The Unaka Rangers got up early and stayed up as they topped Happy Valley, 12-2, Thursday in Stoney Creek.
Unaka pitcher John Ramsey picked up the win on the mound as he tossed six innings. Ramsey had 11 strikeouts against one walk while having three hits and two runs against him. Ramsey is now 8-0 on the season.
The Rangers worked the plate for 12 hits Thursday as Justin Houghton, John-Wesley Hardin, Dakota Gallimore, and Davy Ensor all had two hits apiece. Hardin finished the night with three RBIs while Ensor and Isaac Hill both had two RBIs each. Both Ramsey and Hardin had doubles on the night.
Unaka jumped ahead 4-0 during in the bottom of the first as Unaka’s Blake King and Hardin both had RBI singles to help the Rangers take an early advantage.
The Warriors answered in the top of the second with Happy Valley’s Luke Naylor hitting a two-run double to cut the Rangers lead to 4-2.
Unaka posted five runs over the third and fourth innings to push on out to a 9-2 lead. In the third, Hill had a line drive single to center field to bring in Gallimore and Hardin. Hardin would net teammate John Ramsey with double to center.
The Rangers put the cherry on top in the sixth inning as they posted three runs. The inning saw Ensor smack a line drive to center field for an RBI single.
On the Warriors side of the plate, Happy Valley had three hits with two of those coming from HV’s Luke Naylor who also finished the game with two RBIs in the second inning.
Happy Valley worked through two pitchers Thursday with Michael Harrah (5 IP, 3 Ks, 3 BB, 9 H, 9 R) and Eli Ayers (0.2 IP, 1 K, 3 H, 3 R) both seeing time on the mound.