TEAMS TO WATCH1. Ringgold. The Tigers boast five players who made either first or second-team preseason all-state in Class AAA and have one goal in mind this season: a state title.2. Calhoun. The Yellow Jackets are perennial contenders in Class AA and this year will be no different with a strong top of the pitching rotation and a stout middle of the lineup.3. Heritage. Seniors abound on the Generals’ roster, including strong pitchers Cody Sherlin and Jake Sampson.PLAYERS TO WATCH1. Matthew Crownover, Ringgold. The senior pitcher, who has signed with Clemson University, is one of the top-rated left-handed pitchers in the country and is expected to be one of the Tigers’ top hitters.2. Josh Shubert, Calhoun. The slugging senior outfielder is the latest in a long line of big-time prospects for the Yellow Jackets.3. Adam Weldon, Ringgold. The 6-foot-5 senior first baseman hit nearly .500 last year and will anchor one of the Tigers’ pitching rotation spots this season.
RINGGOLD, Ga. – As the construction crews and work trucks buzz around the still-being-renovated Bill Womack Field, the Ringgold Tigers are busy trying to ignore them as they prepare for one of the most anticipated seasons in the successful history of the program.
The Tigers went 24-4 last year, losing two games to Region 7-AAA rival Cartersville and the last two to eventual state champion Columbus in the second round of the state playoffs. That Ringgold won the opening game of the three-game series and was up late in game two before losing has not left the minds of the returning players.
It is, said senior outfielder Reed Walden, very much still in their thinking.
“It definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths, and when we’re working out it adds a little extra motivation,” said Walden, one of six returning starters for the Tigers, who enter the season ranked second in the preseason coach’s poll. “We had the talent to win it all last year, but it just didn’t come together for us at the end. We’ve got the pieces again this year, but we’ve got to take care of business.”