Huge fifth inning boosts Lady Rangers to a run-rule victory

Published 11:36 pm Wednesday, April 7, 2021

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BY AUSTIN ALEXANDER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
STONEY CREEK – Unaka’s Ronnie Hicks Field was the sight of a conference matchup on Tuesday night between the Lady Huskies of North Greene and the Unaka Lady Rangers as a slow start from both teams offensively was quickly corrected with a massive finale from the Rangers to close the game out on the Mercy Rule, 13-3.

Sadie Shoun for the Lady Rangers locked into an early pitching showdown with Cambell Gaby of North Greene as the two sat down batter after batter for the first two innings of play.

In the third, the Huskies got off the mark with Lady Huskie Haley Kirkpatrick smashing a ball out of the park for the 1-0 lead. Shoun sat down the next two batters, but some damage had been done.

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Just when Gaby had retired the first 8 batters of the game, Lyndie Ramsey slapped a hard-hit ball to right field that turned from a single to a triple after an error from the right fielder.

Shoun stepped up and knocked Ramsey in tying the game at 1-1 after three innings.

The fourth inning brought better bats for the Huskies with the first two batters both reaching on base. After a sacrifice advanced the two runners, a blooper into right field dropped down to score a run for the Huskies.

An error at second base secured another North Greene run making it a 3-1 contest.

Back up to bat, the Rangers refused to be outdone.

The first pitch of the inning was a crushed home run by Alana Parsons starting things hot for Unaka.

Kendall Bare almost made it back-to-back shots but settled for a double. She was then driven in by Noelle Collins on an RBI single.

The scoring wasn’t over yet as a Trinity Blevins bunt scored Hailey Gilman and the Rangers led 5-3 after four innings.

A resounding pitching display from Shoun finished off when she retired the side with quick diplomacy in the fifth inning, sitting North Greene down in order.

Then came the “big boom” for Unaka.

A big eight-run fifth inning started with a crushing double from Bowers. She was knocked in when Parsons hit a double of her own. The double train would continue when Bare got in on the fun smacking in another run.

Kylie Blevins, Bare, and Kailey Wilson would all find their way on base and then across the plate to score.

Ramsey single with Shoun knocking her in next with a double down the left-field line. After a Bowers sacrifice, Parsons would finish off the Huskies with a single into center to trigger the 10-run rule.

It took a while for the Lady Rangers to get going, but once they did there was no hope for the Lady Huskies as Unaka found their rhythm.

Unaka advances to 10-5 on the season and looks like they may be one of the teams to beat this season.