SMCBaseball

As Cole Patterson hoists Christian Phillips in the air Monday, Graylen Orr (right) walks by to congratulate Phillips on his extra-inning, walk-off single against Andrews on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

As Cole Patterson hoists Christian Phillips in the air Monday, Graylen Orr (right) walks by to congratulate Phillips on his extra-inning, walk-off single against Andrews on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Dancin’ in the streets

Robbinsville – It was a wild win, but a victory nonetheless. Returning home to host Andrews in a pivotal Smoky Mountain Conference game Monday, Robbinsville blew a seventh-inning lead, but rallied to keep its playoff hopes alive by defeating the Wildcats 6-5 in eight innings.
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.

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.
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.
Kade Garrison waits to apply the tag to Rosman’s Aaron Eubanks during March 10’s home game. Photo courtesy of Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Kade Garrison waits to apply the tag to Rosman’s Aaron Eubanks during March 10’s home game. Photo courtesy of Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Errors doom Black Knights

Robbinsville – Stymied by eight errors, the Black Knights were unable to get on a roll Tuesday. Robbinsville (1-3, 0-2) coughed up the ball eight times in the 15-2 home loss to Murphy (4-2, 2-1), in a game where the Knights held an early advantage.
Robbinsville freshman Dayne Webster puts a charge into a pitch during March 10’s home opener against Rosman. Webster’s connection resulted in a solo home run. Photo by Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville freshman Dayne Webster puts a charge into a pitch during March 10’s home opener against Rosman. Webster’s connection resulted in a solo home run. Photo by Raven Rattler/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knights drop home openers

Robbinsville – Starting pitcher Cole Patterson retired the Rosman Tigers in order in the top of the first and the Black Knights entered the second after two batters reached, though with nothing to show for it. Then Rosman scored 11 runs.
Black Knights’ second baseman Cole Patterson prepares to fire to first during June 1’s trip to Rosman. Patterson is one of three seniors returning for Robbinsville this season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights’ second baseman Cole Patterson prepares to fire to first during June 1’s trip to Rosman. Patterson is one of three seniors returning for Robbinsville this season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights set to build off monumental victory

* Robbinsville baseball season preview Coming off a season where the program had arguably its best showing in recent memory, Robbinsville’s varsity baseball team returns three experienced seniors for the 2022 slate.
The Robbinsville Black Knights gather for a celebratory photo after winning the June 10 regular-season finale in Hayesville 12-6. The win ended the Yellow Jackets’ undefeated season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Black Knights gather for a celebratory photo after winning the June 10 regular-season finale in Hayesville 12-6. The win ended the Yellow Jackets’ undefeated season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Giant slayers

Hayesville – Full of emotion, Robbinsville senior Jeb Shuler made an astute observation after the June 10 upset over the then-No. 1 ranked 1A team in North Carolina.  “They didn’t really have anything to play for. We did.”  He hit the nail on the head.
Cole Patterson makes sure that Cavan Reed’s clever attempt to avoid the tag is unsuccessful, during Tuesday’s home, regular-season finale against Cherokee. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Cole Patterson makes sure that Cavan Reed’s clever attempt to avoid the tag is unsuccessful, during Tuesday’s home, regular-season finale against Cherokee. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Have bats, will score

Robbinsville – In a miraculous transformation, the Knights came out of a 20-minute rain delay Tuesday to score eight runs. Robbinsville (6-7, 6-7) trailed Cherokee 2-1 in the bottom of the second, when a weather delay halted the game.