Lady Knights Move To 12-2, In Chase Of 5th Straight SMC Title

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Graham County, NC- The Robbinsville Lady Knights have become a perennial powerhouse on the softball field over the last decade, and that success is not waning in 2023. Head Coach Billy Knight has Robbinsville set up perfectly once again to make some moves at the end of the season.

 

The Lady Knights are currently 12-2 overall and undefeated in SMC Conference play. Both of the Knight’s losses have come against the undefeated, 3A Enka Jets, and in one of those games they took the Jets to extra innings.

As a team, the Black Knights are outscoring opponents to the tune of 140-53, and are only allowing 3 runs per game.

University of Tennessee commit Zoie Shuler has been incredible for the Lady Knights all season, as she leads the league in batting average, home runs, OBP, slugging percentage, and stolen bases!

Shuler obviously isn’t the only Knight having a great season, as her teammates Memory Frapp, Suri Watty, and Anna Williams are all batting over .400 on the year. Frapp also leads the Knights on the mound, leading the league in posting a 1.96 ERA to go along with her 8-0 record in the circle.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this team is the fact that they only have 2 seniors on the roster. Kensley Phillips and Fala Welch are the only two upperclassmen on the Robbinsville softball team, and they have done an elite job of leading the younger players on this roster and helping them maintain focus.

Coach Knight and his staff have done great at getting production out of their younger players on the roster, and they’ve got the Lady Knights in prime position to win their fifth consecutive conference title.

The Hiwassee Dam Lady Eagles are the only conference team standing in the Black Knights way of going for a five peat, and those two teams will take the diamond next week for the first time this season.

2023 All-Smoky Mountain Conference Softball Teams

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(Photos courtesy of Joanna McMahan)

The All-Conference Coaches selections for the 2023 softball season have been announced. Congratulations to all of the players and coaches who were honored!

COACH OF THE YEAR: BILLY KNIGHT (ROBBINSVILLE)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: OLIVIA McNABB (HIWASSEE DAM)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ZOIE SHULER (ROBBINSVILLE)

ALL-CONFERENCE
Cherokee: Jenna Cruz
Julia Layno

Hiwassee Dam: Olivia McNabb
Payton McNabb
Kiera Taylor
Allison Stiles

Murphy: Riley Dockery
Jersey Schwalm
Julia Dockery

Robbinsville: Zoie Shuler
Memory Frapp
Suri Watty
Anna Williams
Naomi Taylor

Swain: Carly Teesateskie
Rylee Rawls

HONORABLE MENTION

Andrews: Kinleigh Queen

Cherokee: Paytyn Barker

Hayesville: Lila Roberts
Faith Odell

Hiwassee Dam: Brinkley Payne
Sky Taylor
Katie McNabb

Murphy: Sanai Wilson
Ansley Hogsed

Robbinsville: Kensley Phillips
Liz Carpenter

Swain: Maddie Spates

Robbinsville’s Zoie Shuler Commits To University of Tennessee

TeamFYNSports

Photos from @zoie_shuler Instagram and The University of Tennessee.

 

Graham Co., NC- Robbinsville softball standout Zoie Shuler announced Wednesday that she will be continuing her Academic and Athletic career at the University of Tennessee.

In an Instagram post, Shuler said:

“I am blessed to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Tennessee. I want to thank all my coaches, family, teammates, brother, and friends who have pushed me to become the best I can be. Without God, none of this would be possible.”

Zoie is an outstanding student in the classroom and an incredible athlete on the field. She is a vital part of the Lady Knight softball teams success, and is a North Carolina state record holder in the triple jump in Track and Field.

UT is getting a good one, and we wish you all the best Zoie! Go big orange!

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