Robbinsville softball retain conference title
Robbinsville – Another year, another divisional championship for the Lady Knights.
The most-consistent program in North Carolina high school softball added to its dynasty Friday, knocking off Swain County 9-1 on Judy Nichols Memorial Field to win its ninth-straight Smoky Mountain Conference championship – and its 18th overall.
Robbinsville (20-2, 13-0) through in the bottom of the second, when Khaygen Buchanan beat out an infield single to score Sydney Adams. Kynadee Spencer followed suit by roping a hit to plate Ella Atwell.
In the home half of the third, Anna Williams singled to bring home Myah Winfrey and Atwell. Daphne Barlow launched a two-run homer in the fifth – with Suri Watty touching the plate just ahead of Barlow – before the Lady Knights polished off its offense flurry in the sixth, when Sophie Roberts cleared the bases on a three-run single that ushered Buchanan, Watty and Barlow across the dish.
Robbinsville's defense kept Swain County (15-4, 10-2) at-bay for the majority of the affair – including a rarely-seen triple play in the top of the fourth. Barlow snagged a line drive off the bat of Daisy Frizzell, before touching second base to double up Molly Woodard and firing to Winfrey at first in time to tag out courtesy runner Allie Stevenson. All told, the visitors stranded nine baserunners.
The Lady Devils cast their only response in the top of the seventh, when Hadley Shuler flew out to drive in courtesy runner McKenzie Bird.
Other action
The Knights traveled to Konehete Park on Monday, rallying in the sixth to defeat Murphy (11-7, 9-4), 2-1.
The hosts broke the monotony in the bottom of the fifth, when Grace Moore grounded out to bring in Jenna Cook. Watty tied the game on an RBI single that brought Buchanan around to score, before Robbinsville went ahead for good when pinch runner Lexie Williams touched the plate in the aftermath of a Barlow hit.
Spencer improved to 4-1 on the year in the victory, going the distance and striking out two Lady Bulldogs.
Robbinsville was unable to dent the scoreboard in its return battle with Kings Mountain (18-3) on April 22, dropping a 10-0 home outing to split the season series with the Lady Mountaineers.
Watty doubled in the game, but that proved to be the lone extra-base hit for the Lady Knights. Buchanan, Loxley Burke and Williams were responsible for Robbinsville's other hits in the defeat.
Watty struck out one in her first start of the season.