Murphy – It was a busy week on the diamond for Murphy’s baseball and softball teams. The Lady Bulldogs got their first win of the season Friday when they took a trip to Polk County, Tenn., after their home opener earlier in the week was cancelled.
The baseball squad had a two-game week at home as they fell to tough opponents in Franklin and North Buncombe.
Softball
The Lady Dogs were scheduled to play their home opener on March 4 against Tellico Plains, Tenn. Due to the 100-acre wildfire that prompted evacuations in the area, the team did not make the trip to Murphy and the game was postponed.
Murphy’s varsity softball team played their second game of the season on Friday, when they traveled to Polk County to take on the Lady Wildcats. The Lady Dogs got an 8-0 win to move to a 1-1 record on the season prior to the start of Smoky Mountain Conference games.
On Friday, the Lady Dogs will travel to Cherokee to take on the Lady Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. They will then host Swain County at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18.
Baseball
The Bulldogs hosted Franklin on March 4 in the second game of their home-and-home series. Franklin got the win, as they did in the first game, this time 18-3 in the Dogs’ home opener.
On Friday, the Dogs closed out their week by hosting North Buncombe. In a close and back-and-forth game, the Dogs fell 9-5.
It was a seven-inning battle between the two teams. After a scoreless top of the first, the Dogs got their bats going first.
With runners on the corners, Peyton Bain stole second. As he slid to the bag, the throw missed the second baseman, and Adam Cook ran home from third to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, North Buncombe’s bats got going. After they put two runs on the board, the inning ended as left fielder Grayson Hall made a jumping catch.
The Dogs regained the lead in the bottom of the second. With Aayden Williams on second base, Caleb Kephart hit a rocket that bounced off the left field wall, scoring Williams. Kephart then scored from third following a single by Alex Roldan.
Bain took over on the mound for Morgan to start the third inning. Bain got out unscathed to maintain the Bulldogs’ lead. Then in the bottom of the third, the Dogs went hitless.
North Buncombe regained the lead in the top of the fourth. They led 4-3 until the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Dogs loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Hall was then walked to tie the game at four.
On a wild pitch, Cameron Clem stole home to give the Dogs the lead. As Clem crossed home plate, the Dogs yelled in excitement as they once again took the lead in the tight game.
In the top of the sixth, North Buncombe regained the lead with four runs to lead 8-5. In the seventh, they added another run to lead 9-5, where the score stayed.
Murphy struggled to get their bats going down the stretch and fell in their third straight game to start the season. Bulldogs head coach Tyler Edwards said they had a strong first half of the game, but mental errors cost them a few late runs.
“We did really good the first half of the game. Then made a few mental errors, kind of cost us a couple runs, but we continued to battle,” he said. “We’re getting better day by day, game by game.”
When speaking on who stood out Friday night, Edwards said they all did at times during the game.
“We had guys that were making plays and they were out playing a new position, then we had veteran guys coming up big like they’re used to doing, even had guys in the dugout that were cheering on the team,” he said. “It was a team game, and everybody was involved in it.”
On adjustments they will make moving forward this season, Edwards said, “We just have to focus on what we do and what we do well. We just got to get better at it.”
The Dogs will travel to Towns County, Ga., for their next game at 5 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, the Dogs will play their first home Smoky Mountain Conference game as they take on Cherokee at 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, March 18, the Dogs will host Swain County at 4:30 p.m.