Mountaineers conquered

Lady Knights dismantle first-round opposition

Robbinsville – The Lady Knights spent more time scoring runs in the bottom of the first Tuesday than the visitors did warming up for the game.

Another victim of the Corridor K project along Sweetwater Road, Mitchell arrived at Judy Nichols Memorial Field just 30 minutes before first pitch for a first-round playoff game with Robbinsville and started taking infield 15 minutes later. Once the action got underway, the Mountaineers got their only base hit of the day – a one-out single, courtesy of Zaiden Ayers – but ended up leaving her stranded.

Mitchell would not have another batter for at least 30 minutes thereafter, thanks to an outpour from the Lady Knights that saw 19 batters come to the plate; 14 runs score on 14 hits; and a run that ended with the first out finally recorded after Robbinsville had batted around. The outcome was in the books from there, as the Knights sent the Mountaineers packing in three innings, 15-0.

Back-to-back errors in right field helped Robbinsville (No. 3, 17-3) score its first two runs, with Kynadee Spencer and courtesy runner Khaygen Buchanan both sprinting home in the chaos. Presley Caylor followed with an RBI single to drive in Ella Atwell, before Naomi Taylor and Daphne Barlow roped consecutive singles to load the bases.

Lexie Williams and Sydney Adams followed by smacking a pair of two-run doubles, before Anna Williams doubled in Adams for the Knights' eighth run. Spencer and Sophie Roberts connected for a duo of run-scoring singles, while Taylor later roped a hit to usher home Buchanan.

Two batters later, Lexie Williams picked up her third RBI of the frame with a single that scored Caylor. Anna Williams went on to drive in two more on a two-out hit, before Spencer flew out to finally conclude the first inning.

Robbinsville finished off Mitchell (No. 30, 7-13) in the bottom of the third, when pinch hitter Loxley Burke drove in Barlow on a single. Inside the circle, Taylor improved to 11-2 on the season. She struck out four of the seven batters she faced, before Caylor stepped in for the third and fanned a pair of Mountaineer hopefuls.

The Lady Knights advanced to the second round and will enter the field Friday with a massive chip on their shoulder, as Robbinsville is scheduled to host South Stokes (No. 14, 16-8). The Sauras recently ended the Knights' playoff runs in both the first round of the 2021 postseason, as well as the third round of the 2022 bracket. The game will be live-streamed through grahamstarsports.com. A start time had not been announced by Wednesday’s press deadline.

Brave finale

Cherokee – The Knights thrived in their season finale May 1 as well, polishing off their 17th Smoky Mountain Conference trophy with a six-inning, 12-1 win at Cherokee (6-8).

Taylor launched a homer in the game, while Caylor and Atwell both doubled. Along with the latter, Lexie Williams had a two-RBI performance and Caylor posted three hits.

Caylor (4-1) also pitched a complete game, striking out five Lady Braves.

1st Round SMC Playoff Scoreboard

Baseball

* Hayesville (No. 8, 13-8) blanked Mitchell (No. 25, 12-12), 3-0;

* Murphy (No. 29, 8-12) fell to North Stokes (No. 4, 20-7), 7-1;

* Swain County (No. 23, 12-8) upset Piedmont Community Charter (No. 10, 11-14), 13-2.

Softball

* Cherokee (No. 23, 6-8) stunned South Davidson (No. 10, 12-7), 19-4;

* Hiwassee Dam (No. 16, 9-8) was beat by South Stanly (No. 17, 13-13), 9-2;

* Murphy (No. 12, 14-7) shutout Cornerstone Charter (No. 21, 7-13), 12-0;

* Robbinsville (No. 3, 17-3) defeated Mitchell (No. 30, 7-13), 15-0;

* Swain County (No. 11, 16-5) downed Mountain Heritage (No. 22, 5-11), 6-2.