Hayesville – The 2023 Robbinsville High School baseball season will always be the year remembered for a near-miraculous turnaround.
The Knights opened the campaign 0-6 (0-3 in Smoky Mountain Conference action) and underwent some growing pains during the bumpy start, only playing one full 7-inning game and plating just 15 runs to the 85 scored by their opponents.
Their fortunes changed after sweeping a series against Cherokee. The swagger appeared. The bats were laser-focused. Robbinsville went 6-2 over their next eight games and after run-ruling Andrews 13-3 on April 18, were in good shape to snap an 11-year playoff drought.
But somewhere between Graham County, N.C., and Polk County, Tenn., the magic dissipated. Robbinsville had edged Copper Basin, Tenn., 8-7 during the turnaround, but could not tame the Cougars’ bats in the return game across state lines April 20. The next day, Andrews forced a season-split by handing the Knights a stunning 6-5 loss on Loudon Orr Memorial Field.
Robbinsville then halved a doubleheader against Hiwassee Dam on April 25, which all but halted their playoff pursuit. The last series of the season was tapped to be Hayesville, the defending Smoky Mountain Conference champions.
Though the Jackets left a 17-2 sting on Senior Night May 2, the Black Knights did what they have done all year when trekking to Clay County on May 4 for the regular-season finale: they refused to give up.
The outcome was a 6-0 Robbinsville loss, but head coach Brent Icenhower is focusing more on the positives than the negatives as he looks ahead to what lies ahead.
“This season had its ups and downs, but I feel like we got better as the year went on,” Icenhower told The Graham Star on Tuesday. “We let a few winnable games slip away, but we almost achieved our goal of making the playoffs. We finished the season 7-13 and had some players who had some success.”
That last sentence might be an understatement. But a trio of core seniors – first baseman Lathan Buchanan, second baseman Alex Knight and right fielder Caleb Turpin – tip their hat to the program.
Preston Phillips will also depart because of graduation, after returning for one final stint on the field.
“I’m going to miss the seniors from this year; they were the freshman group when I became the head coach four years ago,” Icenhower admitted.
And yet, future contenders emerged from the topsy-turvy season, including pitchers like Bryc Garrison, Quinn Jumper, Luke Lovin, Ethan Orr and Graylen Orr.
Garrison joins both Orr’s in returning for their swan song next season The Orr cousins led the team in batting average (.349 for Ethan; .339 for Graylen); while the duo also combined for both 118 strikeouts and to record the win across all seven of Robbinsville’s triumphs.
“We found a lot of positives to build on and I think next year, we can be really successful,” said Icenhower. “Six starters from this year’s team is returning, as is the entire pitching staff. Having most of the guys back with a lot of game experience is really going to help.
“During our exit interviews, I told the kids we can be really good next year – but at the same time, they have to go to work this offseason. You can look for us to make some noise next year.”