Sister, sister

Young Harris, Ga. – Any fan of Lady Knights softball has undoubtedly watched the familiar duo of Patience and Memory Frapp grow into impactful parts of the program over the last two years.

But even though they have grown up under the same roof, the combination of senior Patience and sophomore Memory are still managing to achieve new accomplishments in their young life.

Such was the case April 13. Robbinsville traveled across state lines to face Copper Basin (Tenn.), in a neutral-site game at Young Harris College in Georgia. Nestled between Hiwassee and Blairsville, the NCAA Division II-campus was the second opportunity in three days for the Lady Knights to experience playing on a college field.

And when the line-up card was issued, Patience had received the nod as the starting pitcher. When this scenario arises, Memory normally swaps with Patience and plays third base.

Instead, Memory was tasked with donning catcher’s gear and taking her spot behind the plate – something she had not done since she was eight.

“I definitely thought that it was a very cool experience, getting to pitch to my little sister,” said Patience. “Memory has many talents and is very gifted at playing softball. I think it made her shine even more, to show everyone that she can literally play anywhere.”

“It seemed like it brought some excitement to the team and coaches, and also a lot of excitement to me and my sister to be able to watch the sister duo,” Memory added.

The siblings – natives of Shawnee, Okla. – had never played on the same team before moving east. And teams in the Smoky Mountain Conference were almost faced with seeing them in another uniform … until some keen advice steered them from neighboring Swain County to Graham.

But over the last two seasons, Patience and Memory has been the respective model of both excitement and consistency within the Lady Knights’ program.

And the special opportunity to play together is not lost on the duo.

“I think having the opportunity to play with my big sister and see her by my side is something I will cherish forever,” said Memory. “When I think no one believes in me, she reminds me that I can do anything.

“It is so special to me and affects how I play my game.”

The consistency of the sisters inside the circle has been remarkable. Memory emerged as the main gun as a freshman last year, posting a 10-1 record, 72 strikeouts and a 1.66 ERA. During this campaign, she currently has a 7-2 mark, but has already fanned 68 hopefuls en route to a 1.93 ERA.

Patience is 3-0 this year, with a 3.20 ERA and 14 strikeouts on her resume. Against the Lady Cougars, she issued no walks but struck out seven.

And the pair has also made an impact at the plate. Patience went 2-for-3 against Copper Basin, with a single and double. Currently, she’s batting .324 and has homered this year. Meanwhile, Memory boasts a .375 mark and has also hit a home run this season. She hit five last season, which led the squad. Both of their long balls this season came in the same game: March 28 at Hayesville.

“I think it is the best feeling to be by each other’s side, because I am always there to try to encourage Memory when she gets down on herself,” Patience said. “And I know that when I am pitching or at third base – and make a mistake – Memory is always there to remind me to shake it off and move on to the next pitch.

“It has been a special two years, because I have never been so excited to be on the field, especially this year. Sharing the passion we both have for the sport together is a memory that I will never forget, because not a lot of people get to say they played their favorite sport with their favorite sibling.”

Late spark

Until the seventh inning, Robbinsville’s bats had been relatively flat.

Though the Lady Knights carried a 4-1 lead over the Lady Cougars into the inning, Robbinsville (11-2) had yet to record an RBI – a rarity, given its normally-potent offense.

But the final stamp on what would be a 7-1 Knights win was a resounding one: a 2-run homer off the bat of sophomore Zoie Shuler. In addition to her three stolen bases – a team-high on the afternoon – Shuler’s launch carved out the program’s lead in both home runs (four) and RBIs (26 this season.

Robbinsville’s other four runs were scored on fielding miscues by Copper Basin. Both Aynsley Fink (who swiped two bags in the game) and Shuler came home on passed balls in the first, while courtesy runner Abby Adams charged home due to the same snafu in the second. Claire Barlow would cross the dish just before Shuler’s homer on a dropped third strike, when Cougars backstop Taylee Hall made an errant throw to first.

Copper Basin’s only run was a quick response, when Destiny Pittman doubled home Sydney Hickey in the bottom of the first.