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FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Unaka Lady Rangers knew the battle they had in front of them as the Lady Rangers traveled to Greenback to take on the Lady Cherokees in the regional semifinal game with a sectional berth on the line a well.

In a game that was like two prizefighters going back and forth, the Lady Cherokees landed the biggest punch in the bottom of the eighth inning after Unaka had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the frame as Greenback blasted two home runs to take the walk-off win, 6-4.

Unaka came out on fire in the top of the first inning scoring three runs.

Sadie Shoun opened the contest with a single but was eliminated on a fielder’s choice on a ball hit by Trinity Bowers. Alana Parsons stepped to the plate and ripped a triple to score Bowers making it a 1-0 game.

Catcher Kendall Bare followed with a single scoring Parsons to quickly give the Lady Rangers a 2-0 edge. Hannah Taylor came in to courtesy run for Bare and scored on a single by Lyndie Ramsey to make it a 3-0 contest.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the third when the Lady Cherokees responded with a three-spot of their own to tie the game at 3-3 after four complete innings of play.

With both teams making some outstanding defensive plays, the score remained 3-3 until the top of the eighth inning.

Parsons delivered a solo home run on a 3-2 count to give the Lady Rangers a 4-3 lead that they were hoping to make stand to the final out of the game.

However, that would not be the case as Maddy Hood hit a solo home run with two outs and a 1-1 count to even the game once again at 4-4.

Kaitlynn Jones followed with a single and the game was put on ice by Carmen Rogers who delivered a walk-off two-run homer to win it for Greenback bringing to close a successful season for the Lady Rangers.

Shoun and Parsons led the Lady Ranger offense with two hits on the day. Aside from Bowers, Bare, and Ramsey, Unaka also got a hit from Hailey Gilman and Jill Faust in their nine-hit attack.

Shoun went seven and two-thirds of an inning allowing 15 hits and six runs while striking out eight and walking one.

Lauren Morton and Hood had three hits apiece to lead the Lady Cherokees. Makenzie Jones, Kaitlynn Jones, and Rogers each collected a pair of hits as well in Greenback’s 15-hit attack.