Ringgold pitcher Devin Lancaster delivers in the first game of a double-header Wednesday against Peach County. Lancaster had several strikeouts in the 6-0, win.RINGGOLD, Ga. - Dominating pitching and timely top-to-bottom team hitting are the obvious factors that propelled Ringgold into the state quarterfinals with 6-0 and 9-3 wins over Peach County on Wednesday in the second round of the Class AAA baseball playoffs.
But it may be the "little things," as Tigers coach Brent Tucker called them, that are making just as big a difference in their postseason run.
Ringgold (24-6) advances to the quarterfinals against the Jackson County-Appling County winner. Peach County finished the year 18-12 after mustering just four hits in Wednesday's first game and three in the second to go along with a doubleheader total of 13 errors.
Ringgold's first-game starter Devin Lancaster (11-0) and second-game pitcher Peyton Tennant (5-1) each threw 10 strikeouts. Tigers hitters delivered seven hits in the first game and eight in the second.
But for Ringgold, it was the five stolen bases in the opener and 12 in the second - along with numerous run-scoring sacrifice flies at key times - that were so timely.
"In both games, we had multiple hits up and down the lineup. Look at Rhett Baldwin's at-bats, Andre Tarver's at-bats, Cade Gilbert's. Just all the way through. Tyler Nichols had a great day," Tucker said. "We had several sac flies where we scored a run. The little things are adding up for us. And again, (catcher) Gavin Hollis did a spectacular job behind the plate today. To catch Devin, big tall rightie, to a Tennant leftie, that's tough."
"The whole dugout's into the game and everybody's waiting to get their name called and they're ready to go when we call them. It's good right now," Tucker added. "Even the guys that are not in the game are in the game. You know, they're adding to the game in different ways. It's like giving high-fives to players coming off the field. Their number gets called, they're ready to go and they're bringing energy into the game. We did a lot of little things today that added up to the big things. And that's baseball."
Lancaster has high hopes for the Tigers in the quarterfinals because "we're hot. We've just got to stay hot. If we keep everything rolling, I think it will be a good ending to the season. I just try to get in rhythm and stay in my rhythm. Today, every at bat was a big at-bat. If we keep hitting the ball and pitching the way we do, I don't see anyone stopping us."
Regardless of who Ringgold faces next, the Tigers believe they have weapons and spirit to match them.
Peach County coach Jeff Bailey certainly respects Ringgold's potential.
"I thought we had to come up here and try our best to play great defense, have quality pitching and hope we scratched some runs across," said Bailey. "That's because we knew what we had to face, because they're an outstanding program and an outstanding team. They had two great pitchers that matched us today, and we just weren't able to compete with them defensively and match them."
Tucker said a key Wednesday was "just trying to keep pressure on them in all phases. What I'm worried about - and it's OK with me if they don't – but we've got four or five guys that need to throw in games. But, hey, it's more than fine with me if those two (Lancaster and Tennant) just want to keep rocking and rolling.
"We have a new goal, and that's to win the third round. We will enjoy this one tonight - players will. I will start tonight on the next round. The players will start tomorrow on the next round. That's the thing about the state playoffs. You can enjoy it at the end of the season. Right now, you're just moving on to the next round."