Black Knights fall in first playoff appearance in 13 years
High Point – The return to the playoffs Wednesday was perhaps the program’s best showing in years – even though the Knights fell victim to a no-hitter.
Robbinsville (No. 24, 10-8) simply could not solve the riddle of Thomasville sophomore Travail Barns, who struck out 10 Black Knights to help lift the Bulldogs to a 1-0 win at Truist Point Park in High Point.
“It was a heck of a season,” said Robbinsville head coach Brent Icenhower. “We were limited on numbers; had injuries and kids stepped up. I told them after the game, ‘This isn’t one to hang your head over.’ People would pay good money to watch a ball game like this.
“Even though we lost 1-0, it was a competitive ball game. We didn’t beat ourselves. I’ll take that.”
Thomasville (No. 9, 12-11) manufactured the only run of the game in the bottom of the second, when Matthew Bankhead roped a leadoff triple and found his way home on a Bryan Serrano-Rodriguez single moments later.
With ice in his veins, however, Robbinsville senior Ethan Orr (4-5) refused to cave in and had left Bulldogs scattered all over the basepath when the inning concluded. Orr dueled Barns all night, striking out eight batters of his own and surrendering just four hits while going the distance.
The Knights only reached base twice in the loss, when Avery Webster drew a one-out walk in the second and Quinn Jumper secured a free pass that extended the outcome in the seventh.
Chase Calhoun rounded first on an error to begin the third, but overslid second while trying to extend his sprint on the completely-artificial infield. Jumper went on to catch a pair of Thomasville runners stealing to end a pair of back-to-back frames, as Owen Callicutt and Mkyel Duncan fell susceptible to the same misfortune to conclude the fourth and fifth innings.
The game was played at the home of the High Point Rockers on a one-day delay, after Thomasville’s home turf (Finch Field) incurred heavy rainfall Monday afternoon. A thunderstorm in the area Wednesday pushed back the start time 20 minutes.
Reflections
Though the season ended with a playoff loss, the Robbinsville Black Knights have plenty to hang their hats on.
The team clawed out of the Smoky Mountain Conference cellar, finishing third this year. A spot in the postseason was clinched for the first time since 2011 and ten wins were recorded on the campaign – a tally not seen in 14 years. Bryc Garrison also set a new single-season stolen base mark, swiping 25 bases in 2024.
Most of all, Robbinsville captured the attention of the community in a manner not seen in years. Interest in the sport has been reinvigorated, proving once again that success can be a draw.
“This year helped Robbinsville baseball,” Icenhower said.
“The community got excited about baseball. It’s going in the right direction.”
Icenhower also touted his talented senior class – Chase Calhoun, Bryc Garrison, Ethan Orr and Graylen Orr – which provided the right mixture of positive chemistry for a team that had been through a lengthy stretch of negativity.
“Ethan’s the hardest working kid I’ve had,” said Icenhower. “Losing him and Graylen on the mound is two tough pitchers to replace. Graylen got the ball out of the glove quicker than any kid I’ve ever coached. Bryc is definitely one of the best baserunners I’ve ever coached. I’d give anything if I had Chase three years ago. He has great hand-to-eye contact.
“I’m so proud of these boys. This has been a great season.”