*Robbinsville softball season preview
Robbinsville – They have power, youthful exuberance and one of the most experienced lineups in the program’s history, top to bottom.
However, it doesn’t hurt that the Robbinsville Lady Knights also return both the reigning Smoky Mountain Conference Player and a former Pitcher of the Year for their senior campaigns.
Head coach Billy Knight has every right to be optimistic ahead of the 2024 season, which begins Tuesday at Smoky Mountain. Robbinsville finished 2023 with its 6th-straight divisional title, its second consecutive, 3rd-round playoff appearance and a 19-5 record. Many of the key components to last year’s success are back, as well as a super-talented influx of freshmen.
Knight sees a lot of similarities between this year’s squad and the one that five years ago captured the hearts of the Robbinsville fanbase by coming within one strike of advancing to the state finals.
“I see a team that I believe to be one of the top five teams in the state,” Knight said. “I have no doubt this team potentially rivals our 2019 team. We have improved in every phase of the game. Our pitching is better, our defense is better, our offense is better – and our bench is way better.
“Every girl in our starting nine – with the possible exception of one – will have the ability to hit the ball out if the park. At (a recent) practice, we estimated they hit 60 or more bombs. By the way, that ‘one’ of the best hitters in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
“This is the kind of team that can make a deep playoff run. The reason is we are not going to be so dependent on three or four girls. Every single player in our lineup can beat you. To win it all, you must have that.”
There is no doubt that the anchors of the team will be Zoie Shuler and Memory Frapp. A shortstop, Shuler (.595 average, 10 home runs, six triples, 30 RBI, 36 stolen bases in 2023) is on the cusp of playing softball at the University of Tennessee; the No. 1 starter in the rotation, Frapp (.388, 17 doubles, 21 RBI; 12-3 inside the circle, 2.64 ERA and 108 strikeouts) is looking to peak when it matters most.
“Zoie and Memory are the leaders on this team,” Knight said. “They are strong, young alpha females who are at the top of their class and hate to lose. Both are four-year starters and three-time All-SMC players, and “dogs” on the softball field. What more could a coach ask for?”
Elsewhere on the field will be a pair of returning sophomores: second baseman Suri Watty (.430, five doubles, 28 RBIs last year) and outfielder Anna Williams (.367, 21 RBI, 17 stolen bases). In addition to those two, Knight touted junior Naomi Taylor (.304, nine doubles, 20 RBI; 3-2 record as the No. 2 starter, 2.62 ERA, 46 strikeouts) as one of the most respected players that will step onto the field.
“If she has the year, she is a Player of the Year candidate,” Knight said of Taylor. “She has worked so hard in the offseason to improve all facets of her game. I think the other girls see her as someone they respect immensely. I know for a fact the coaches do.
“Anna Williams finished last year batting third, was All-SMC and is better this year than she was last year. Our pitching rotation is much improved from a year ago. Frapp anchors the staff. Her and Naomi are our 1 and ‘1A’ starters, so to speak. Both are very good pitchers. We also still have Suri to come in and eat innings as well if need be, but we would really like to see her just focus on being a position player as that is where her future would be at the next level.”
Then there’s the newcomers. Knight hit the nail on the head when he told The Graham Star, “there are several girls in this lineup who people will not know their names, but they are fixing to.”
One of those players is Presley Caylor, who has been giving hitters fits as the ace of the middle school Lady Knights’ staff for three years.
“Do not underestimate Presley,” Knight said. “She is a tough cookie and we are really high on her.”
Others making their varsity debuts are outfielder Sydney Adams, infielder Ella Atwell, outfielder Ella McGuire, first baseman Payton Odom and catcher Dreylee Webster. They will collaborate with sophomore Sophie Roberts; juniors Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Olivia Lewis; and senior Delaney Brooms.
Robbinsville enters every season with aspirations of capturing a state championship. To get there, the Lady Knights have to first take care of business in the Smoky Mountain Conference and the 1A Western Regional playoff bracket.
“We will be in the hunt,” Knight said. “We are extremely excited about this team and what they can accomplish this year. We will see if we can finish it.”
Look for more on the Lady Knights in our regional Spring Sports preview, available next month. Catch Robbinsville softball all season long on grahamstarsports.com.