RINGGOLD, Ga. - Ringgold owned its regular-season softball matchups with Calhoun the past two years, but the Lady Yellow Jackets turned the tables in the postseason to win region and state championships.
This season, however, Calhoun has been dominant over its Region 6-AAA rivals, including Wednesday night's 11-2 win at Hazel Brown Field. The top-ranked Lady Jackets (19-1, 9-0) displayed their team speed and defense to complete a regular-season sweep of the Lady Tigers (7-5, 6-3) with an 11-2 win.
Ringgold outhit Calhoun 12-11, but the Lady Jackets left only four runners on base to an unsightly 14 for the Lady Tigers.
"We are playing good softball right now," said Calhoun coach Diane Smith, whose team has won three straight region and state titles. "We've got more team speed than any team I've ever coached, and the girls seem to just make things happen out there. Ringgold is always tough for us, and they played better than the final score tonight."
Calhoun leadoff hitter Ashlyn Barnes was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases to help the visitors take a 5-0 lead after two innings. Calhoun took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before starting the second with Allie Jones' double, a walk, an RBI double by Cassie Henderson, a single by Erin Barnes and a two-run single by Carlie Henderson to break the game open.
"Tonight was just like we've been playing for a while now," Ashlyn Barnes said. "We just seem to be picking each other up and getting big hits when we need them."
Ringgold left three runners on in the first and two more in the second, third and fourth innings as Calhoun pitcher Kayla Watson consistently got big outs when needed. Calhoun recorded two outs at home in the early innings and made every play when it counted.
"This is a very good defensive team," Smith said. "We can go get it in the outfield, and our infielders have good range and strong arms. We might not be as strong as we were pitching the last few years, but Kayla and Torri (Gaddis) are doing a great job."
Calhoun's lead was 6-1 entering the seventh when the team strung together four hits and a Ringgold error to put the game away with five runs.
Ryan Brzozoski and Erin Barnes added two hits, while Jana Johns and Carlie Henderson had two RBIs each for the winners.
Hannah Crosland was 3-for-4 with two doubles and Karoline Sholl 2-for-4 for Ringgold.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.