RINGGOLD, Ga. — The what-ifs were still swirling around in Brent Tucker’s head 20 minutes after his Ringgold High School baseball team let a three-run lead evaporate into an 8-5 loss in Thursday’s Class AAA second-round elimination game against Westminster.
As the reality of another successful season coming to an end started to sink in, though, the veteran coach, usually so reserved, let his players know where they will always stand with him.
“This is a special group,” he said, keeping his emotions somewhat in check. “This team could have folded up shop early, but they didn’t. There were several times throughout the year they could have said to heck with it, but they didn’t.
“They ran off 17, 18 wins in a row and they are leaving as region champions. I’m very, very proud of them for that accomplishment. I don’t want it to end, not so much for the baseball, but because I’m going to miss seeing them every day. They’re just that kind of group.”
The Tigers’ undoing Thursday was a nightmarish sixth inning in which the Wildcats (22-9) batted around and scored six times on just four hits to turn around the early 5-2 advantage for Ringgold (24-8).