RINGGOLD, Ga. — If the Ringgold Tigers go on to have another deep run in the GHSA Class AAA baseball playoffs, Monday is likely to be a huge turning point.
The Tigers (24-8) earned a split against Oconee County in the start of the teams’ second-round series, losing game one 2-1 and rallying to win game two 3-2 on a three-run homer by Conner Christopher in the sixth inning.
They stayed alive despite committing several uncharacteristic mental mistakes, but stayed alive they did to decide the series Tuesday at 5.
“We did bonehead things all day on the base paths and in the field,” said Ringgold coach Drew Walker after the Tigers had four runners picked off the bases and combined for four errors on the day. “It was really some uncharacteristic stuff from some veteran baseball players, but we’re fighting it right now.
“Our fans have been calling us the Cardiac Kids, so I guess we have to give them something to cheer about.”
Ringgold wasted another gem from ace right-hander Sebastian Haggard in game one as a pair of errors in the fourth inning led to two Oconee County (19-14) runs to erase a 1-0 Tigers’ lead. Haggard allowed only four hits while striking out nine and walking no one.
Ringgold scored its run in the first inning on Haggard’s sacrifice fly, but managed only one runner into scoring position the rest of the game against Oconee starter Grady Wilkes, who allowed five hits and struck out three.
Game two started the same way, with Ringgold runners getting picked off in the first and third innings with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, the visitors took a 2-0 lead through four innings on an Isaac Smith RBI single in the third and an Adam Lafontaine run-scoring single in the fourth against Jackson Black.
After leaving runners at second and third in the fifth against Oconee game two starter Carson Fuchs, the Tigers finally broke through in the sixth. Aidan Hickman and Haddon Fries led off the inning with singles, bringing up third-hole hitter Christopher, who had struggled earlier and was prepared to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Walker had other plans.
“Conner is our best hitter, but he’s also our best bunter, so he was ready to bunt,” Walker said. “I called time and went out there and said, ‘Dude, you’re not going to bunt. Hit away.’ He came through after having a really bad night before that, but that’s what good players do.”
Christopher took Fuchs’ fastball over the centerfield fence for a 3-2 lead and Black, with help from reliever Hickman, made the lead stand up.
After having to win game three in last week’s opening-round series against Gilmer, are the Tigers better prepared to do it again Tuesday?
“I wouldn’t say we’re comfortable, but we’ve been there,” Walker said. “There’s nothing comfortable about a game three, but we know we will fight. Can we have the mentality from the batter’s box to get good at-bats and score some runs? That’s the key.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.