Hayesville High School’s varsity baseball team has proven themselves as the top team in the Smoky Mountain Conference. A 12-11 win over Hiwassee Dam on Thursday, June 3 set up a showdown with rival Murphy for sole possession of the title. On Tuesday, June 8, the Bulldogs came to town knowing a win could potentially give them a share of the conference title. After leading the entire game, Murphy saw their dreams crushed when the Jackets used their final at bat for a 3-run rally to win the game 6-5.
Early on against Hiwassee Dam, Hayesville was in unfamiliar territory — playing from behind. The Eagles pounced on Clayton Vandiver’s pitching to build a 3-0 lead by the top of the second inning. The Jackets got one run back in the bottom of the inning and in the bottom of the third, Hayesville took their first lead of the game with 5 runs. The inning was highlighted by Vandiver helping his cause with a homer.
Hiwassee Dam refused to go away, scoring 7 runs over the fourth and fifth innings to take a 10-6 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the Jackets again rallied, this time with four runs to tie things up at 10-10. The Eagles failed to break through in the sixth while Hayesville managed to push the go-ahead run across the plate in their half of the stanza.
With just three outs to give, Hiwassee Dam managed to slap hits into gaps to manufacture a run in the top of the seventh to tie things at 11-11. The bottom of the seventh and final inning began with Dakota Matheson and Connor Bradley reaching base. With a runner in scoring position, sophomore Avery Leatherwood stepped to the plate. Leatherwood saw a pitch he liked and pulled the trigger to send the ball shooting to the outfield. Matheson go the wave around third base and headed home. The throw from center field was too late as Matheson scored, giving the Jackets the 12-11 win much to the delight of the crowd.
Matheson was a perfect 1.000 at the plate with two hits and a walk. Eli Roberts led the Jackets with 3 RBI while Matheson, Vandiver, Leatherwood and Peyton Hunt all 2 RBIs each. Hayesville was active on the base paths as 8 Jackets accounted for 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
Vandiver’s time on the mound lasted two innings, with 2 earned runs and five strikeouts. Cade Denton came on as a middle reliever for two innings, giving up 6 runs on six hits, giving up two walks and striking out three. Roberts pitched the final three innings, allowing 2 runs and three hits and striking out seven Eagles.
A large crowd gathered Tuesday at the new Scott D. Penland field to watch to old foes lock horns with a championship on the line. Murphy struck first with a 2-run homerun in their half of the opening inning. Hayesville came clawing back in the second thanks to a RBI single by Matheson followed by a double off the bat of Bradley which brought Matheson in to score.
Murphy would once recapture the lead in the top of the third with a pair of runs. Between innings, play was halted due to lightning strikes in the area. During the delay, a rain shower came through, lengthening the stoppage.
Around 6 p.m. the umpire again yelled, “Play ball.” The score remained the same until the top of the fifth when the Bulldogs tacked on an insurance run to extend the lead to 5-2. In the bottom of the inning, Kyle Lunsford brought in Bradley close the gap to 5-3.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Roberts came on in relief of Stewart who got the start on the mound. Roberts was able to manage the game and although Murphy threatened, Hayesville was able to get out of trouble.
Down by 2 in their final at bat, the Jackets got the rally going when Bradley led the inning off with a walk. Leatherwood followed with an RBI triple which cut the cut the deficit to 1. Stewart then walked and stole second base, eliminating the double play. Vandiver stepped into the left handed batter’s box and roped a pitch into deep right-center field, bringing in Leatherwood and Stewart which clinched the game and the SMC championship for Hayesville.
The Jackets will finish up their regular season at home at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10 as they host Robbinsville.