RINGGOLD, Ga. – Maybe it’s because she’s too young to know better, or it could be that some athletes just have a flair for the dramatic, but whatever the reason, Ringgold High School freshman Dare Schley knew something big was about to happen.
Stepping to the plate in the seventh inning of a tied deciding game Thursday in the Lady Tigers’ Class AAA state second-round series against Jackson County, Schley launched a three-run homer that propelled Ringgold to a 4-1 win. Her earlier double drove in the Lady Tigers’ other run.
Ringgold (30-6) advances to the Elite Eight in Columbus, where it will open play along with five other northwest Georgia teams next Thursday.
“I knew when I got up there we had to get something done, and I went up there with more confidence than I’ve ever had in my life,” Schley said. “I knew it was time to rock and roll. I had been struggling some, so it was time to get my act together and do what I can do.”
To that point Ringgold had been held in check by Jackson County pitcher Payton Sorrells — just as in Wednesday’s second game — something that had started to frustrate the Lady Tigers and their coach.