Robbinsville – Graham County’s middle school baseball and softball programs ended the home portion of their season in strong fashion.
In the only pairing against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger this season, the Robbinsville Lady Knights (8-2) knocked off the Lady Eagles 8-4, while the Robbinsville Black Knights (2-7) picked up a 5-4 triumph on the baseball diamond.
Lady Knights
Anna Williams scored on a long fielding error to catch up with an RBI double from Hiwassee Dam/Ranger’s Brinkley Payne in the first, while Payton Odom sprinted home on another error to pull Robbinsville ahead 2-1 in the second. The Lady Knights never relinquished their advantage from that point on.
Piling on more runs in the fifth, Robbinsville plated Williams on a Presley Caylor triple; Jayden Chekeleelee grounded out to score Caylor; Dreylee Webster doubled home Khaygen Buchanan; courtesy runner Loxley Burke crossed the dish on an error; and Kynadee Spencer singled to drive in Ryn Hooper.
The final Lady Knights run came home in the sixth, when Caylor flew out to plate Williams. Hiwassee Dam/Ranger had scored its other three runs in the top-half of the frame, on a pair of wild pitches and a throwing error.
Caylor posted a complete-game effort inside the circle, striking out six Lady Eagles hopefuls.
The victory came after Robbinsville spoiled the Copper Basin (Tenn.) Lady Cougars’ undefeated campaign April 22, when the Lady Knights won 11-5; and swept Andrews in a doubleheader Friday: 15-0, 16-2.
Black Knights
Robbinsville had to rally to pick up its second win of the season. Down 4-1 as they entered the bottom of the sixth, the Knights strung together a four-run chapter to pull back ahead. Luke Lovin sat down the first two Eagles batters via strikeout in the seventh and though Hiwassee Dam/Ranger fielded a baserunner – following an error – a groundout cut the rally short.
The Black Knights dropped their trip to Copper Basin, 4-3.
Lovin went six innings on the hill, mowing down 12 Cougars in the process. Deacon Hyde had a 2-hit afternoon, while Peyton Brooks recorded an RBI.
In Friday’s doubleheader, Robbinsville was swept by Andrews: 15-0, 15-0.