COLUMBUS, Ga. – Though her team was eliminated from state championship contention, Ringgold softball coach Rachel Hodge was smiling widely.
Her Lady Tigers, after losing an eight-inning game in their GHSA Class AAA state tournament opener Thursday, bounced back Friday morning with a 4-3 win over Perry, but the momentum didn’t last long as Ringgold was knocked out by a five-inning 8-0 loss to Thomson.
With only senior second baseman Allie Baker not being around for next year’s team, it’s no wonder Hodge was smiling, though that wasn’t the only reason.
“We set goals at the beginning of the year, and our main one was to make it down here,” the second-year coach said. “But once we got here, we wanted to win, and we did get one. None of these girls have been to Columbus before, and we have just one senior, so this is great experience for them.”
Freshman Chandler Turner’s two-run fifth-inning double turned around a one-run deficit against Perry. Junior pitcher Kensey Sholl, after walking the leadoff batter in the seventh, stranded the tying run on second by retiring the next three. Junior Adrian Thornton and sophomore Ericka Bynum had three hits each for the Lady Tigers.
Youthful mistakes cost Ringgold (22-16) dearly against Thomson, with four errors leading to five unearned runs. Thomson managed just five hits but took advantage of the miscues and four walks.
Several Lady Tigers already were talking about returning next year, including the one they’ll miss.
“Everyone earlier was telling us we couldn’t get here, so we surprised a lot of people,” Baker said. “This was a special experience, just being in the opening ceremony and being on the field with all these great teams. This team will be good again next year, and I can’t wait to be back here to watch them.”