RINGGOLD, Ga. - The sense of deja vu was as thick as the Georgia dew Thursday night at Jack Mattox Park.
Calhoun had just beaten Ringgold, 6-1, in the championship round of the Region 6-AAA softball tournament, the Lady Yellow Jackets' first win over the Lady Tigers in four tries this season. The two teams, which split eight games a year ago, will decide the title today at 5.
Calhoun coach Diane Smith was quick to notice the similarity to last season, when Ringgold dominated the regular season and her Lady Jackets went on to win the state title over the Lady Tigers.
"Boy, it sure does remind me of a year ago, and I hope it ends like last year," she said. "But we have to play good ball like we did tonight to make it happen. We've had a few problems against Ringgold, but the girls did a really good job of staying positive tonight."
Calhoun pitcher Kindsey Liscio pitches during their prep softball region tournament game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at Jack Mattox Recreational Complex in Ringgold, Ga.Ringgold (21-5) took a quick 1-0 lead on Dare Schley's RBI single in the first inning, but that would be all the damage done to Calhoun pitcher Kinsey Liscio. The senior allowed only three hits the rest of the way, using an assortment of well-placed fastballs and tantalizing changeups to keep the Lady Tigers off balance.
"All my pitches were on point tonight," said Liscio, who also felt the deja vu. "The changeup seems to affect their lineup the most, but everything came together. I hope it's an exact repeat of last year. It's kind of scary, but in a good way I hope."
Calhoun (27-3) took the lead in the second as Ringgold pitcher Shae Jones had command issues. After she walked the first two batters, coach Shane Pendley inserted senior ace Abby McKinney. Maddie Bumgardner plated one run with a groundout and Ryan Brzozoski reached McKinney for an RBI triple and a 2-1 Calhoun lead.
An Emily Mitchell RBI double in the fifth scored Ashlyn Barnes, who had reached on an error. In the next inning Barnes came up with two on and hit a double to left field that was misplayed, the ball rolling into the corner. The speedy Barnes never stopped running and crossed the plate well ahead of the throw to make it 6-1.
"We uncharacteristically made some mistakes tonight, mental and physical," Pendley said. "I think we'll bounce back tomorrow and play good ball, and we'll have to because Calhoun is very good. It should be a good region final."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow at Twitter @youngsports 22.