Robbinsville softball blanks Bear Grass Charter in G1

DURHAM, N.C. — Robbinsville is one win away from its first-ever state championship.

The Knights established their dominance early and let the crowd at Smith Family Stadium in Durham know they were on a mission. Robbinsville defeated Bear Grass Charter 10-0 (five innings) in game one of the 1A NCHSAA softball three-game series.

In their first appearance in the title game, the Knights (26-2) got a stellar performance on the mound from freshman Ella Nelms, who struck out nine batters and allowed just two hits.

Even though it was the first experience for the entire program, the freshman wasn’t nervous at all on the mound.

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“I was ready to come and go pitch-by-pitch, and win,” Nelms said.

Nelms struck out two of the first three batters she faced, then her offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the inning. Sophie Roberts, batting third in the lineup, drove in two runs to start the barrage. Four batters later, Anna Williams nailed a grand slam over the centerfield wall.

“We just needed to relax and stay calm at the plate and do what we do,” Williams said.

That grand slam ended the afternoon of Bear Grass Charter freshman pitcher, Bri Rountree, who gave up six runs and four hits against the eight batters she faced. The Bears brought in Hannah Lilly, who only gave up one hit and struck out the final batter she faced.

• View Photos: Bear Grass Charter vs. Robbinsville, Game 1 (May 29, 2026). HSOT Insiders can download championship photos for free. Here's how.

Lilly and Bear Grass settled down in the next few innings, but couldn’t dig themselves out of the early hole.

Williams would strike again in the bottom of the third, driving in another run to make it 7-0, and a single in the bottom of the fifth for an 8-0 lead. Suri Watty ended the game early with a 2RBI single to end the game.

Williams said she had some nerves to start the game, but it didn’t show at the plate for her and the Knights.

“I knew that was a spot I wanted to be in for my confidence,” Williams said about getting that early hit.

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The win was the eighth straight for the Knights. Bear Grass (24-4) has some work to do to make the series even. Game two will be played at 11 a.m. on Saturday. If Robbinsville remains as cool as the freshman pitcher, it could be another quick day at the office.

“Same thing,” Nelms responded when asked what needs to happen for a game two win. “Start with a big lead in the first inning and keep going.”

NOTES: Before the game, two players were honored with the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award: Lane Gregory of Bear Grass Charter and Lexie Williams of Robbinsville.

Box Score

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