RINGGOLD, Ga. — In the end, the wait was well worth it for the Heritage High School softball team.
After a delay that stretched nearly three days, it took just four pitches Monday to decide the Region 7-AAAA championship. Junior Shayla Ludy delivered a game-winning single with two out in the seventh inning to give the Generals a 3-2 win over Ridgeland.
Heritage (27-4) will host Chamblee in a doubleheader start to a best-of-three first-round playoff series Wednesday at 5, while Ridgeland (18-12) will host St. Pius X.
“It was pretty unusual,” Heritage coach Jason Carter said of the long wait and quick finish. “It’s funny because we were going to try to play Saturday, but it was too wet for the girls’ safety, but the extra time gave us a lot of time to think what the next step is.
“I’m not sure if that was a good thing or not, but it worked out just the same.”
The game resumed with Hannah Wills at second base and pinch-runner Cassie Davis at first with one out and the team’s best hitter, Olivia Tamewitz, at the plate. The Generals had planned to put on a hit-and-run, but Morgan Crawford’s first pitch was well outside. Wills read the pitch and stayed put, but the play was taken off.
Tamewitz grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Wills forced at third. Ludy, though, ended the drama with a clean single to left, with Davis scoring easily.
“With Olivia coming up we thought that might be it,” Carter said. “Shayla came through, though, and put the barrel on the ball. We’re pretty excited. That’s three (region titles) in a row, so the girls are excited for the three-peat. I’m very pleased with our season so far and hope to keep it going in the playoffs.”
Heritage had taken a 2-0 lead in the third inning Friday on Tamewitz’s RBI triple and Ludy’s run-scoring infield single. The Lady Panthers, after having just two hits in five innings against Heritage pitcher Taelyn Bates, fought back in the sixth.
Haley Sandridge and Haley Johnson led off with singles, and after a groundout moved the runners up, Emma Arthur singled to left field. Sandridge scored easily and Johnson followed when the throw from the outfield eluded Heritage catcher Shelby Hammontree.
Ridgeland left two runners on in the top of the seventh before Heritage put two on as the first of several lightning strikes started the multi-day delay.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow at Twitter @youngsports22.