Happy Valley used a strong inning to celebrate a special day.
The Warriors picked up a 10-6 victory over Unaka on Happy Valley’s inaugural Play for Another Day benefit for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Through various efforts, the Warriors raised over $1,500 to go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
On the diamond, Unaka struck first as Davy Ensor crossed home plate off a Blake King single, and then King scored off a John Boy Ramsey sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead into the home side of the first.
The Warriors got one of the runs back in their first at-bat as Will Hampton scored off a wild pitch. That cut the Unaka lead to 2-1 going to the second.
After a scoreless second, the Rangers plated two runs in the top of the third as Bryson Street and Ramsey touched home plate. In the fourth, Happy Valley pulled within one run as Landon Morefield and Eli Fleenor scored off wild pitches.
The bottom of the fifth saw HV take full control.
Kevin Whitaker scored off a Jacob Absher single, and Dylan Willis scored after Morefield put the ball in play to give HV the lead. Absher kept the scoring going as he scored off a wild pitch.
Luke Naylor drove two runs across home plate with a deep single while Bailey Conley also plated two runs with a line drive to center field. That gave HV a 10-4 lead going to the sixth.
Unaka scored a run with no outs in the visiting side of the sixth as Hunter Rice made his way around the bases. However, the Rangers were unable to keep the inning going.
Ramsey scored off Daniel Ensor contact int he top of the seventh, but the Warriors held strong for the win.
Absher was 2-for-4 to lead the Way at the plate for HV, while five other Warriors recorded hits.
John-Wesley Hardin, Ramsey and Rice each had two hits for the Rangers.
Nolan Easlic picked up the win as he allowed just two unearned runs on four hits with five strikeouts in three innings of work.
For more information regarding the Play for a Day benefit or ways, you can help, contact Happy Valley Head Coach Brad Hill.
