Lady Knights continue postseason run

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. 3, 1A West seed) ends the year 19-5; Union Academy (No. 11) improves to 21-4. The Cardinals will welcome Uwharrie Charter (15-8) in the Elite 8 on Friday.

The Knights' lone run was manufactured in the bottom of the first. University of Tennessee-commit Zoie Shuler was hit by a pitch to begin Robbinsville's first offensive chance and later scored on a groundout from Anna Williams. 

Hollingsworth had gone yard over the left-field fence with two outs in the top of the frame and Union Academy continued to slowly pull away from there, including a 2-out triple from Addison Laney in the second; an RBI single off the bat of Shelby Brooks in the third; a wild fifth inning that includes five runs on four hits (including a Keira Farmer 3-bagger and a 2-run double, courtesy of Hollingsworth); and Farmer scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth. 

Robbinsville was not struck out until the second, when Hollingsworth settled in and fanned the side. The Knights only had two hits in the game: a pair of leadoff singles in the bottom of both the third (senior Fala Welch) and fourth (freshman Suri Watty) innings. 

Lady Knights ace Memory Frapp finished the year 13-3 and had 108 strikeouts on the campaign; Hollingsworth – who has signed with the University of Evansville – currently sits at 230 punchouts this year.

Look for more coverage in the May 25 edition of The Graham Star.