Sophomore pitcher John Ramsey struck out 10 and walked none while giving up just two hits as Unaka blanked South Greene 7-0 on Monday evening at Claude Holsclaw Field. First baseman Bryson Street collected a pair of two-out, run-producing hits for the Rangers as well.
“Bryson hit the ball well today in JV and varsity,” Rangers manager Tee Blevins said. “John Boy threw great; I don’t think he got to 90 pitches. Low pitch count and he stayed ahead in the count and the defense – made a few errors – but they made the plays behind him. That gave him confidence.”
Unaka (2-0, 1-0 Watauga Valley Conference) struck for a pair of runs in the last of the first frame with Davey Ensor reaching on a walk and one out later Ramsey was hit by a pitch. Designated hitter Blake King – who finished the game 3-for-4 – singled to left to load the bases.
A wild pitch plated the first run and one out later Street singled sharply to short where Javier Munoz made a diving stop, but couldn’t make a play for the out, and the Rangers led 2-0. In the third, Street delivered another two-out, RBI hit when he singled to right to plate courtesy runner Alex Robinson who ran for Ramsey who walked.
“Ramsey is fastball dominant,” Blevins said. “He can place his curveball and changeup a little bit, but when he is commanding his fastball, he is hard to hit. He finished strong, and he has put in a lot of work. The last time he faced these guys was in the region championship, so he has had this one circled for awhile.”
The Rangers broke this one open in the fourth with four runs as Dakota Gallimore scored a pair of runs with a single and King smashed one high on the fence in centerfield for a two-bagger that plated another run. King came in on a wild pitch as Unaka took a 7-0 lead.
“I thought back to that region championship game, and knew what I had to do,” Ramsey said. “Bryson, I thought, came into his own today. He stepped into a big role, and he has been working real hard. That’s all we can ask. Dakota Gallimore has been a big part of my success as my catcher and batting in front of me.”
Unaka travels to South Greene for a 4:30 contest today and returns home on Thursday to face Cosby in a nonconference game.

Unaka 7-0
South Greene 000 000 0 – 0 2 1
Unaka 201 400 X – 7 7 3
W – Ramsey L – Cheek
LOB – U 7, SG 5. 2B – King, Susong.