RINGGOLD, Ga. - Ringgold's path to a possible first baseball state championship got unexpectedly tougher Wednesday when the Tigers split with Cherokee Bluff at Bill Womack Field in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA playoffs.
Ringgold (26-8) used a two-hit, 11-strikeout performance from senior left-hander Holden Tucker to win game one, 4-0, before squandering several scoring opportunities in the second game, losing 2-1 in eight innings. The deciding game three is Thursday at 5.
"They played a good ballgame, made plays and got out of a couple of jams," Ringgold coach Brent Tucker said of the visitors, the No. 4 seed out of a tough Region 7. "We made a couple of mistakes ourselves, things we had been working on all year."
The Region 6 champions started quickly with three runs in the first inning of game one on an RBI single by Johnny Camullucci and a two-run single from Sam Mills. Camillucci added a run-scoring double in the fifth inning to back Tucker's stellar pitching.
"He threw a good ballgame," Coach Tucker said. "He went out there and challenged hitters and just did what he's done all year."
Game two was tied at one in the eighth when Cherokee Bluff (16-14) used a passed ball on a strikeout, a walk, a wild pitch and a pinch-hit single by Tino Mukuno to score the game-winning run in the bottom half. Ringgold left eight men on base, including a pair in the seventh in scoring position with one out.
"We had opportunities everywhere," Coach Tucker said. "We just could not get it done. I don't know how many times we struck out with men on. I'm sure they are frustrated, but they will bounce back tomorrow."
Class AAAA
» Flowery Branch used a late comeback in game one to rally past Heritage, 4-2, then rolled in game two, 9-0, to sweep the Generals (17-13).
Heritage led 2-1 entering the seventh inning of game one before Andrew Armstrong delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game. Kaleb Freeman then put the Falcons ahead with a two-run single. Nolan Letzgus pitched 6 1/3 innings of three-run, four-hit, 11-strikeout baseball while taking the tough loss.
Armstrong pitched six innings of shutout ball in game two, when he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
» Region 6 champion Northwest Whitfield was upset by Denmark in Tunnel Hill, losing 8-6 and 11-2.
» Ridgeland was eliminated in a pair of run-rule games at Roswell's Blessed Trinity, 11-1 and 16-0. C.J. Abrams was 5-for-5, including a triple and two doubles, with five RBIs and five runs scored to lead the Titans (26-6).
D.J. Ball had two hits, including a double and a run scored in game one, while Shawn Wilson had a double in game two for the Panthers (11-12).
Class AAA
» Calhoun rallied late in game one to get past Greater Atlanta Christian, 8-6, before using the six-inning, three-hit pitching of Hagen Banks to win the second game 3-1 and sweep the Spartans.
Calhoun (25-5) trailed 6-4 in the sixth inning of game one, but the Yellow Jackets used four hits, two walks and a passed ball to score four runs. Matthew Williams' RBI single scored Parker Lester to cut the deficit to one before Andon Lewis hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Bryson Trammell later scored on a passed ball, and Dante Morton worked a bases-loaded walk to score the final run. Ben King had four of the Jackets' 13 hits, with Lester adding three.
The Jackets scored three runs in the fourth inning of game two on Julian Ipac fielder's choice and Lester's two-out, two-run single. Banks allowed one run on three hits while striking out eight in six innings before Bryse Ingle worked a one-run seventh for the save.
» Coahulla Creek (12-14) split with Region 7 champion North Hall, losing 8-1 in game one before pulling out a 2-1 victory in game two. The deciding game will be played Thursday at 6 p.m. in Gainesville.
Class AA
» Dade County swept Hapeville Charter, 12-0 and 18-3. Brody Swader had a triple and a pair of doubles while driving in five runs and scoring five times to lead the sweep.
Harley Walker struck out eight and allowed three hits in the five-inning first game, while Carter Glenn, who had two triples and drove in eight runs, won the three-inning game two with one-hit pitching.
» Chattooga advanced with a pair of routs against McNair, winning 28-0 and 21-0.
Class A public
» Trion hosts Miller County in a first-round series that starts with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Gordon Lee, the No. 2 overall seed and 2018 state champion, has a bye and will await the winner of Jenkins County and Georgia Military College.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.