Gary Corsair • Clay County Progress Jackson Sellers smokes a Swain batter during his 3-hit, complete game shutout Tuesday.
By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
Hayesville’s newest pitching ace Jackson Sellers gave himself an unforgettably sweet 16th birthday present when he threw a three-hit, complete game shutout against Swain on Tuesday.
“That’s the first game he’s ever completed in his life. He was very efficient,” Hayesville Coach Joe Jack Sellers said after the Yellow Jackets, 2-2, notched their second consecutive win and handed the Maroon Devils, 2-1, their first defeat.
How efficient? Sellers retired the side with just seven pitches in the fifth inning and eight in the sixth.
Sellers had Swain eating out of his hand until a crazy seventh when Swain threatened to spoil his party with a walk, an infield single that looked a lot like a 3-1 putout, an unsuccessful pickoff attempt that sure looked like a pickoff and solid base hit to center field.
Two wild pitches — one upstairs and one in the dirt — and a passed ball added to drama, but Hayesville’s defense rose to the occasion.
The first out came on a base knock to center field when Hayesville’s Peyton McGaha charged the ball, gathered it on one hop and rifled the pill to Michael Mauney at second to force the runner coming from first base. The second out came when Hayesville catcher Dawson Devane whipped a bullet to third to pick off a Devil. The final out was another defensive gem — shortstop Tate Roberts went deep in the hole to collect a smash and rocketed the ball to first, where Kyle Shaheen dug the ball out of the dirt to nip the batter charging down the line.
Those weren’t Hayesville’s only superb defensive plays Hayesville. McGaha made a nice running catch in the top of the sixth, Devane smothered a handful of pitches that kicked up dirt and every Jacket fielded their position cleanly.
“We made the defensive plays when we had to. We had some great defensive plays, we had some great pitching and we had some timely hitting early in the game,” Coach Sellers remarked.
The most timely hitting came in the first inning when Mauney led off with a solid single. One out later, Roberts laced a single to right. Shaheen followed with a RBI single that brought up Sellers, who belted a sinking liner just beyond the reach of Swain’s hard-charging right fielder.
The dam appeared ready to break when Chance Hughes was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases, but a strikeout and line drive fly out limited Hayesville to 2 runs.
Hayesville added an insurance run in the fifth when Roberts walked, stole second and came home when Sellers executed a textbook hit-and-run with an RBI single.
“The kids stepped up, we’re pleased with their efforts,” Coach Sellers said. “It’s a great win for our kids. Swain’s a great team. They always have a good program.”
Sellers’ birthday party included a 3-for-3 day at the plate and six strikeouts from the mound. Mauney was 2-for-2 with a run, a double, a stolen base and two assists.
Roberts had a hit, stole two bases and made three assists.
Hayesville 13, Andrews 5
Hayesville’s pitching wasn’t as dominant last Thursday at Andrews, but a 7-run first inning gave the Yellow Jackets more than enough cushion.
Hayesville sealed the deal by stealing 11-of-11 bases and making three double plays.
As usual, Mauney was the catalyst. “Money” Mauney turned a frozen rope to right into an inside the park home run and cracked a double in a 3-for-3 performance that drove in four runs. He also scored twice.
McGaha frustrated the Wildcats by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a run, three steals in as many attempts and three put outs.
Sellers also came up big. He went 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a steal.
Hughes and Landon Cheeks had two RBIs apiece. Hughes also stole two bases. Cheeks made four put outs.
Shaheen relieved starter Cade Caruso in the second inning and worked until Brady Reynolds took over in the seventh. The trio allowed seven hits.
Caruso also had two steals and two runs.
Cooper Matheson also scored twice. Adam Brown was 2-for-2 stealing.
Hayesville hosted Union County on Wednesday, will travel to Swain on Friday and visit Hiwassee Dam on Tuesday.