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Robbinsville’s Fala Welch, Ryn Hooper, Anna Williams, Aubrie Wachacha, Olivia Lewis and Abby Adams (from left) celebrate after the tying run scored in the bottom of the second of May 11’s playoff game against Elkin. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Fala Welch, Ryn Hooper, Anna Williams, Aubrie Wachacha, Olivia Lewis and Abby Adams (from left) celebrate after the tying run scored in the bottom of the second of May 11’s playoff game against Elkin. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Elks bucked out of postseason

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights were subjected to a scrappy dogfight in round two of the state playoffs, hosting the No. 19-seeded Elkin Buckin’ Elks on May 11. Robbinsville ultimately prevailed 6-4, in a game that reads like the truest definition of a “team” win.
Freshman Lady Knight Anna Williams turns on a pitch during May 11's home playoff game against Elkin. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Freshman Lady Knight Anna Williams turns on a pitch during May 11's home playoff game against Elkin. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights continue postseason run

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights ran into a Division I-committed pitcher and a potent Union Academy offense in the third round of the state playoffs Wednesday, as Gracie Hollingsworth both homered and struck out 11 Robbinsville batters in a 10-1 loss on Judy Nichols Memorial Field. Robbinsville (No.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights relish in the moment after winning their 14th Smoky Mountain Conference title Saturday at Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights relish in the moment after winning their 14th Smoky Mountain Conference title Saturday at Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Legacy continues

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 15, 2023
Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips could not contain her excitement after donning the team’s “home run hat” Friday.
Memory Frapp, Claire Barlow and Zoie Shuler (from left) ripped a combined four homers in Friday’s 12-1 win over Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Memory Frapp, Claire Barlow and Zoie Shuler (from left) ripped a combined four homers in Friday’s 12-1 win over Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Fate rests in their hands

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 1, 2023
Robbinsville – If Tuesday’s game is any indicator, the Lady Knights are going to have to work extra hard to retain their monopoly on the Smoky Mountain Conference championship.
All Smoky Mountain senior Bailey Cloer (8) could do was watch as outfielders madly attempted to field a ball driven to the outer reaches by Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips. Phillips doubled on the second-inning drive and recorded her Knights-leading fifth triple at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Bentley Riggs/Contributing Photographer

All Smoky Mountain senior Bailey Cloer (8) could do was watch as outfielders madly attempted to field a ball driven to the outer reaches by Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips. Phillips doubled on the second-inning drive and recorded her Knights-leading fifth triple at Andrews on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Bentley Riggs/Contributing Photographer

‘Re-build’ ahead of schedule

Kevin Hensley
Friday, April 21, 2023
Robbinsville – This was supposed to be the rebuilding year. The Lady Knights graduated eight seniors (six of which started) and had just two when the season began – Kensley Phillips and Fala Welch. Both combined for exactly one at-bat in 2022. Sure, the core threats were still on the roster.
Lady Knights junior Memory Frapp improved to 6-0 on the season April 6, flirting with a no-no while striking out seven Lady Devils in a five-inning, 11-0 rout over Swain County. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights junior Memory Frapp improved to 6-0 on the season April 6, flirting with a no-no while striking out seven Lady Devils in a five-inning, 11-0 rout over Swain County. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Committed to Memory

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Robbinsville – She smacked a hit past the outstretched gloves of infielders and outfielders alike. A run scored. Junior pitcher Memory Frapp had aided her own cause, giving herself and the Lady Knights a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior ace Memory Frapp struck out seven Cherokee batters to aid Robbinsville’s thumping of the Lady Braves on Friday. Photos by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights split bill with Braves, Jets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Cherokee – Less than 24 hours removed from a tough loss, Robbinsville did what it does best: the Knights shook off the effects of the defeat. It just so happened that Robbinsville (8-2, 5-0) had a short road trip to Cherokee (5-4, 2-4) on the books Friday.
Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Fala Welch – shown recording an RBI on March 20 at Copper Basin, Tenn. – posted another scoring single in Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Cherokee. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights rolling through conference

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Robbinsville – Even though March 23’s home appointment with Swain County was rained out, it seems that no one – beyond Mother Nature – can dampen the Lady Knights.
Despite the chilly elements Robbinsville has played in recently, Memory Frapp has warmed up at the plate. The junior unleashed home runs in back-to-back games last week. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Despite the chilly elements Robbinsville has played in recently, Memory Frapp has warmed up at the plate. The junior unleashed home runs in back-to-back games last week. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

These girls can rake

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Robbinsville – Through seven games, they have outscored their foes 85-39; ran up a team average of .393 at the plate; homered five times; and have collectively posted five triples. And pundits were concerned that the Lady Knights might have an off year.
Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips has already sprinted to three triples in the first four games of the year. She is batting .312 this season. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Lady Knights senior Kensley Phillips has already sprinted to three triples in the first four games of the year. She is batting .312 this season. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Wild conference opener goes to Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Murphy – After Tuesday’s duel in Cherokee County, the Lady Knights Fast Pitch Softball Facebook page posted this quick update about the outcome, which might be the most apt descriptor of the proceedings: “A-maybe-not-so-pretty-but-thankful-to-have-a-win kind of game today.