The Unaka Lady Rangers started the 2019 season with a bang.

Behind some heavy hitting from Unaka’s Lillie Kiser, the Lady Rangers topped nonconference opponent Happy Valley, 9-2, Monday evening in Stoney Creek.

Kiser had two 2-run homers in the third and sixth innings.

“She had been struggling a little bit,” said Unaka head coach Kenneth Chambers. “She just got out of basketball and only had about a week in a half to get back into it. She has always been a great hitter for us. She was great last year. I was proud of her today.”

On the mound, Lady Rangers Kaylee Wilson picked up the win.

“I thought she did wonderfully,” said Chambers about Wilson’s performance. “We have two really good freshmen this year. Each one (Wilson and Sadie Shoun) does somethings better than the other one, but they work great together.”

The game was scoreless after the first inning. The Happy Valley Lady Warriors got on the board first in the top of the second as HV’s Cierra Sutherland scored off a single from teammate Teagan Ray.

The Lady Rangers answered in the bottom of the third as Kiser hit a 2-run homer to bring in Noel Collins before both Taylor Shanks and Shoun scored off a throwing error to first base. The Lady Rangers led 4-1 heading into the fourth.

Happy Valley closed the gap to 4-2 as Kadie Havner hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth. Unaka answered in the bottom of the frame as courtesy runner Alana Parson sped home during a wild pitch making it 5-2.

The Lady Rangers scored four more runs in the sixth as Kiser brought in Collins with a 2-run home run. Shanks and Shoun also scored run with Shanks scoring off an RBI single from Kendall Bare.