Asheville – The 4A/3A Mountain Athletic Conference race is shaping up to be a fascinating one, with three prime contenders: Roberson, Asheville, and Reynolds.
The two-time reigning 4A state champion Roberson Rams (4-1) were the runner-up in a tournament in Alabama and are participating in another tournament in Florida this week. Both 4A Asheville (11-1) and 3A Reynolds (10-0) won decisively against the 2023 3A state champion West Henderson last week.
Reynolds (2-1), coached by Michael Staicar, is returning to contender status. Burly left-handed senior Luke Nesbitt smashed home runs in his first two at-bats against West and shut out the Falcons in drizzling weather on March 5. The Rockets exploded for four runs, then two more, to lead 6-0.
Ram Tough
Roberson flourished in crunch time with playoff-like intensity Friday in its home opener. This was a dramatic pitching duel against Burns’ aces Colby Putnam and Hagan Hoyle. Burns won the 2A state title in 2023 and was the runner-up in 2024. The Rams were shut out for five innings, with many fly outs.
However, pitching and defense kept the score at 1-0. Sophomore Holt “Gas ‘em” Gaston allowed one run in three innings. He noted how he got pitches over the plate to “fill the zone.” Ace pitcher Micah “Nimble Ninja” Simpson, a senior lefty, muzzled the Bulldogs in four scoreless frames.
Zeb Swangim made outstanding plays at third base. Sophomore Brooks Hemphill “got a great jump on the ball” in left field with the leadoff man on base, Coach Filipek said. Hemphill charged a line drive, caught it, and made a throw to double up the runner from first base as Caden Davidson leaned to snare the ball and then tagged first base. Coach Filipek remarked that with Burns still stuck on one run, “that was the ballgame,” as TCR’s offense predictably came through.
“Hulk” Davidson burned Burns’ Hoyle with a majestic swing in the sixth inning. “I ‘cut’ him,” Davidson said. His towering homer to left field tied the game at 1-1. Ram players joyously leaped in unison; they had momentum.
The Rams worked the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning. Swangim doubled to left field. He said he knew Ram bats were due to click. “Zeb stepped up,” Coach Filipek said. “We got the big hits late and won the game.” “Happy” Chappy Smith singled.
Sophomore lefty “Sparker” Parker Filipek won it with an RBI single. “I was sitting on a fastball,” he said. Once he got one, he drilled it.
Cougars on Prowl
Asheville (2-3) won two in a row, starting with an 11-1 victory on March 4 at West Henderson in five innings, applying the ten-run mercy rule.
Bill Hillier, Jr. is in his 19th season as AHS’ head coach. He told the Tribune that the 2025 Cougars are “mature batters, with ‘professional’ at-bats,” working counts for walks to get on base. Asheville scored four runs, then three, two, zero, and finally three runs. “Everybody at times was really good,” Coach Hillier said.
Leadoff man Trent Maybin scored in his first two at-bats. He beat out an infield single, and his stolen bases helped ignite rallies by getting into scoring position. He mirrors his father, former major leaguer Cam Maybin, as he is rangy in center field, quick swinging, and swift running the bases. Trent, a junior, is a Texas Longhorn recruit.
“We came together” in various facets, Trent Maybin said. “If we keep playing like this, we’ll be real good.”
Hustling senior catcher Hayes Hillier, a fourth-year varsity starter, singled in the game’s first two runs.
Asheville’s co-secretaries of Defense and Offense are Secretarski brothers Jay (senior third baseman) and Tommy (sophomore shortstop). They spark rallies, such as with back-to-back sharp singles early on at West. Jay tripled in a run. Cleanup hitter and first baseman Matthew Ragaller is among the squad’s four seniors.
Tae Trantham, a dogged junior, fanned seven Falcons in four innings. He yielded no earned runs and merely three hits.
Fightin’ Falcons
Head coach Jackie Corn, Jr.’s West Falcons (3-3) beat two local rivals. They blasted Hendersonville 16-2 in their home opener and edged East Henderson (0-5) by 4-2 on March 7. East junior Tristen Sumner, son of head coach Steve Sumner, hit an arching two-run homer to center field.
In beating HHS, West lefty Brady Duvall led with three RBIs. He had two hits, along with fellow senior Parker Maltby and sophomore Jackson Stepp. Duvall, Logan Oliver, and Greyson Payne are West’s main starters.