Season ends for Yellow Jackets in first round of playoffs

By Travis Dockery

Editor / 389 Country

The Hayesville Yellow Jackets welcomed the South Stanley Rowdy Raging Bulls to Clay County Tuesday, May 10 for the first round of the NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. Hayesville limited the Bulls' offensive output, but struggled to produce runs themselves and were eliminated with a 3-1 loss.

The Story: South Stanley wasted little time in getting on the board. The Bulls loaded the bases and a base hit down the third base line brought in 2 runs. Hayesville's pitcher, Braxton Cherry, was able to stop the bleeding with a pair of strikeouts in the first inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Mason Cook slapped a leadoff double to ignite the Yellow Jackets. Later in the inning, Dakota Matheson singled to bring Cook across the plate to make the score 2-1 in the Bulls' favor.

Scoring stopped until the top of the fourth. South Stanley had a runner on second. A pitch in the dirt caused the runner to cheat towards third. Hayesville catcher Avery Leatherwood snagged the pitch and threw down to third base to try to pick the runner off. The throw got by third baseman Cade Denton and went into left field. The runner scored, putting the Bulls up 3-1. The unearned run was the last score of the game.

Key performances: Starting pitcher Braxton Cherry allowed 2 earned runs and struck out 6. Dakota Matheson with Hayesville's only RBI. Mason Cook scored Hayesville's only run.

Notes: The Yellow Jackets end the season 10-5 overall and 8-4 in the Smoky Mountain Conference.