There wasn’t a lot on the scoreboard after Tuesday’s contest between Unaka and University High.
But it was just enough for the Lady Rangers to take a 2-1 win over the Lady Buccaneers, punching a ticket to the District 1-A softball championship this Thursday at ETSU’s Betty Basler Field. Unaka will take on the winner of U-H and North Greene at 7 p.m. and will have to be defeated twice.
Unaka pitcher Corie Schuettler picked up the win for the Lady Rangers as she worked seven innings inside the circle. The slinger finished the day with nine strikeouts against two walks. She had just three hits and one run against her.
“It was a pitching duel,” said Unaka head coach Kenneth Chambers. “I though Corie (Schuettler) did a good job today. We had a couple of good hits, but we hit it right at them, and they made good plays.
“U-H is a good team, and you have to play well to beat them,” Chambers added.
Unaka picked up five hits on the day with Sarah Tipton and Katlyn Weaver both recording two hits apiece. Weaver finished with two RBIs. Unaka’s Erica Potter had a triple.
The contest went scoreless for the first three innings before the Lady Bucs posted a run in the top of the fourth as U-H’s Cradic Frankie, who reached on a triple, came home on a groundout by Jenna Davis.
The Lady Rangers did not let U-H’s lead last long at all. In the bottom of the fourth with Potter and Tipton waiting on base, Weaver popped a double to net her teammates giving Unaka a 2-1 lead.
Throughout the rest of the contest, tough pitching and consistent fielding would keep runners from scoring. The Lady Rangers had numerous double plays on the day.
In the fifth inning, with one out, Potter made a diving catch on a short fly ball before flinging the ball to Unaka second baseman Madison Pierce who tagged second for a double play to end the frame.
“I believe we turned two or three double plays, and you usually don’t do that in a game,” said Chambers. “I though it was a great whole team effort.”
The Lady Rangers would end the contest in style. In the top of the seventh with the Lady Bucs vying for a run to tie things up, Unaka first baseman Madison Ensor made a running highlight reel catch on a foul for the final out of the game.