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With classmate Bryc Garrison backing him up, Graylen Orr watches Thomasville sophomore Mkyel Duncan slide underneath for an attempted stolen base during the first round of the playoffs May 8. Both teams were unaccustomed to playing on an artificial infield, so Duncan overshot the bag and Orr tagged him out moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

With classmate Bryc Garrison backing him up, Graylen Orr watches Thomasville sophomore Mkyel Duncan slide underneath for an attempted stolen base during the first round of the playoffs May 8. Both teams were unaccustomed to playing on an artificial infield, so Duncan overshot the bag and Orr tagged him out moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Winners in a losing game

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
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.

One for the road

Kevin Hensley
Friday, May 10, 2024
Thirteen years. Robbinsville can wait one more day. Heavy rainfall across the state Monday flooded the field that was set to host the Black Knights’ first postseason game since 2011.
Robbinsville head coach Brent Icenhower goes over strategy with the Black Knights in-between innings at May 1's home game against Murphy. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Robbinsville head coach Brent Icenhower goes over strategy with the Black Knights in-between innings at May 1's home game against Murphy. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Black Knights embark on first playoff run since 2011

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
High Point -- The groundswell of popularity garnered by the Black Knights this year propelled Robbinsville into the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Senior Bryc Garrison leads off during Friday’s game with Hayesville. Garrison swiped two bases in the contest to become Robbinsville’s new record holder for most stolen bases in a single season. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior Bryc Garrison leads off during Friday’s game with Hayesville. Garrison swiped two bases in the contest to become Robbinsville’s new record holder for most stolen bases in a single season. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Show must go on

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Robbinsville – Friday’s 7-2 loss to Hayesville effectively halted Robbinsville’s quest for its first-ever Smoky Mountain Conference championship. That’s the bad news.
Luke Lovin earned his first win of the year April 18 against Rosman, posting 6 ⅔ innings of work against the Tigers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Luke Lovin earned his first win of the year April 18 against Rosman, posting 6 ⅔ innings of work against the Tigers. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Round 1 goes to the Jackets

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Hayesville – On the surface, everything that the Black Knights have clawed and scraped at this season was lost Monday. Nothing could be further from the truth – there’s still a lot of baseball and a lot of scenarios that could easily play out in Robbinsville’s favor.
Graylen Orr improved to 5-0 on the year Tuesday, tossing 5 ⅓ innings in Robbinsville’s 10-1 road victory at Hiwassee Dam. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Graylen Orr improved to 5-0 on the year Tuesday, tossing 5 ⅓ innings in Robbinsville’s 10-1 road victory at Hiwassee Dam. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Both Orrs in the water

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Ethan Orr walked back into the home dugout on cloud nine April 2, moments after he launched his third long ball of the year. Tuesday at Hiwassee Dam, Orr unloaded home run No. 4.
Senior southpaw Ethan Orr tossed a complete game Friday, striking out 10 Wildcats to give Robbinsville its fifth conference win of the year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior southpaw Ethan Orr tossed a complete game Friday, striking out 10 Wildcats to give Robbinsville its fifth conference win of the year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Playoffs?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Chase Calhoun celebrates after roping the go-ahead RBI single Friday at Andrews. Andrews – Entering spring break, the Robbinsville baseball program is in fine shape to not only break a 13-year playoff drought, but contend for a conference title.
There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Mediocrity goes out the window

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Robbinsville – Every season begins with some sense of optimism. Even if a team is the flat-out pits, there’s always a bright spot to be found. Pitching is young, but will improve with reps. We’re striking out a lot, but we’re taking good cuts at the plate.
Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Ethan Orr blanked 10 Cherokee batters in March 21’s 9-2 victory; while Quinn Jumper (12) tripled home the winning runs in Monday’s 10-8 win at Swain County. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Series of fortunate events

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Bryson City – It was a game the Black Knights wanted back. Badly.
Tytan Teesateskie continued his hot start at the varsity level last week, with the junior first baseman driving in four of Robbinsville’s runs amid a 13-3 rout of the visiting Copper Basin Cougars. To help compliment Graylen Orr’s dominant starts this year, Teesateskie has drove in seven runs during Robbinsville’s first two wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tytan Teesateskie continued his hot start at the varsity level last week, with the junior first baseman driving in four of Robbinsville’s runs amid a 13-3 rout of the visiting Copper Basin Cougars. To help compliment Graylen Orr’s dominant starts this year, Teesateskie has drove in seven runs during Robbinsville’s first two wins. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Batters provide few answers for senior deliveryman

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Robbinsville – Through his first three starts of the season, Graylen Orr has left hitters mystified — more often than not, returning to the dugout in short order.