Coach Brent Tucker congratulates Ringgold's Tyler Nichols (25) after an (E-8) triple to center field in Tuesday's 6-2 win over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.RINGGOLD, Ga. - As an old-school baseball coach, Brent Tucker can't help but wince sometimes when his Ringgold players swing at the first pitch or try to take an extra base they probably shouldn't.
Tucker also has been around long enough to know it's a mistake to try to make his players into something they aren't. Tuesday night's 6-2 Region 6-AAA win was a prime example as the uber-aggressive Tigers used one big inning to beat county rival Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.
"This team is aggressive in everything they do," Tucker said. "Sometimes it makes you take your hat off and scratch your head, and sometimes it looks great, but either way I won't hold back that aggression."
The ugly side of that aggressive nature showed itself in the second inning when the inning's first two outs were made at third base and home plate, a promising inning then turned into nothing.
However, after tying the game at 1 with a single run in the third, Ringgold (12-4, 7-0) sent eight batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits. Three of the hits, including Rhett Baldwin's two-run double, came on first swings off LFO pitcher Tommy Hicks.
Tyler Nichols followed with a sacrifice fly, his third RBI in four innings as the Tigers handed ace Devin Lancaster a 6-2 lead. The right-hander, who had allowed two runs and three hits in the second inning, allowed just three hits over the final five and improved to 6-0.
"Devin didn't have his best stuff tonight, but he worked through innings and found a way to be successful," Tucker said of Lancaster, who struck out only three but did not walk a batter.
"He kept throwing strike one and had no walks, and you can get a lot done that way. For the most part we played good defense behind him. He's really matured on the mound and understands how to stay within himself and trust his stuff."
Lancaster was coming off a 14-strikeout game in a win at Adairsville, but without his usual sharp-breaking curve he relied on an upper-80s fastball that he was able to locate well.
"I heard they were a good-hitting team, so I wanted to throw strikes and take care of the game," he said. "Even though I didn't have my best stuff I wanted to take control of the game, and we achieved that goal."
The Warriors (11-6, 4-3), who already have more wins than last year, took a 2-1 lead in the second on Logan Gruetter's RBI double and pinch-runner Giavonni Barraso's daring dash from third on an error. Coach Johnny Burch, despite the loss, took several positive things home from the game.
"Tommy Hicks did a super job, and even in that one bad inning it could have snowballed even more," Burch said. "He limited damage and kept us in the ballgame. Of course, their guy settled in, especially once he got the bigger lead.
"Our guys have battled all year long and the effort has never been an issue, which is why we've been able to hang around and win some close games. Today was a little different animal against a good ball club with a very good pitcher on the mound."
Nichols, Baldwin, Noah Parrish and Nathan Camp each had two hits for Ringgold, while Garren Mauldin had two of LFO's six hits.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.