By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
The Smoky Mountain Conference champion Hayesville Yellow Jackets were well represented on the All-SMC Baseball Team.
Hayesville outfielder Ben Bethel was named Player
of the Year and six of
his teammates joined him on the All-Conference Team. Their leader Joe Jack Sellers was Coach of the Year — again.
Curiously, Hayesville mound master Jackson Sellers, who had the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher in the conference, was not voted pitcher of the year. That honor went to Murphy’s Colton Morgan.
Sellers did, however, make All-Conference as a position player and with good reason. Hayesville’s slugging first baseman was the top run producer with 23 RBI’s in 23 games, hit .390, had three games of three or more hits and a team-leading six double plays.
J-Man’s father was immune to the whims of the SMC coaches who selected the honor team because the coach of the conference champ is automatically named Coach of the Year — and that was Sellers by virtue of Hayesville’s 11-1 record. He also won the honor last year when the Yellow Jackets went 12-0 and the year before 11-1.
Bethel led the conference with a .550 batting average — the top average in Western North Carolina and the 15th highest mark in North Carolina. ‘Hit It Again Ben’ rapped hits in 14 of 16 games, had 10 multiple-hit games and led Hayesville in slugging percentage, .700, on base percentage, .625, and doubles, nine. He also swiped 25-of-26 bases.
Kendall Boyer, the outfielder who gobbles up turf like a Deere and had five assists, slugged the ball to the tune of .491, third best by a Jacket. He was also second in doubles, five, and third in hits, 23.
Catcher Chance Hughes earned All-SMC honors in his first season behind the plate after posting a .981 fielding percentage on 161 total chances, 14 assists, and throwing out 33 percent of the unfortunates who tried to steal. No catcher in Class 1-A West had a higher percentage. Hughes’ .333 caught stealing mark was the sixth best in the state. He also batted .385.
Hayesville’s second best hitter, Kyle Shaheen, who hit .415, also made the team. The versatile Shaheen was also runner-up in slugging percentage, .519, and second in doubles, five. His 19 RBI was the third highest total by a Yellow Jacket.
Last year’s Conference Player of the Year, Michael Mauney, also earned a berth on the honor team. Hayesville’s second baseman hit .370, posted a .967 fielding average, led the Jackets in runs, 33, and had eight games with two or more steals, and stole 26-of-28 bases. His 26 steals ranked third in Class 1A.
Shortstop Tate Roberts played himself onto the All-SMC with a .603 on base percentage, second best for Hayesville, 21 steals and 20 runs, both third best and a .342 batting average.
The champs finished
14-9 and advanced through two rounds of the playoffs before losing a 2-1 heart-breaker to perennial power Cherryville.