Despite early exit, ’06 Bears made strides

Smoky Bears collect most wins in eight-years under first-year coach rusty@theheraldnewspapers.com An exuberant Lance Traywick challenged his young Smoky Bears before their contest began Monday evening. They faced a tough challenge in the Maryville Rebels, but the Bears knew that the third best season in school history would come to a close with a loss. Sevier County’s ace, Corey Switzer took the mound. As he began his windup for the opening pitch, Traywick shouted a pleasant reminder to his cubbies, “Have fun Smokies.” Though the game ended up an 8-2 loss, the Bears once again showed moments of good things to come for the newly respected Sevier County baseball team. The opening frame began with a walk to lead-off hitter Josh Ware. After a pop-up out, first baseman Raime Hurst chased a bad pitch. Coach Traywick pulled Hurst aside immediately with some unknown words of wisdom. The words Traywick chose worked as Hurst hit the gap with a single which scored Ware, and gave the Bears an early lead. The Rebels had little trouble answering with their sticks. The bottom of the first featured several Maryville base-runners, but only two produced runs. One of the Bears’ moments of brilliance came with a double play to end the inning with the bases loaded. Throughout the contest, the outfielders did a phenomenal job of getting the ball back to the infield after a hit. The extra effort kept the Rebel runners away from home and allowed for two force-out double plays in the first three innings. The top of the second featured a perfect sacrifice bunt. After an infield single, Corey Switzer moved to second base as Todd McFawn laid the ball just far enough toward the first base line to send the pitcher tumbling over himself. Switzer allowed only four earned runs to the potent Maryville lineup, one coming off the bat of Corey Whitlock’s smoker which barely cleared the left field fence at South Doyle high school. Switzer calmed and held the Rebels scoreless in the fourth before being relieved by Josh Ware in the next inning. Ware would allow four additional runs, but not all of them earned. In the end, Traywick’s demeanor had gone from lively to somewhat despondent. “This hurts, I’m not used to losing. It’s not something I’m going to get used to either.” “Next season we’re going to get better, age doesn’t matter, freshman can play. We have to play top competition day in and day out. I’m going to put the best team we can make on the field,” Traywick continued. “15 wins are the most at this school since 1998, and I have to thank my staff. The assistant coaches have done a great job.” “This season we had the third most wins in school history, next year we want to be first, and set this school and community in stone”