Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Kendall Boyer prepares to pounce on home plate with Hayesville's first run against Smoky Mountain. Boyer scored when the Mustang third baseman threw the ball away on Dawson Devane's ground ball.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville Coach Joe Jack Sellers was well aware of the pros and cons when he beefed up the 2025 baseball schedule by adding Franklin and Smoky Mountain, both 3A schools.
On one hand, playing larger schools allows small-school players opportunities to measure themselves against better competition. On the other hand, the 1A team might take some lumps.
The Yellow Jackets experienced both scenarios last week in an 11-5 loss at Franklin that was decided in the final inning and a 14-4 defeat at Smoky Mountain.
“We have been in these last few games, there for the win, but critical mistakes hurt us in the end,” Sellers said. “I scheduled a challenging non-conference schedule, so far we have not met that challenge.”
Perhaps not, but locking horns with a pair of 3A opponents should help Hayesville improve, which could translate into wins over Smoky Mountain Conference foes and pave the way for a repeat as SMC champions.
We shall see soon enough.
The conference-leading Yellow Jackets looked to add two wins to their SMC best record of 6-0 with two games against Cherokee Tuesday at Cherokee and Friday at Hayesville.
Here’s a summary of Hayesville’s battles with 3A opponents last week:
Smoky Mountain 14,
Hayesville 4
“Ten bases on balls and seven errors, you’re not gonna win many games doing that,” Sellers said after a tough Friday night loss at Smoky Mountain.
Free passes by pitchers and boo-boos by fielders hurt Hayesville, but the Yellow Jackets were in position to seize the lead after falling behind 6-1.
In the third inning, Hayesville cut the lead to 6-4 with two on and the go-ahead run at the plate, but Smoky Mountain pitcher Cason Sheppard ended the uprising with a strikeout.
Michael Mauney lit the fuse with a single to right center. He then stole second for his 19th steal, the second highest total statewide in 1A.
After Chance Hughes sacrificed Mauney to third, Smoky Mountain imploded with errors at first and third base, two walks and a wild pitch as Hayesville ran wild with stolen bases by Ben Bethel, two; Tate Roberts, two; Kendall Boyer and Jackson Sellers. Mauney, Bethel and Roberts all plated.
Only two runs separated the teams entering the bottom of the third, but Hayesville was finished scoring for the night. Smoky Mountain wasn’t.
The Mustangs pushed their lead to 10-4 with just one hit in the third. The hosts broke the game open with four bases on balls, a sacrifice and two Hayesville throwing errors.
Eight of Smoky Mountain’s runs were unearned.
Fielding follies aside, Hayesville had its moments. For instance, in the third inning, Hughes scooped a pair of pitches out of the dirt to keep runners from advancing. The Hayesville catcher also made a great throw on a steal attempt. Unfortunately, the umpire deemed the runner safe. Center fielder Kendall Boyer also sparkled with two running catches.
Mauney led Hayesville with two hits. He also scored a run.
Cade Caruso started and suffered the loss. Brady Reynolds relieved and allowed two hits in two innings.
Hayesville 0-1-3 0-0 = 4
Smoky Mtn. 2-4-4 1-3 = 14
Hits: Mauney 2, Bethel, Boyer, Hughes, Roberts, Sellers
RBI: Boyer, Sellers
Runs: Bethel, Boyer, Mauney, Roberts
Sac: Hughes, Sellers
Stolen Bases: Bethel 2, Roberts 2, Boyer, Hughes, Mauney, Sellers
Walks: Bethel, Roberts
Franklin 11, Hayesville 5
The Yellow Jackets were in this one as well, trailing 4-3 in the fourth frame and 6-4 in the fifth Wednesday before the hosts put the game on ice with a 5-run sixth.
Bethel, who’s hitting .595, continued his torrid bat work, rapping two of Hayesville’s five hits. One was a double. He also drove in a run.
Mauney scored twice.
Franklin, 5-7, outhit Hayesville, 13-5, but the Jackets had plenty of base runners thanks to five batters walked or hit and three Franklin errors. Hayesville left 11 runners on base.
Mistakes were also a problem for the Black-and-Gold. Only six of Franklin’s runs were earned.
Kyle Shaheen started and was tagged with the loss. Boyer relieved and struck out four while giving up one earned run in three innings. Roberts followed, giving up one hit and whiffing one in 1/3 of an inning.
Hayesville 0-0-1 2-1-0 1 = 5
Franklin 3-1-0 1-1-5 x = 11
Hits: Bethel 2, Boyer, Caruso, Shaheen
Doubles: Bethel, Boyer, Shaheen
RBI: Bethel, Boyer, Caruso, Shaheen
Runs: Mauney 2, Boyer, Devane, Sellers
Stolen bases: Devane 2, Mauney
Sac: Boyer, Shaheen
Walks: Roberts 2, Sellers
Hit by pitch: Boyer, Devane