Knights exit playoffs in 2nd round
Robbinsville – South Stokes cannot reclassify to a 2A program quickly enough.
The Lady Knights' hopes of a state championship will have to wait at least one more year, as the Sauras made their third trip in five seasons to Robbinsville on Friday and halted the Knights' playoff run by emerging with a 7-5 win at Judy Nichols Memorial Field.
"Early in the game, we show signs of how youthful we are," said Robbinsville head coach Billy Knight. "We settled down and got ourselves together, and we gave ourselves a chance to win the game.
"I'll give credit to South Stokes; they made us make plays and they had some big hits in big situations."
South Stokes (No. 14, 17-8) jumpstarted the duel right off the bat, as pitcher Marissa Crandall boosted her own cause by scoring on an error. Olivia Martin followed by sprinting home on a groundout moments later.
Robbinsville (No. 3, 17-4) generated its first response when Naomi Taylor homered to lead off the bottom of the second. The Sauras continued to play small ball and got the run back – plus some insurance – in their half of the third, when Ryleigh Pinnix flew out to bring in Crandall. Makenna Flinchum grounded out during the next at-bat, scoring Martin.
The game was brought back to even ground in the bottom of the frame, when Sophie Roberts singled to drive in Kynadee Spencer. Suri Watty followed with a double to usher home courtesy runner Anna Williams, before Presley Caylor singled to bring in Watty and knot the affair at 4-4.
South Stokes pulled back ahead for good in the fourth, when Lily Jacobs scored on a one-out error and and Tessa Brim dashed across on a Rebecca Amos groundout. The Sauras padded their advantage further in the fifth, when Martin launched a solo homer to begin the segment.
Robbinsville's final offensive gasp came in the bottom of the sixth, as Sydney Adams flew out to drive in Daphne Barlow. The Lady Knights brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but a groundout ended the rally bid.
Martin was a thorn in the side of Robbinsville throughout the afternoon, as the Sauras senior went 3-for-4. Crandall had a 2-for-2 evening at the dish, while striking out two batters in three innings of work. Abbagail Eaton picked up the win for South Stokes, tossing four innings of relief.
Both Caylor and Watty were 3-for-4 at the dish. Spencer doubled, while Taylor struck out three hopefuls in the game.
Knight reflected on the effort of seniors Taylor and Olivia Lewis, while looking ahead to the stacked roster that returns in 2026.
"We missed Olivia today," Knight said, as Lewis was receiving a diploma from Tri-County Early College at the same time Friday's game was being contested. "You can win games in that dugout as well as you can on the field. She's one of the best teammates I've ever coached; that's how she'll be remembered.
"Naomi came here three years ago and was maybe on her way out of softball. She gained a little confidence, found a program that believed in her and found people that cared about her. Watching her blossom, grow up as a young woman and have a great high school career has been awesome. The good news for her is, she doesn't have to quit playing."
"I can't say enough about this bunch. Eight consecutive conference titles is very impressive and with the realignment next year, we'll have a chance to keep doing what we've been doing."
The Sauras are 3-0 this decade against Robbinsville, ending the Lady Knights' postseason journey in the first round of the 2021 playoffs and the third round of the 2022 chase.
South Stokes returned to Western North Carolina for the third round after Wednesday’s press deadline, as Swain County (No. 11, 17-5) hosted the Sauras following a 12-1 walloping of Cherryville (No. 6, 14-10) on Friday.