In a win-or-go-home battle, Unaka had just enough as both teams left it all on the field.
The Lady Rangers outlasted Cloudland for a 4-3 victory in a District 1-A elimination game on Stoney Creek on Thursday.
With the win, Unaka advances to Friday’s District 1-A Championship match against North Greene as well as next week’s Region 1-A tournament.
Cloudland started the game off quickly.
After Ryan Turbyfill hit a single to get on base, Kendall Birchfield hit a home run over the centerfield fence to give CHS a 2-0 lead.
Unaka was able to get baserunners on base, but Cloudland held strong to hold onto the advantage.
The Lady Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the second as Katelyn Dugger hit a shot to score Alisha Harrell. CHS, however, maintained a 2-1 lead.
Neither team was able to get back onto the board until the bottom of the fifth as the Lady Rangers played three runs off hits from Jill Faust, Mollie Buckles, and Harrell.
That allowed UHS to take a 4-2 lead.
Cloudland didn’t go quietly as Layken Blair pushed Ella Benfield across with a single to cut the gap.
In the top of the seventh, Cloudland was able to get the tying run on base but was unable to keep the inning going.
Grace Stout and Bowers had two hits apiece for Unaka, while Buckles, Harrell, and Dugger had a hit apiece. Trinity Bowers had eight strikeouts.
Birchfield led Cloudland as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Bethany Sluder, Savannah McCoury, Blair, Benfield, and Turbyfill each had a hit.
For more photos, click here.
