Ringgold catcher Caleb Jones makes the tag on Columbus High’s Spencer Draws during game three of the playoff series Thursday.
Contributed Photo by Robin TrimarchiCOLUMBUS, Ga. – Maybe it was the mid-90-degree weather that brought up the image. When Brent Tucker tried to find a way to analyze his baseball team’s GHSA Class AAA playoff series loss to Columbus, an Old West analogy came to mind.
“We had the rattlesnake down and let him go,” Ringgold coach Tucker said after Thursday’s 7-3 loss, which came less than 24 hours after the Tigers squandered an 8-3 lead in what would have been a series sweep of the defending state champions.
“We played good ball – we hit it good – but we just made some mistakes, and those are magnified at this kind of venue.”
Most of the miscues came against 2010 title series nemesis Kyle Carter, the Columbus junior star who pitched and hit the Blue Devils past Ringgold last year. Carter was a combined 0-for-5 during Wednesday’s split but hit three solo homers and earned the save Thursday by pitching the final 2 2/3 innings and allowing one run.
“We were stupid with Carter,” Tucker said. “That’s my fault. We couldn’t get him in the right counts today to throw the right pitches and I wouldn’t give in, and that was totally my fault. He did rise to the occasion and he’s a great ballplayer.”