Lady Rangers shut out Happy Valley 11-0
Published 12:50 am Wednesday, March 11, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Ranger shortstop Sadie Shoun slings a throw across the diamond to retire a runner at first base.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Happy Valley's Abbie Holt makes a throw to first base to retire a Unaka base runner.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Ranger pitcher Kailey Wilson sends an offering to the dish in Monday's game at Unaka.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabehtton.com
STONEY CREEK – On an absolutely gorgeous day for the opening day of another season of prep softball, two local county teams gathered at Ronnie Hicks Field for a non-conference matchup as the Unaka Lady Rangers hosted the Happy Valley Lady Warriors.
One season removed from a TSSAA State Softball appearance, the Lady Rangers picked right back up where they left off last season by doing it both with their bats and backing up the shutout pitching of Kailey Wilson and Trinity Bowers.
The Lady Rangers found the scoreboard first in the second inning as Kendall Bare singled and Kiki Forney came in to pinch run. The next batter up, Alana Parsons, wasted little time in picking up her first home run of the season when she launched a missile over the deep-center field fence for a two-run dinger.
Unaka added three more to their side of the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Noelle Collins opened with a walk followed by a single from Wilson. After a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Sadie Shoun sent a stinger into center field scoring Kylie Blevins who came in to run for Collins.
Happy Valley’s Abbie Holt spun another strikeout for the second out of the inning before a Hailey Gilman double to right field brought home Wilson and Shoun for a 5-0 Unaka lead.
After holding Happy Valley scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Rangers went back to work scoring six more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Parsons reached on an error by Lady Warrior shortstop Olivia Absher to open the inning. Kiki Forney laid down a bunt for a single as Parsons took third on the throw.
Collins walked to load the bases. Wilson grounded out allowing Parsons to score and the other two Lady Rangers baserunners to advance up a base.
Beth Lowe was hit by a pitch to fill the bags once again. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Shoun allowed Forney to score making it 7-0.
A misplayed ball by the Lady Warriors outfielder allowed Bowers to reach as Collins crossed the plate for a 8-0 Unaka lead.
Happy Valley got the second out of the inning on a pop fly before Bare roped a single to center field allowing Shoun and Lowe to score making it a 10-0 game.
The final run of the game for Unaka came when Parsons hit a line drive single plating scoring Bowers to make it 11-0.
Parsons had three hits on the day while Bare collected two for Unaka in a nine-hit attack. Wilson toed the pitching rubber for four innings giving up six hits and striking out four Lady Warriors.
Bowers went three innings from the pitching circle allowing two hits and recording four strikeouts.
Absher and Laura Rice went 2-of-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Warriors offensively. Holt pitched five innings allowing six hits and five runs while striking out five and issuing one walk.
Teagan Ray closed out the sixth frame for Happy Valley allowing three hits and six runs with one base on ball.
Unaka (1-0) plays host to Sullivan North today.
