Sports

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Hayesville catcher Caroline Wade reaches for the softball during a home-plate collision with a Pisgah Bear.

Young softball squad shows promise

News Staff

Thursday, March 12, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Hayesville High School’s softballers entered the Smoky Mountain Conference portion of the schedule with a 0-2 record, a roster that includes six freshmen and optimism. The season is young, but Lady Yellow Jackets Coach Marissa Peck is already seeing improvement.

Photo by Neal Wachob Albemarle long-distance bomber RJ Hutcherson, No. 33, finds limited options as he stares into the teeth of Hayesville’s zone defense. Defenders Micah Moss, No. 21, Landon Trout, No. 15, Jackson Sellers, No. 33, Rhett Sellers, No. 23, and EJ Abrams, No. 0, deny entry into the lane.

Hot-handed Reynolds sparks come-back

News Staff

Thursday, March 5, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Woeful shooting plunged Hayesville’s boys into a seemingly inescapable 42-17 halftime pit but the never-say-die Yellow Jackets came back like gangbusters behind an amazing display of marksmanship by Bombadier Brady Reynolds.

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lady Yellow Jackets Ava Moore, No. 42, and Briley Clampitt, No. 14, fight to gain possession of a missed shot.

Lady Jackets spirited effort falls short

News Staff

Thursday, March 5, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer The Lady Yellow Jackets played their hearts out in Thursday’s postseason tournament skirmish but desire and willpower weren’t enough.

Hooray for Ray

News Staff

Thursday, February 26, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Wrestlers who discovered the sport in grade school may find it hard to believe that Hayesville’s first state wrestling champion Rayland Martinez didn’t step onto a mat until he was in high school.

Neal Wachob • Clay County Progress Lucy Trout, No. 3, hits the floor in an attempt to save the ball for Hayesville.

Lady Jackets host playoff game

News Staff

Thursday, February 26, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Murphy’s ability to light up the scoreboard in a hurry derailed Hayesville’s quest to reach the championship game of the Smoky Mountain Conference Girls Basketball Tournament.

Golf course celebrates revival, gives back

News Staff

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Article Submitted After weathering years of industry downturns, Chatuge Shores Golf Course is thriving and committed to fostering the next generation of golfers through community-focused initiatives. A decade ago, the golf industry faced widespread closures.

Hayesville Middle School Men's Basketball

HMS men's basketball finishes season 14-3

News Staff

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Hayesville Middle School men’s basketball team members are, front, from left, Assistant Coach Blake McClure, Colton Crawford, Mason Young, Eli Danico, Gabe Garcia, Falcon Collins and Assistant Coach Eli Roberts; back, Henry Wadsworth, Matthew Cothren, Camden Taylor, Matthew Peck, Bentley Everette,...

Rayland Martinez, Evan Burke and Hayden Hunt

Wrestlers poised to make history

News Staff

Thursday, February 19, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Hayesville’s wrestling program went from good to great last year when the Yellow Jackets turned heads — and twisted torsos — by winning 17 meets and 225 individual matches.

SMC teams top Hayesville boys

News Staff

Thursday, February 19, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer Three Hayesville players had big, big quarters but those outstanding individual efforts weren’t enough to overcome red-hot shooting by Andrews in Tuesday’s Smoky Mountain Conference Tournament at Murphy.

Lady Jackets must avenge losses to claim crown

News Staff

Thursday, February 19, 2026

By Gary Corsair Sports Writer The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets lived up to their billing as the No. 2 seed in the Smoky Mountain Conference tourney by leveling the weak Rosman Tigers, 51-8, Monday in Murphy. This one was decided about :60 after the opening tipoff.