El Dorado Hills, Calif. – By the time Ella Nelms reaches her senior year, she will have enough awards on-paper to overwhelm a reader.
The vaunted Robbinsville pitcher has already loaded down her toolbelt with a wide array of success, including the distinctions of Smoky Mountain Conference Pitcher of the Year; MVP of the 1A state championship series; and 1A All-State Pitcher of the Year.
Her talents are being noticed at the national level, as well. MaxPreps released its Small Town All-Americans list Friday, which limits the roster to just 36 softball players across the United States. To qualify, a student-athlete must compete for a school with an enrollment under 1,000 and in a municipality with a population less than 10,000.
Nelms received a spot on the Second Team, after doling out 228 strikeouts during her freshman year. She posted a record of 22-0 and an ERA of 0.29, which included two perfect games; six no-hitters; and 11 complete games across all 22 of her starts. Nelms surrendered just 35 hits and one home run – which came in the waning moments of the state-title game – while issuing just 24 free passes.
She also backed up the hype at the plate, batting .509 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
Nelms was the only North Carolina player on the roster. M.K. McMullan of Orange Beach (Ala.) received top billing on the list, after tossing 15 scoreless innings and driving in five runs for the Makos in the final three games of the 4A state championship. She won 30 consecutive games and concluded the year with a 0.44 ERA.
The Lady Knights went 27-2 in 2026, capturing the program's first state championship and 19th divisional title in the process.
The Graham Star is currently working on a commemorative magazine, to celebrate Robbinsville's milestone season. For more details, call 828-479-3383.