Memory Frapp
It’s only fitting that all six of Robbinsville’s All-Smoky Mountain Conference softball players can display their resumes at the district level.
Released in late June, the N.C. Softball Coaches Association’s District 8 team includes Presley Caylor, Memory Frapp, Sophie Roberts, Zoie Shuler, Naomi Taylor and Suri Watty – each vital components in the machine that drove the Lady Knights to the 1A Western Regional finals.
Seniors Frapp and Shuler also collected a final pair of individual accolades, as the duo were recognized as the district’s respective Pitcher and Player of the Year.
Frapp delivered a 14-2 record inside the circle this season, recording a 2.32 ERA and 99 strikeouts.
She capped her run as a Lady Knights with an overall record of 49-9, a career ERA of 2.11 and three no-hitters. Frapp also surpassed Jerri Anna Roper (2016-19) for the program’s all-time strikeout record, finishing with 390.
Shuler will soon report to the University of Tennessee to begin her collegiate journey on the diamond, but left a number of marks in the Knights’ record books in her own right. In 2024 alone, she batted .593, launched 11 home runs and brought home 31 RBI. She also stole 44 bases.
There’s also Shuler’s contributions to the history books. The 11 home runs is a new Robbinsville standard, as she tied with Roberts during 2024 in that department.
Standalone records include career home runs at Robbinsville (31), stolen bases (117), RBI (123) and runs scored (68, which also set a state record for all classifications).
At the hot corner, Caylor had a .359 average, one home run and 16 RBI; as a pitcher, she went 2-1, with a 3.97 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
A newcomer to Robbinsville in 2024, Roberts fit right into the thick of the program’s expectations.
Alternating between catcher and designated player, she batted .440, with 11 homers and a team-high 41 RBI.
Taylor hit three home runs against A.C. Reynolds on April 10, eventually finishing the campaign with a .365 average and 18 RBI. Her work off the rubber resulted in an 8-1 record, with a 2.80 ERA and 45 strikeouts. She manned first base when not on pitching duty.
Watty stepped away from her role as a pitcher and zeroed in on handling second base. Batting second in the line-up, she recorded a .415 average with 10 doubles and 39 RBI.
The scary part is that of the four returning All-District players, only Taylor will be a senior.
Robbinsville qualified for the 1A Western Regional finals for just the second time in school history, finishing the year 24-4 and atop the divisional standings for the 16th time.
The association’s District 8 covers 17 counties in Western North Carolina. Cherokee and Swain County were the only other Smoky Mountain Conference schools to have players appointed to the All-District list: Paytyn Barker, Jenna Cruz, Amila Lossie and Aaliyah Reed for the Lady Braves, as well as Kennedy Anthony, Rylee Rawls, Carley Teesateskie and Faith Woodard from the Devils.