Unaka swings a hot bat to advance to District 1-A softball finals, 16-3
Published 9:01 am Friday, May 10, 2019
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka's Madison Pierce looks to throw out the runner at first.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka gets the out at home as catcher, Kendel Bare, looks to throw another out at second.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka's catcher, Kendal Bare, concentrates on a throw to home from the short stop.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde It was a slugfest for Unaka as Taylor Shanks teammates welcome her home after smacking a homerun. This put Unaka up 5-3 in the 4th.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka's Alana Parsons is safe after powering her way to second on what should have been a force out.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Lady Rangers Madison Pierce rounds second after a double by Sadie Shoun.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka's Alana Parsons and Madison Pierce both come home after a hit to deep left field by #11 Sadie Shoun.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde It was a homerun fest as Ericka Potter belts one over center field for a home run, driving in two runners.
Star Photo/Brandon Hyde Unaka celebrates the win over North Greene while advancing to the championship game.
BY AUSTIN ALEXANDER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
KINGSPORT— Sullivan North once again played host to the Division 1-A softball tournament on Wednesday night as the top-seeded Unaka Lady Rangers took on the second-seeded North Greene Lady Huskies with a spot in the championship on the line.
Despite a close game through three, the Lady Rangers exploded with 12 runs in the fourth inning making it 16-3 which was how the game would finish.
Sadie Shoun got the starting nod from the pitching circle for the Lady Rangers with her eyes set on reaching the championship game on Thursday. She worked through the top of the first getting three outs following an opening walk.
North Greene countered with Abi Laws in the circle and she also had a strong first inning but did allow a triple to Shoun.
Shoun was later driven in after a routine groundout making the score 1-0 at the end of the first inning.
Third baseman Abby Keys singled to start the top of the second inning but Shoun was quick to retire the side following the hit setting the next three batters down.
Laws would keep dueling, however, as she and the Lady Huskies went three up and three down in the bottom of the second inning for Unaka.
Ally Brown blooped a single into right to begin the third for the Lady Huskies. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brown attempted to steal third base and ended up reaching home after an errant throw from the Unaka catcher.
Tayla Potter led off the home half of the inning for Unaka with a single into left and she would advance to second after the left fielder had trouble stopping the ball.
Alana Parsons followed with a double into center scoring Potter. Madison Pierce followed with a single into left, but Parsons was nailed at home on a great throw.
A couple of batters later, Erika Potter stepped up and thumped a ball deep to left and out of the park for a two-run shot. The inning ended 4-1 in favor of the Lady Rangers.
North Greene was not ready to go quietly, however, as three consecutive one-out singles brought up Ally Brown who would hit a hard-hit grounder into left scoring two runs and making it a 4-3 game headed into the home half.
The bottom of the fourth inning was when Unaka staked its claim for the top team in the conference as the bats came to life.
Taylor Shanks got things going in a big way with a solo shot to the deepest part of the park in center.
Two errors and another hit from Parsons loaded the bases for Shoun who would hit a ball to left that was met with an error clearing the bases.
Potter had a case of déjà vu as she jacked another home run to left center scoring two more runs.
An error and four consecutive hits meant another two runs and once again loaded the bases for Unaka’s Parsons who creamed a bases-clearing grand slam.
The inning and the game would end 16-3.
The Lady Rangers faced off against Cloudland on Thursday evening for a shot at the district championship.
