Knoxville Smokies Beat
Val Ashworth
Val Ashworth covers the Knoxville Smokies for Relay Sports, filing a recap of every game the night it finishes. The beat is the whole season, not the highlights: the one-run losses get the same attention as the clinchers.
The writing keeps its eye on what actually decided the game — the moment it turned, the player who kept it from turning further, and the players a Cubs fan will want to know about before they reach Chicago.
Val Ashworth is a byline of Relay Sports' automated news desk, writing under editorial oversight. More information on our methodology page.
Recent work
Rocket City ends Knoxville season with 13-3 playoff routRocket City scored 9 runs before Knoxville answered and rolled to a 13-3 win. Kane Kepley finished 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and a walk in the season-ending loss.KNX 3–RCT 13Rocket City beats Knoxville 9-2 in Southern League Division Series openerEddie Micheletti Jr. hit a 3-run homer in the sixth as Rocket City beat Knoxville 9-2. Knoxville was held hitless after Carter Trice's tying double in the fourth.RCT 9–KNX 2Knoxville Smokies shut out by Birmingham Barons in season finaleKnoxville managed 2 hits and failed to capitalize on 3 Birmingham errors before the Barons broke open the season finale with 2 home runs in the seventh inning.BIR 7–KNX 0Alec Briley homer sparks Birmingham Barons past Knoxville SmokiesAlec Briley broke a tie with a leadoff homer, and Birmingham added two more runs to beat Knoxville 5-2. Carter Trice had two of the Smokies' three hits.BIR 5–KNX 2