Experienced Ringgold sweeps into AAA softball second round [photos]

Ringgold runner Ally Ellis reaches 3rd before a force tag attempt by Jackson County 3rd baseman Serina Bergeron during Ringgold's GHSA Class AAA softball playoff game against Jackson County at Ringgold High School on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, in Ringgold, Ga.
Ringgold runner Ally Ellis reaches 3rd before a force tag attempt by Jackson County 3rd baseman Serina Bergeron during Ringgold's GHSA Class AAA softball playoff game against Jackson County at Ringgold High School on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, in Ringgold, Ga.

RINGGOLD, Ga. - Having six seniors at his disposal, each having gone through and thrived amid the pressure of the GHSA softball playoffs, Ringgold coach Shane Pendley wasn't concerned when a game got close Wednesday.

Having rolled to a five-inning, 9-1 win over Jackson County in the first game of the best-of-three Class AAA playoff series, the Lady Tigers found themselves in a battle after the visitors scored two runs in the sixth inning to pull within two runs in the second game. Ringgold rewarded Pendley's confidence by scoring three runs in the seventh and held on for a 9-5 win.

With the sweep, Ringgold (18-12) will travel to Pike County or host Tattnall County for another best-of-three series when the second round starts next Wednesday.

"I was just commending the girls on answering back after they cut it to 6-4 by putting up a three-spot there in the seventh," Pendley praised. "I've focused all year on telling them to play the entire game, not just parts of it. They made it close, but having six seniors - who are the backbone of our team - I wasn't very worried."

Two of those seniors, catcher Dare Schley and first baseman Hannah Crosland, combined for six RBIs in the opening win, while another, outfielder Kiana Dale, hit a solo homer in the fifth to end the game. Kaylee Phillips, who kept the Lady Panthers (13-15) off balance, pitched a two-hitter.

The second game appeared to be heading for an early ending as well after Ringgold scored three runs in the second inning, with two coming home on Shelby Cole's double, and two more in the third. Those two runs could have broken the visitors' spirits after the runners scored from first and second on a flyout and two ill-advised throws.

The score was 6-2 in the fifth when Ringgold starter Briana Foster tired. She allowed three singles and Jessica Burke's two-run single before being relieved by first-game winner Phillips. The rally, however, abruptly ended when Hailey Clark lined into a double play.

The Lady Tigers then batted around in the seventh, with Crosland's double, a squeeze bunt by Gracie Morrison and a pair of errors the key plays.

"You just have to stay calm and have confidence in yourself and your team," Crosland said about the seventh-inning rally. "Our hitting picked up today and we didn't make any errors, which was big because they had some big hitters."

Crosland had three hits in the second game, while Karoline Sholl, Kayla Woody and Morrison each had two hits.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com

Upcoming Events