Prep roundup: Ringgold makes statement in early Region 6-AAA softball showdown

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Ringgold's Caroline Hemphill (22) greets softball teammates Addi Broome, center, and Ava Raby at home plate after hitting a two-run homer against Coahulla Creek at Hazel Brown Field on Tuesday in Ringgold, Ga.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Ringgold's Caroline Hemphill (22) greets softball teammates Addi Broome, center, and Ava Raby at home plate after hitting a two-run homer against Coahulla Creek at Hazel Brown Field on Tuesday in Ringgold, Ga.

RINGGOLD, Ga. - The first 10 days of the softball season have been at times trying for Georgia's reigning Class AAA fastpitch champions. Tuesday night, however, felt all too familiar for the Lady Tigers and head coach Daniel Hackett.

Ringgold, which started the season by allowing 30 runs in a pair of losses to Catoosa County rival (and fellow state champion) Heritage, evened its overall record at 3-3 and moved to 2-1 in Region 6-AAA by handing Coahulla Creek its first loss of the season, 5-1.

"We've had a little bit of a learning curve, but we're finding the right pieces," Ringgold coach Daniel Hackett said. "It's taken us a little more time than we had liked, but I also have to note that we had practiced for less than a week before our first game."

One of those key pieces seems to be senior Alyissa Sue, who transferred from over the state line at East Hamilton. Though she hadn't pitched much since middle school, Hackett put her in the mix to eat some innings this year after the team's top two pitchers graduated. She's done more than eat innings as evidenced by her six innings of no-earned run, six-hit work Tuesday.

"Today was big," Hackett said of Sue's outing against the Lady Colts (6-1, 1-1). "When she moved in I told her, 'I heard a rumor you could throw a little bit, would you mind throwing for us?' She's really stepped up and been a nice surprise."

The Lady Tigers jumped on star pitcher Sophia Voyles with four first-inning runs, with leadoff Amber Gainer starting things with a single, stolen base and moving up to third on a wild pitch. She scored one out later on Riley Nayadley's groundout. Three batters later, including singles from Jade Gainer and an RBI hit from Ava Raby, Caroline Hemphill deposited a two-run homer to left field, her first high school dinger.

"I'm so proud of Caroline," Hackett said. "She works so hard, coming in for extra batting practice all the time. She deserved that moment."

Nayadley added a solo homer in the third and Sue, with seventh-inning help from Taylor Layne, completed the victory.

Also Tuesday in northwest Georgia softball:

Sonoraville 6, Rockmart 1: Taylor Long was dominant for the Lady Phoenix (2-3, 2-0 Region 6-AAA) with 18 strikeouts and three hits allowed. Kinsley Long had a pair of doubles with an RBI and two runs scored, while Scarlett Hunter was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

LaFayette 9, North Murray 1: Haynie Gilstrap drove in a pair of runs and went each of the five innings in the circle, allowing three hits and striking out three. Railee Lynn and Haven Yancy also drove in two runs each for the Lady Ramblers (2-3, 1-1 Region 6-AAA).

Calhoun 9, Cartersville 0: Molly Banks had two hits, one a two-run homer, and scored twice, while Paris Kirby had two hits and two RBIs, Macy Brown had two hits and two runs scored and Emma Rogers drove in a pair.

Calhoun 10, Cartersville 1: The Lady Yellow Jackets (3-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAAAA) completed the doubleheader sweep as slugger Lyndi-Rae Davis hit a two-run homer, Kirby drove in two on two hits and Grace Crocker and Espee Reyes each had two hits.

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 7, Murray County 0: Haley Stahl pitched a complete-game one-hitter with seven strikeouts while also adding two hits and an RBI as the Lady Warriors moved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 6-AAA. Breonn Newbille had a double among her three hits and drove in three runs, while Carlee Wilson was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Chattooga 10, Model 0: The Lady Indians improved to 4-0 and 1-0 in Region 7-AA as Clara Wyatt drove in four runs on a pair of hits and pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts. Emma White added two hits, two RBIs and scored three times.

GOLF

* Signal Mountain senior Benjamin Burns has shot 6-under-par over his past 18 holes. Burns shot 4-under at Moccasin Bend on Monday and was sharp again Tuesday with a 34 at Signal Mountain Country Club in a win over Livingston. Beck Lewis also finished 1 under in the victory.

* Morgan Baldwin led Collegedale Academy to victory over Notre Dame as he was the medalist with a 44 at Brainerd Golf Course.

* Boyd Buchanan's JK Walters was the medalist with a 38 to help his team defeat Chattanooga Christian at Brainerd.

VOLLEYBALL

* Lauren Francis starred as Heritage improved to 6-0, with all wins so far this season coming on the road. Francis totaled 15 kills and 20 assists along with a trio of blocks and aces to lead two-set sweeps of host Dalton and Christian Heritage. Avery Phillips also stood out in the victories with 17 assists and five aces.

* GPS swept Signal Mountain in its home opener, 26-24, 25-17 and 25-15. Chapel Cunningham led the way with 10 assists, seven kills and four aces. Ansley Blevins finished with five aces for the Bruisers.

* Bradley Central had 14 aces to sweep Central, 25-14 and 25-7.

Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

Upcoming Events