Sports

Patience (left) and Memory Frapp made up the Robbinsville battery April 13, in a 7-1 win over Copper Basin. The game was played at Young Harris College. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Patience (left) and Memory Frapp made up the Robbinsville battery April 13, in a 7-1 win over Copper Basin. The game was played at Young Harris College. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

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.
Robbinsville senior Carson White fanned eight Cherokee batters April 7, hurling a complete-game effort to stipend Robbinsville’s 15-5 win over the Braves. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Robbinsville senior Carson White fanned eight Cherokee batters April 7, hurling a complete-game effort to stipend Robbinsville’s 15-5 win over the Braves. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Black Knights dismantle Cherokee

Robbinsville – As head coach Brent Icenhower astutely put it afterward, “We finally put together a full game.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights and the Enka Sugar Jets gathered to commemorate the opportunity to play at the Catamount Softball Complex on Monday. Enka would prevail in six innings, 11-1. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights and the Enka Sugar Jets gathered to commemorate the opportunity to play at the Catamount Softball Complex on Monday. Enka would prevail in six innings, 11-1. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Bigger picture

Cullowhee – With the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly in the rearview mirror, Robbinsville skipper Billy Knight deemed it time to revive what was once a yearly tradition.
Robbinsville Middle School catcher Dreylee Webster applies the tag to a Swain County runner Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle School catcher Dreylee Webster applies the tag to a Swain County runner Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights fall to Swain

Robbinsville – The only team to disrupt an otherwise-perfect season for the Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights has been Swain County.
Robbinsville senior Sarah Gibby became the latest Lady Knight to smash a home run this season Fridday. Her career first at Swain County was a memorable one: a grand slam in the top of the third. Gibby finished the day with six RBIs, as the Lady Knights prevailed 14-1. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville High School Softball

Robbinsville senior Sarah Gibby became the latest Lady Knight to smash a home run this season Fridday. Her career first at Swain County was a memorable one: a grand slam in the top of the third. Gibby finished the day with six RBIs, as the Lady Knights prevailed 14-1. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville High School Softball

Grand Gibby

Bryson City – In a season where one team has already posted 11 home runs through its first 10 games, it is certainly a tall ask for someone to stand out from the pack. But Sarah Gibby cracked that code Friday.

Quick strike wraps up road loss

Bryson City – The game was over before it really had time to start. In the second matchup of the week between Robbinsville (1-7, 0-6) and Swain County (6-3, 5-1), the Maroon Devils brought 18 runs across the plate in the bottom of the first.
A section of stepped trail, just beyond this bridge and to the left, was damaged during a storm and forced the closure of half of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest’s most popular hiking trail. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

A section of stepped trail, just beyond this bridge and to the left, was damaged during a storm and forced the closure of half of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest’s most popular hiking trail. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Work to restore Joyce Kilmer trail expected this summer

Slickrock – It’s a short stretch of trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, but with a big impact. Storm damage last year forced the U.S. Forest Service to block one end of the most popular hiking trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County. Only half of the 1.
In a cloud of dust, middle school Lady Knight Daphne Barlow slides under the tag during Tuesday’s road loss to Swain County. Photo courtesy of Tyffany Hicks/Contributing Photographer

In a cloud of dust, middle school Lady Knight Daphne Barlow slides under the tag during Tuesday’s road loss to Swain County. Photo courtesy of Tyffany Hicks/Contributing Photographer

1 win, 1 loss

Martins Creek – It took a few games to bring it all together, but the middle school Black Knights finally moved into the win column Friday. In a road trip to Martins Creek, Robbinsville (1-3) knocked off the Hornets 5-2, thanks in part to a well-rounded afternoon from Rylen Orr.
Robbinsville’s Bryc Garrison had two hits and scored a run in the Knights’ loss to Swain County on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Bryc Garrison had two hits and scored a run in the Knights’ loss to Swain County on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights searching for answers

Robbinsville – After beginning the season with a victory, the Black Knights are still looking for win No. 2.
Robbinsville continues to pulverize the ball, with three Lady Knights launching long balls Monday at Hayesville. From left are Halee Anderson, Patience Frapp – who hit two – and Memory Frapp. Photo courtesy of Susan Crowe

Robbinsville continues to pulverize the ball, with three Lady Knights launching long balls Monday at Hayesville. From left are Halee Anderson, Patience Frapp – who hit two – and Memory Frapp. Photo courtesy of Susan Crowe

Breakin’ stitches

Hayesville – Four home runs and a no-hitter. In a season where Robbinsville has a team average of .420 – while one pitcher has a 1.33 ERA and 50 strikeouts – Monday’s blowout at Hayesville (2-3, 0-3) should come as no surprise.