Hayesville Baseball Dominant in SMC So Far

Photo by Carissa Daniels

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville High School Yellow Jackets varsity baseball team has rebounded strongly in the 2025-26 season, posting a 7-4 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in Smoky Mountain 1A/2A Conference play as of early April 2026. Currently riding a seven-game winning streak, the Yellow Jackets sit in second place in the conference and rank No. 295 in North Carolina and No. 27 in Class 2A.

The season started with a pair of tough non-conference losses against larger schools. On March 3, Hayesville fell 7-6 in a close road contest at Franklin. Three days later, they dropped a 12-1 decision at home to Pisgah. Those early setbacks left the team at 0-2 (or worse, depending on any unreported games), but the Yellow Jackets quickly found their stride once conference play began.

Since mid-March, Hayesville has been nearly unstoppable in league matchups, winning every game by at least seven runs and posting multiple shutouts. Highlights include:

• A March 13 doubleheader sweep at Robbinsville (12-0 and 10-0)

• Back-to-back shutouts of Cherokee (10-0 home on March 17; 7-0 away on March 20)

• A 16-1 road victory over Swain County on March 24

• Dominant wins over Murphy (12-2 home on March 31; 11-3 away on April 2)

The Yellow Jackets have outscored opponents 90-43 overall this season, showing strong offensive firepower and pitching depth in conference games.

Standout performances have come from senior two-way player Jackson Sellers (1B/RHP/OF), who is batting .500 with a .625 on-base percentage, .800 slugging percentage, 14 RBI, four doubles, and eight stolen bases. On the mound, Sellers is 4-0 with a sparkling 0.58 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched. Other offensive leaders include senior Ben Bethel (.500 average, team-high 17 runs and 16 hits) and juniors like Rob Barter and Brady Reynolds contributing key hits and extra-base power. The team’s collective batting average sits at .424 with a .513 on-base percentage.

In recent Western North Carolina power rankings, Hayesville checked in at No. 9, with analysts noting the team’s impressive turnaround after the early non-conference losses. “Every Smoky Mountain Conference win has been by at least seven runs,” one report highlighted.

Head coach Joe Sellers and his staff have the Yellow Jackets well-positioned heading into the second half of the regular season. Upcoming games include conference doubleheaders against Hiwassee Dam (April 14 away and April 17 home) and Rosman, plus matchups with Andrews, Swain County, and non-conference foe Towns County.