Hiwassee Dam – The Eagles’ varsity baseball team got its season started with a home-and-home series against Cherokee.
The Eagles picked up a win in their home opener, then traveled to Cherokee and fell in an offensive battle.
Eagles win at home
In the first game of the 2026 season, the Eagles defeated Cherokee 11-7 on March 10.
The Braves got on the board first with one run in the top of the first inning. The Eagles answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
The Eagles pulled ahead with a six-run second inning to lead 8-1. Both teams scored one run each in the third inning for the Eagles to lead 9-2.
Cherokee tightened the gap with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Eagles maintained their 9-4 lead. The Eagles extended their lead in the fifth and sixth innings with one run in each to take a 11-4 lead into the seventh.
Cherokee tried to make a late push, as they drove in three runs in the top of the seventh, but they couldn’t catch the Eagles.
Abel Penland led the Eagles with three runs, while Aiden Weaver, Elijah Cole and Dalton Kester had two runs each. Penland and Cole also had two stolen bases each. The Eagles used four pitchers as Penland, Cole, Kester and Cole Elliott combined to get the win.
Fell on the road
It was a high-scoring affair Friday afternoon, when the Eagles fell to Cherokee 29-21.
The Eagles took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first. Cherokee answered with two runs of their own to tie the game.
In the top of the second, the Eagles scored three runs to take a 5-2 lead. After Cherokee scored one run in the bottom of the second, the Eagles led 5-3.
In the top of the third, the Eagles extended their lead to 10-3. Cherokee had a huge inning, as they drove in 20 runs to take a 23-10 lead through three innings.
In the top of the fourth, the Eagles added four runs to make it a 23-14 game. Cherokee extended its lead to 29-14 in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles added seven runs in the top of the fifth, but couldn’t catch the Braves.
Dustin Haggberg led the Eagles with four runs scored, while Pace Ware and Brock Orton scored three runs each. Haggberg also led the Eagles with three stolen bases. Penland, Haggberg, Ware and Noah Watkins combined on the mound in the loss.
Up next
The Eagles return home today to face in-county rivals Murphy. They will travel to Murphy on Friday to face the Bulldogs. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m. for both games.
The Eagles will then face in-county rivals Andrews at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.