Bryson City – The final record might not indicate much success, but the junior varsity Black Knights made great strides during the 2026 season.
Perhaps the highlight of the year was downing Smoky Mountain Conference rival Swain County in back-to-back road games. Robbinsville (3-11) bumped the Maroon Devils 10-9 on April 21, before finishing the chapter by collecting an 11-9 win April 23.
The series finale was scheduled to be played at home, but was once again held in Bryson City due to Robbinsville's home field being double-booked (the varsity Knights were busy disposing of Copper Basin, Tenn., in a pick-up game). The change in venue was no matter to Robbinsville's JV, as the Black Knights made themselves right at home.
In the bottom of the first, Canon Menard drew a one-walk out and later scored on an error. David Guzman followed by crossing the dish on an RBI double from Landon Silvers.
Swain County tied the affair back up in the top of the second and pulled ahead 3-2 in the third, but Robbinsville manufactured a response when Menard again scored on an error in the bottom of the same frame.
The Black Knights blew the game wide open in the fourth, loading the bases to begin the proceedings and cashing in on a Connor Hyde single – which scored Braylen Anderson; and a Guzman double that ushered in both Kamden Driver and Menard.
Later with one out, Carsen Snider drove in a run and Guzman scampered home on a throwing error. Anderson ensured the team would bat around in the inning, roping a hit to bring across Truett Burchfield.
Swain attempted to chip away at the deficit in the fifth, trimming the score to 9-4. Robbinsville added its final insurance in the home half, when Snider connected for a two-run single that scored Hyde and Silvers.
The Devils' rally bid in the sixth was cut short when Snider struck out his final opponent of the afternoon. The eighth-grader finished with six strikeouts in the victory.
Robbinsville won its season opener at Rosman on March 3, 2-1; but lost in the home rematch March 6, 8-4.
Other action throughout the campaign saw the JV Knights drop a 10-0, 9-0 series to Hayesville on March 10 and March 18; fall in respective 12-5 and 13-8 losses to Cherokee on March 24 and March 27; and come out on the short end of 5-4, 11-6 games with Hiwassee Dam March 31 and April 2.
The squad was swept during its final series last week against Murphy, in an 18-3 road loss April 27 and a 20-4 home defeat to the league champions Friday.
* Editor's note: The Graham Star attempted to retrieve scores for JV softball at the beginning and midway points of the season, but was unsuccessful.