Scoring a run in a Region 6-AAA high school softball game this season seems to be a monumental task. Pitcher Caty Sparks provided herself one early in Ringgold’s home game Tuesday against Ridgeland and valued it all game long.

Sparks’ first-inning RBI double was the difference in the Lady Tigers’ 1-0 victory over the Lady Panthers in a matchup of top-four-ranked teams in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association poll.

Jensen Hackett walked leading off the bottom of the first inning. Sparks’ hit came after a stolen base and a sacrifce bunt.

Fourth-ranked Ringgold (14-3, 3-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the region standings. No. 2-ranked Ridgeland (19-4, 3-1) gave No. 5 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe its only league loss last Thursday.

“In my opinion, this is a tough region,” Ringgold coach Vince Phillips said. “This was a big win. That’s the same club that beat Lakeview 1-0 the other day. We still have to keep things in perspective. We play Lakeview on Thursday.

“It’s all going to come down to the region tournament anyway, but we’ll take where we are right now.”

Sparks and losing pitcher Jessie Forrester each pitched a two-hitter. Sparks had eight strikeouts and allowed one walk. Forrester had seven strikeouts with three walks.

“Every team in this region has got a good pitcher,” Phillips said. “Night in and night out, your chances of being in a nail-biter are real good. The players love it. The coaches don’t love it so much.”

Ridgeland went 4-2 over the weekend in the Cherokee Invitational at Woodstock. Coach Scott Harden said three of his starters were injured in that tournament and unavailable Tuesday.

Harden stressed that he did not want to take away from the Lady Tigers’ performance. The teams play again Sept. 25.

“Hopefully we’ll be at full strength next time,” Harden said. “The biggest thing is we played good defense against them. We’ve talked all year about that. Play good defense and you at least give yourselves a chance to win.”

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