BY AUSTIN ALEXANDER

STAR CORRESPONDENT

JONESBOROUGH— The early game in the District 1-A tournament on Monday was a battle for survival. After both Unaka and North Greene lost their first-round matchups on Saturday, it was do-or-die Monday evening as both teams knew it was win or be eliminated.

The weather was sunny and cooperative for a great game of baseball. Despite a full team effort, North Greene was victorious 6-2 over the Rangers.

Bryson Street was the starter on the mound for the Rangers, but the Huskies came out swinging. After getting two pop outs to opposite fields, Cayden Foulks sent a single down the left field line recording the first hit of the game.

The bats stayed hot for North Greene as Turner Bailey smacked a double in the very next at bat moving Foulks over to third.

After a bad throw trying to pick a runner off, the Huskies would score the opening run of the game.

Foulks got things going on the mound for the Huskies and he made quick work of the Rangers taking down the top of the lineup in three-up and three-down fashion.

Things got going fast in the second for North Greene as Micah Jones laced a line drive into left but was picked off trying to stretch the single into a double.

After back-to-back walks from Street, Chance Campbell struck a well-hit ball down the third base line scoring a run and making the score 2-0.

The Rangers would get their sticks going in the second after Street, who had just broken his glasses, hit a hardball into right for a single. Daniel Ensor would keep swinging for Unaka knocking a double into left and moving Street to third.

With two on, Davy Ensor stepped up and smacked a single into center scoring a run and getting the Rangers on the board.

The momentum was quickly halted, however, after Foulks gathered himself and got the next three batters out for the Rangers.

The Huskies got things going in the third when Bailey hit a single into left. A walk would follow the next batter and Bailey would advance to second after a drop from the catcher. The next batter for the Huskies, Brady Harkleroad, would sacrifice bunt scoring a runner.

A double into left from Chase Malone scored another run before Malone was driven in on a Brayden Garber single.

Unaka couldn’t get anything cooking in the bottom half of the inning once again going three up and three down with the score at the end of the inning 5-1 in favor of the Huskies.

The fourth inning went better for Unaka as Street and the Rangers escaped the inning allowing only one hit.

Street (3-for-3) would start the bottom half of the frame with a single into center, but had a pinch runner come in for him. Pinch runner, Austin Drew, was then caught napping at first base.

The Rangers couldn’t muster much else for the rest of the inning.

After holding the Huskies at bay in the top of the fifth inning, the bottom half meant another run for the Rangers when Nolan Bradley knocked a ball deep into left field driving in previously walked Nick Nunley.

But the Rangers couldn’t create any more offense for the rest of the game.

North Greene would add another run in the sixth inning and the game finished 6-2 in the Huskies favor.