Black Knights easily squash Braves
Robbinsville – It was almost as if the Black Knights peered at Loudon Orr Memorial Field's scoreboard prior to beginning the bottom of the fourth Tuesday and said, "We can do better."
Everything was going Robbinsville's way at that point, but the hometown crew wasn't satisfied with a 15-0 lead.
So, the Knights' batting order promptly went to the plate and put 13 more in the score column. In what is believed to be a single-game school record, Robbinsville (5-6, 5-4) ended the five-inning outing with a 28-1 victory over the Cherokee Braves (1-10, 1-8).
When the dust settled, the Black Knights had 20 hits. The final 10 runs of the game came with two outs in the fourth.
Peyton Brooks homered in the bottom of the third, which cemented the 15-0 advantage; ultimately, Brooks stole three bases, doubled and drove in seven runs during the rout.
Deacon Hyde finished the proceedings with four RBIs, while Evan Menard and Xamuel Wachacha both drove in a pair of runs. Menard and Luke Lovin each recorded three hits in the drubbing, while Benton Gibby also roped a two-bagger in the game, as well.
On the mound, Lovin struck out six Braves – and improved to 3-1 on the year – in a complete-game performance.
Ups and downs
Lovin shined in Robbinsville's 17-5 road win over Hiwassee Dam (1-8, 1-7), which completed a season sweep of the Eagles.
The senior went 3-for-4 at the dish, doubling and driving in five runs for the Knights. He also struck out eight in 4 ⅓ innings of work on the hill.
Elsewhere, Gibby went 2-for-3 and collected two RBIs; while Brooks, Lovin, Rylen Orr and Easton Shuler all swiped two bases each.
Robbinsville also played Towns County, Ga. (16-5) in an away/home series over the latest stretch. The Knights fell 13-0 in Hiawassee, before dropping a 10-3 contest to the Indians on Monday in Graham County.
Gibby, Lovin and Tegan Werner were responsible for Robbinsville's only hits in last week's road game. Orr collected an RBI in Monday's loss, but dropped to 2-3 after lasting just 2 ⅔ innings in his starting effort.
Robbinsville will travel to Cherokee on Friday, before enjoying Spring Break and resuming action Tuesday, April 21 at Swain County.