By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
The defending Smoky Mountain Conference champion Hayesville Yellow Jackets begin their quest to retain their hard-won crown this week with two games against Andrews.
The Yellow Jackets, 0-3, hoped to record their first victory Tuesday against the visiting Wildcats and add wins against guest Towns County on Wednesday and a rematch at Andrews on Friday.
Andrews began the week 0-0. Towns County is 5-6. Games begin at 4:30 p.m.
To date, Hayesville hasn’t played like a title-bound team. The Jackets have only scored three runs in three games.
“It’s been frustrating so far for the coaches and kids,” Hayesville Coach Joe Jack Sellers said Monday.
The sluggish start has been bothersome, but no one is pushing the panic button. Everyone knows that Hayesville will be a force to be reckoned with when the bats come alive. They will.
“The kids’ effort has gotten better. They’re working hard.”
Hard work wasn’t enough Friday when Union County, 4-5, visited. Hayesville batters struck out 16 times and managed just three hits in a 7-2 loss.
Still, Hayesville was in the game all the way. The score was knotted at 2-2 after three innings. Union pulled away with three runs in the fourth frame, but the Jackets were one big inning away until the final out.
Hayesville’s Ben Bethel raised his season batting average to .375 with a single and double in three at bats. The junior outfielder also stole two bases in as many tries.
Jackson Sellers had the other hit, along with two RBI’s. Michael Mauney and Tate Roberts scored for Hayesville. Mauney and Roberts stole one base each. Chance Hughes also pilfered a base.
Hayesville pitchers Kendall Boyer, Cade Caruso and Roberts gave up seven hits, issued five walks and hit a batter.
Three of Union County’s seven runs were unearned.
“We made a few costly errors and walks also hurt,” Sellers remarked.
Boyer was touched for one hit in two innings and allowed just one earned run. Roberts did not allow any earned runs during his inning of work.