the sixth, but rejuvenated their muscles in the seventh for a 6-run outpouring.
Adams also had a double in the convincing win, while Garrison stole two bases. Turpin had a 2-hit, 3-RBI afternoon, while Graylen drove in two runs on three hits of his own.
The victory completed the season sweep of the Braves, who Robbinsville has undisputedly owned for the past several years. You have to go all the way back to April 24, 2012 to find the last time Cherokee bested the Knights, which was a crushing 15-11 home loss on senior night. Since then, Robbinsville has won 21 straight games against the Braves.
The recent success has provided a much-needed shot in the arm to a team that went 0-6 to start the season. With programs like Smoky Mountain Conference foe Murphy (5-5, 4-0) and former divisional rival Rosman (2-10) on the docket for respective games after Wednesday’s press deadline and today, the Knights like their chances.
“Getting that first win removed the nerves,” Graylen said of the team’s hot run. “I think if we play good, keep the errors down and put the bat on the ball, we’ll be alright. We’re going to put up a good fight.”