CopperBasin

Prior to May 11’s game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Robbinsville Middle School recognized its 8th-grade baseball players. From left are Cody Crisp, Zander Davis, Tucker Jones and Slade Freeman. Not pictured are Levi Roberts and Sawyer Hogsed. Photo courtesy of Adam Brooks/Robbinsville Middle School Baseball

Prior to May 11’s game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Robbinsville Middle School recognized its 8th-grade baseball players. From left are Cody Crisp, Zander Davis, Tucker Jones and Slade Freeman. Not pictured are Levi Roberts and Sawyer Hogsed. Photo courtesy of Adam Brooks/Robbinsville Middle School Baseball

Middle school wraps up baseball, softball seasons

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Robbinsville – It was certainly a unique finish for Robbinsville Middle School’s baseball and softball programs this year. The Black Knights stampeded the Martins Creek Hornets 20-2 on May 10, securing their first win of the season in the penultimate game of the campaign.
Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Junior Graylen Orr picked up his fifth win of the season Tuesday, posting a complete-game effort in Robbinsville’s 5-3 win over Hiwassee Dam. Photo by Montana Buchanan/The Graham Star

Quite a pickle

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 1, 2023
Robbinsville – Just one week ago, the Black Knights were eyeing a return to the .500 mark. But after a tough 3-game skid ended with a victory in Game 2 of a doubleheader with Hiwassee Dam, Robbinsville is simply trying to tread water and hope for the best.
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.
The Robbinsville Black Knights have good reason to smile: the team has recently put together its first winning streak of the season. Graylen Orr (2) struck out 10 Copper Basin batters in just four innings of work Monday, as Robbinsville made the streak official with an 8-7 win over the Cougars. Clockwise from Orr are Bryc Garrison, head coach Brent Icenhower, Lathan Buchanan, Alex Knight, Caleb Turpin, Quinn Jumper, Preston Phillips, Ethan Orr and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Black Knights have good reason to smile: the team has recently put together its first winning streak of the season. Graylen Orr (2) struck out 10 Copper Basin batters in just four innings of work Monday, as Robbinsville made the streak official with an 8-7 win over the Cougars. Clockwise from Orr are Bryc Garrison, head coach Brent Icenhower, Lathan Buchanan, Alex Knight, Caleb Turpin, Quinn Jumper, Preston Phillips, Ethan Orr and Bryce Adams. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Have yourself a day, kid

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Robbinsville – He was a one-man wrecking crew. At the outset of Monday’s home game against Copper Basin, Tenn., Black Knights junior Graylen Orr had just 16 strikeouts across four starts.
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.
After Tuesday’s games against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger, Robbinsville Middle School recognized its eighth-grade baseball and softball athletes. For the Lady Knights: Anna Williams (left) and Ryn Hooper. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

After Tuesday’s games against Hiwassee Dam/Ranger, Robbinsville Middle School recognized its eighth-grade baseball and softball athletes. For the Lady Knights: Anna Williams (left) and Ryn Hooper. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Knights looking to finish strong

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County’s middle school baseball and softball programs ended the home portion of their season in strong fashion.
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

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 28, 2022
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.
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

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 21, 2022
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

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Robbinsville – As head coach Brent Icenhower astutely put it afterward, “We finally put together a full game.
Robbinsville senior Ally Ayers (left) and sophomore Zoie Shuler aired out a pair of homers in Monday’s 14-1 win over Copper Basin, Tenn. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Ally Ayers (left) and sophomore Zoie Shuler aired out a pair of homers in Monday’s 14-1 win over Copper Basin, Tenn. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Hits just keep comin’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 18, 2022
Robbinsville – Head coach Billy Knight had seen enough. Robbinsville’s skipper gathered his infield for a mid-third inning chat Monday, after the Lady Knights – with three seniors around the horn – had committed two errors in the frame. Whatever Knight said worked.