Bryson City – The Maroon Devils faced a challenge Thursday in the regular season finale. Swain ended up needing to play a double header, first facing Hiwassee Dam in the regular season finale, and then having to face off with Andrews to break a tie for third place. In game 1 the Devils downed Hiwassee Dam 15-2 in 5-innings. Then in the nightcap the Devils scored a 7-5 win over Andrews to lock down the Smoky Mountain Conference’s 3rd place.
In the tie-breaking game the Devils plated all 7 of their runs over the game’s first two innings, then held off Andrews down the stretch to notch the win. The Wildcats scored 4 of their 5 runs over the first two innings.
Gaige Southards and Dawson Chambers had 3 hits each, with Chambers driving in 5 of the Maroon Devils runs. Caleb Taylor drove in 2 runs and finished 1-2. Southards and Ian Brooks scored 2 runs a piece. Hunter Call had a pair of hits. Taylor went the distance on the hill earning the win.
The Maroon Devils scored 11 runs in the 3rd inning against Hiwassee Dam in the first game, before cruising to the 15-2 win.
Ian Brooks paced the Maroon Devil offense with 3 hits, scoring 3 times and driving in a run. Gaige Southards and Brier Younce drove in a pair of runs, Southards with a double, while Younce tripled. Southards, Dawson Chambers, Damian Lossiah and Brady Kirkland each scored a pair of runs for the Devils. Kirkland picked the win working all 5 innings.