Wednesday's matchup didn't carry the importance of most of the meetings between the two programs over the past half decade, but any Calhoun-Ringgold softball game draws attention.
The two have combined to win four of the past six Georgia Class AAA championships and have a combined six fastpitch titles in all. Calhoun's Lady Yellow Jackets and Ringgold's Lady Tigers, however, are no longer region rivals after Calhoun was placed in Class AAAAA in the latest round of GHSA reclassification and realignment.
Ringgold, the reigning champ, won Wednesday's game at Calhoun 7-2, evening the Lady Tigers' early record at 2-2 and perhaps solving some of their pitching puzzle. Alyissa Sue silenced a potent lineup on five hits - a day after Taylor Layne pitched a five-inning shutout - while working around six walks, handing Calhoun its first loss after an opening win.
The top four in the Ringgold lineup combined for seven hits, six RBIs and six runs scored. Riley Nayadley got things going with a two-run single in a three-run third inning, with Jade Gainer making it 5-0 in the fifth with a two-run double. Baleigh Pitts capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the seventh, scoring Amber Gainer, who was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Lyndi-Rae Davis and Grace Crocker had RBIs for Calhoun.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.