Roundup: Bulldogs rally late to end Unaka Rangers season

Published 9:59 pm Sunday, May 7, 2023

Hampton rallied late to end the season of the Unaka Rangers in the Elimination game of the 1-A District Tournament. The Bulldogs plated four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the walk-off, Landon Ramsey who had pitched a dandy giving up just one earned run on three hits with 14 K’s reached his pitch limit of 120 and the Bulldogs took advantage.

Down 5-2, the Bulldogs started the rally by reaching off an error at third and then followed that up with a Chance Point single to right scoring Josh Whitson. Chance Point would then scurry home off a single by Brody Hicks. The Bulldogs would continue the rally when Jayden Kuhn would hit a grounder up the middle to score Hicks to tie the game at 5-5. A well laid down bunt by Johnathan Greenwell would push the tying run to the plate with just one out setting up freshmen Jamie Turbyfill for some late game heroics. Turbyfill would jump on the first pitch and hit a groundball just past the Rangers second baseman for the walk-off.

Bulldog Johnny Greenwell would pick up the win striking out 11 and giving up just two earned runs over five innings. In the loss Jayson Nidiffer would go 2-4 with two RBI’s and Logan Lewis would go 2-3  on the day. Point and Hicks would lead the way both collecting two hits. The Bulldogs will play another elimination game today against North Greene.

The Cyclones responded with five runs after the Blue Devils rallied making it a one run game in the sixth inning. Jack Farris, Brayden Buckles and Bryson Rowland each drove in runs in the decisive sixth. Peyton Johnson was in charge on the mound for the Cyclones going 5.1 innings and giving up just one earned run on two hits and totaled 8 strikeouts.

Hayden Nave and Jack Farris both were 2-3 at the plate while Rowland would chip in three RBIs with his big double in the sixth. The Cyclones will play Tennessee High today at Cardinal Park in Johnson City, as they advance in the Winners Bracket of their District Tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs posted 7 runs in the second inning and never looked back. The Lady Bulldogs totaled 12 hits in all and were led by Mallory Lamb who went 3-3 on the day. Abby Willis and Abbie Lunsford also had multiple hits in the contest. Briley Davis would do her part crossing the plate four times in the win. Cheyenne Fair would get the win for the Lady Bulldogs going 5 innings and giving up just 3 earned runs.

The win in the Region 1-1 A District Tournament game means the Lady Bulldogs will play North Greene Monday night at 7 pm at Unaka.

The Lady Warriors would scrap but just couldn’t get the bats going enough to keep up, as the Lady Longhorns would methodically pull away. The Longhorns would use a couple Lady Warrior errors in the second to score 5 runs, Mattie Jones was strong at the plate and on the mound going 3-3 at the plate and giving up just two runs on 4 hits while picking up 9 strikeouts.

Reagan Street would go 2-3 at the plate while Ella Marvel and Natalie Cline would pick up base knocks in the final conference game for both teams. The Lady Warriors will play host to West Greene in the opening game of the Region 1-2A District Tournament, the only single elimination tourney in the area.