Jr. Warriors rally past a feisty Unaka squad, 6-3
Published 1:39 pm Friday, March 28, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent A strong throw from the Warrior shortstop puts the tag on the Rangers runner for the second out.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Middle School Warriors rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 6-3 win over the Rangers.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Jacob Shaffer fires a pitch home during warmups. He finished the day with no earned runs and allowed four hits over 3 1/3 innings of work.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Mason Foister slides headfirst for a run after a passed ball.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Middle School Warriors rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 6-3 win over the Rangers.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Warriors pitcher Mason Foister records a strikeout and picks up the win for the Junior Warriors.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Rangers catcher Maddox Pickel shows off his arm as he fires down to second base.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Happy Valley Middle School Warriors rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 6-3 win over the Rangers.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Warriors third baseman Brody Jarrett fields a grounder and throws to first for the out.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Unaka Middle School Coach Ricky Garrison has a conversation with one of his players before the bottom of the fourth inning.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Jr. Rangers came out ready to play Thursday night, jumping out to an early lead. But with their backs against the wall, the Warriors’ bats came alive and they posted the win over their county foe.
Things couldn’t have started better for the Jr. Rangers, as they used base hits by Jacob Shaffer and Garren Gray to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. The inning featured an alert bit of baserunning by Braxton Wright, who showed off his wheels with a steal of home. The Jr. Rangers threatened again in the bottom of the second, but Warriors catcher Javi Carrillo gunned down MJ Tisdale at third to end the inning.
The Warriors got two runs back in the top of the third when Jackson Hollifield drew a walk and Brody Wagoner hit a double into the gap in left-center to plate him. The inning continued as the Warriors loaded the bases with back-to-back hit-by-pitch batters. A called catcher’s interference brought in Shanning Hendricks to cut the Rangers’ lead to one, but Shaffer got a strikeout to end the inning and allow the Jr. Rangers to hold their slim lead.
The bottom of the fourth once again saw Warriors catcher Carrillo showing off his arm strength, picking off not one but two Rangers baserunners attempting to steal. Otherwise, the middle innings were fairly quiet. With an hour and 45-minute time limit, the Warriors were looking at their final at-bat in the top of the sixth, still trailing 3-2.
Hendricks started the inning by reaching on an error and advancing to second on a passed ball. Gavin Strandberg then roped a single to left to plate Hendricks and tie the game at 3. Jacob C. laid down a bunt single, and Mason Foister followed with a deep flyball to left for a double. However, Strandberg was tagged out at home. Aggressive baserunning paid off for the Warriors as they scored two runs on passed balls to take a 5-3 lead. Silas Osbourne hit another double to left to plate the final Jr. Warriors run.
Trailing 6-3, the Rangers got the leadoff batter on base, but Foister struck out the next three to preserve the hard-fought win. Wagoner led the Warriors with two base hits and threw four innings on the mound, surrendering three runs (none earned) while striking out eight. Foister was strong in relief, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out five.
For the Jr. Rangers, Garren Gray and Shaffer collected hits, while the combination of Shaffer and Jacob Carrier handled mound duty. They gave up six runs — only one earned — and recorded nine strikeouts.
Postgame, Jr. Warriors Head Coach Eli Ayers spoke about his team’s rally in their final at-bat:
“Unaka played a great game. They have improved a lot since the last time we played them. They jumped on us early, and we chipped away the best we could. In those last two innings, Mason shut the door on them on the mound. He got our team fired up and the bats finally came around. So proud of our team for staying focused and coming in clutch when it mattered!”
