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DURHAM – The unbridled joy began as soon as Robbinsville softball first baseman Myah Winfrey caught the last out in foul territory.
Gloves launched in the air, players running into each other’s arms and a large group hug that ended with the Black Knights collapsing into the pitcher’s circle.
For the first time in program history, No. 1 Robbinsville (27-2) won an NCHSAA state softball championship with an 8-3 win over Bear Grass Charter (24-5) on May 30 at Smith Family Stadium.
It’s "Mudita," the team’s motto, which means unselfish joy and celebrating other’s successes.
“It’s the fuel that drives this team,” Robbinsville coach Billy Knight said. “We preach it. We believe we cannot be successful without it.”
"Mudita," a word with Buddhist origins, has been the baseline of Knight’s program for a decade, and it extends further than just the current team.
Despite a nearly five-hour drive from Robbinsville, three hours more than its opponent, the Black Knights had a larger fan base than Bear Grass Charter.
Robbinsville’s 2019 team, which was one out away from being the first regional champion in school history when it lost on a walk-off three-run home run, filmed a video wishing the 2026 team good luck. Many of them, Knight said, were in the stands for this title series.
“Watching my aunt on the 2019 team do what they did, and the generations of teams before us, it just means the world to all of us (to win),” sophomore Kynadee Spencer said.
5A STATE CHAMPS: Why Savannah Frisbee's loud play led to Enka softball's 5A state championship
Different players came through from throughout the lineup against the No. 1 Bears. Senior Anna Williams had two more RBIs after a huge Game 1, sophomore Loxley Burke came off the bench with an RBI double and pitcher Ella Nelms struck out nine, capping her stellar freshman season with the series’ Most Valuable Player award.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Knight said. "It’s 14 good softball players. They’re all good. There’s so much talent on this team that there will not be any let up for a while.”
When Nelms missed six games in the circle after an injury, Robbinsville had a chance to learn what it was capable of. It was one of the hardest stretches of the schedule, and it lost games to 5A state champion Enka and 6A regional runner-up Kings Mountain, its only two losses of the season.
But the rest of the team stepped up. Kynadee Spencer pitched six solid outings, including a crucial 2-1 victory over conference foe Murphy.
“It galvanized us,” Knight said. “We knew we were a good defensive team. When that transition happened, all the girls started making plays. It made us better as a team.”
The Black Knights believed all of this was possible when practices started in August, from Knight to Spencer to senior Sophie Roberts. All three pieces – offense, defense and pitching – all looked poised to come together, and "Mudita," was there.
Nine months later, the Black Knights will carry home the first state title in program history, and there will be plenty of joy to go around.
“I’m happy that we got to be the first,” senior Suri Watty said. “I’m proud of everyone. I’m proud of myself. I want to cry … all the emotions.”
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How a team motto captures Robbinsville softball's journey to state title
Continue reading...
Gloves launched in the air, players running into each other’s arms and a large group hug that ended with the Black Knights collapsing into the pitcher’s circle.
For the first time in program history, No. 1 Robbinsville (27-2) won an NCHSAA state softball championship with an 8-3 win over Bear Grass Charter (24-5) on May 30 at Smith Family Stadium.
It’s "Mudita," the team’s motto, which means unselfish joy and celebrating other’s successes.
“It’s the fuel that drives this team,” Robbinsville coach Billy Knight said. “We preach it. We believe we cannot be successful without it.”
"Mudita," a word with Buddhist origins, has been the baseline of Knight’s program for a decade, and it extends further than just the current team.
Despite a nearly five-hour drive from Robbinsville, three hours more than its opponent, the Black Knights had a larger fan base than Bear Grass Charter.
Robbinsville’s 2019 team, which was one out away from being the first regional champion in school history when it lost on a walk-off three-run home run, filmed a video wishing the 2026 team good luck. Many of them, Knight said, were in the stands for this title series.
“Watching my aunt on the 2019 team do what they did, and the generations of teams before us, it just means the world to all of us (to win),” sophomore Kynadee Spencer said.
5A STATE CHAMPS: Why Savannah Frisbee's loud play led to Enka softball's 5A state championship
Different players came through from throughout the lineup against the No. 1 Bears. Senior Anna Williams had two more RBIs after a huge Game 1, sophomore Loxley Burke came off the bench with an RBI double and pitcher Ella Nelms struck out nine, capping her stellar freshman season with the series’ Most Valuable Player award.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Knight said. "It’s 14 good softball players. They’re all good. There’s so much talent on this team that there will not be any let up for a while.”
When Nelms missed six games in the circle after an injury, Robbinsville had a chance to learn what it was capable of. It was one of the hardest stretches of the schedule, and it lost games to 5A state champion Enka and 6A regional runner-up Kings Mountain, its only two losses of the season.
But the rest of the team stepped up. Kynadee Spencer pitched six solid outings, including a crucial 2-1 victory over conference foe Murphy.
“It galvanized us,” Knight said. “We knew we were a good defensive team. When that transition happened, all the girls started making plays. It made us better as a team.”
The Black Knights believed all of this was possible when practices started in August, from Knight to Spencer to senior Sophie Roberts. All three pieces – offense, defense and pitching – all looked poised to come together, and "Mudita," was there.
Nine months later, the Black Knights will carry home the first state title in program history, and there will be plenty of joy to go around.
“I’m happy that we got to be the first,” senior Suri Watty said. “I’m proud of everyone. I’m proud of myself. I want to cry … all the emotions.”
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How a team motto captures Robbinsville softball's journey to state title
Continue reading...
