RINGGOLD, Ga. — With an overall record of 17-5 and in a tie for first place in Region 6-AAA with an 8-1 mark following Friday night’s five-inning 12-1 win over Ridgeland, the Ringgold Tigers should be riding high as the GHSA baseball playoffs draw near.
This, however, is a program that is accustomed to being at or near the top of the state rankings, so the standards are high. Coming off a state runner-up finish in 2023 (34-9) and losing three Best of Preps all-stars — including area Player of the Year Ross Norman — a minor reset would have been expected.
Resets, though, are not really accepted at the school that’s produced many of Northwest Georgia’s top prep players over the last three decades. That’s why the Tigers and coach Drew Walker, a former Tigers’ all-star himself, are realistic and hopeful great things are again ahead.
“We’re old and inexperienced, if that makes any sense,” Walker said. “We’ve had to fight through some stuff to try and play at a high level this season.
“We don’t have a lot of guys who have played a whole lot of baseball, and that’s something new here. It’s a different group with a different intensity and mindset, but the more we play together and are around each other we’re getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.