RINGGOLD, Ga. - Ringgold used a late rally in game two to complete a sweep of West Hall in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA baseball playoffs Thursday night.
The host Tigers rolled in the opener of the best-of-three series, 9-0 in six innings, getting a complete game from Kenyon Ransom, who allowed four hits and struck out four batters. Eli Norris had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs, Mason Parker had two hits, an RBI and two runs, and McCain Mangum was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Region 6-AAA champions.
Ringgold, however, trailed 5-2 in game two entering the fifth inning before scoring a pair of runs and adding three more in the top of the seventh to win 7-5 and advance to the second round. Mangum started the seventh-inning rally by reaching on a one-out error, with Colin Mountjoy following with a go-ahead two-run homer. Dawsyn Ware later scored on a wild pitch, and Parker made the lead stand up by getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam for the save.
The Tigers (25-6) will host Sandy Creek in a second-round series starting Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the GHSA's first round on Thursday:
Gordon Lee 11-10, Glascock County 0-0: Jake Poindexter, Riley King and Bo Rhudy pitched 12 innings of no-hit ball as the top-ranked Trojans (29-2) cruised to the sweep in Class A public. Poindexter, the University of Georgia recruit, struck out seven in the six-inning opener. Brody Cobb had a two-run homer and Cade Peterson was 2-for-3, both doubles, and scored twice while driving in a run in game one.
King went the first four innings in game two, striking out six, with Rhudy fanning four over the final two innings. Nate Dunfee, who scored three runs in game one, had a triple and double and scored two more times in game two, with Kade Cowan adding a three-run double and Peterson and Griff Collins each driving in two.
Crawford County 3-14, Trion 0-6: The Bulldogs (14-15) were eliminated in Class A public after Caleb Cass pitched a three-hit shutout in game one with 10 strikeouts and Brennan Hudson had two hits, one a three-run homer, and drove in four runs in game two for Crawford County (20-6).
Levi Hammock had two hits and an RBI in game one for Trion, which also got two hits from Brantley Willbanks, Brody Brown, Toby Maddux and Lincoln Farrar in game two.
Druid Hills 7, Northwest Whitfield 1: The Class AAAA Bruins' season ended at 21-12 after a frustrating game 3 loss in which they registered 11 hits but stranded 10 runners and committed six errors that led to four unearned runs. Colin Ross had two hits and two RBIs for Druid Hills (19-8), with Aiden Hosford and Cade Fisher each getting three hits for Northwest.
Sonoraville 7-6, White County 9-4: The Phoenix (18-11) split the Class AAA doubleheader in Calhoun with a four-run rally in the fifth inning of game two. Tanner Folds tied it at 3 with a two-run double, Hayden Holsomback scored the go-ahead run on an error on a ground ball by Jax Lockebay and Cole Gross added an RBI single to make it 5-3. Lockaby pitched the final six innings for the win and got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh with only one run scoring.
Sonoraville led 7-1 in game one after three innings before White County (20-11) rallied. Cole Godfrey had two hits, including a homer, and drove in three for the Phoenix, who host Game three at 4 p.m. Friday.
Cherokee Bluff 8-11, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 3-0: Cherokee Bluff's Bruce England had six hits, three of them home runs, and drove in 10 in the Class AAA doubleheader sweep in Flowery Branch. Gage Kelley had a two-run double and Tanner Mantooth an RBI single for LFO (12-18) in game one.
North Hall 7-5, Coahulla Creek 0-0: Class AAA's Colts were shut out by the Region 7 champions.
Pace Academy 13-10, Dade County 2-0: The Knights (21-6-1) eliminated the Wolverines (14-15) in Class AA as Michael Lynch had three hits and four RBIs in game one and M.J. Morris had a grand slam in game two.
South Pittsburg 9, Marion County 8: The visiting Pirates built a big early lead, then committed five errors and had to hold off a late rally. Senior Ryan Cagle picked up the win, allowing one earned run and striking out six. Reece Genter was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Jackson Lewis added two hits and an RBI for South Pittsburg.
Walker Valley 11, Rhea County 1: The Mustangs (16-12) scored six runs in the top of the third, and Taylor Cannon hit a three-run home run in the fourth to pull away for good. Walker Valley's Trevor Wyllie went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, and Daniel Denton, Aiden Gibson and Lane Miller each had a two-hit day. Miller was the winning pitcher, and Ben Essenburg struck out all three batters he faced. Rhea County's John Combs went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Chattanooga Christian 9, Knoxville Catholic 6: Trailing 5-1 in the sixth, the Chargers scored eight runs and Connor Tyler closed the door for the win. The Chargers drew 11 walks in the win, and Sam Hall and Henry Horne drove in a pair of runs.
Silverdale Baptist 14, Lookout Valley 1: Sebastian Hanks and Brett Rogers hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning, and Bryson Cline drove in three runs for the Seahawks (25-2). Three pitchers combined for a no-hitter, and Turner Junkins had two hits and scored twice.
Sale Creek 9, Harriman 3: Braden Penny was a home run shy of the cycle, and Camden Penny drove in three runs for the Panthers in their road victory. Jakob Elrod and Drew Hillian also had two hits in the victory.
East Hamilton 10, Grace Academy 7: Joe Qunlan doubled and scored three runs for the Hurricanes. Grace Academy's Caleb Adams doubled and had three hits, and Ramsey Brumlow went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.
Sequatchie County 7, Signal Mountain 6: Tyler Lynn hit a walk-off double to score Bodie Terry and Griffin Hall. Signal Mountain's Hunter Davis and Braden Casner each had a pair of RBIs.
BOYS' SOCCER
Dalton 2, Riverwood 1: The Catamounts (17-0-2) got first-half goals from Fernando Guerrero and Yahir Paez to advance to the GHSA Class AAAAAA state quarterfinals, where they will host Tucker.
Southeast Whifield 7, Chestatee 0: The Raiders remained undefeated as the reached the Class AAAA quarterfinals.
Flowery Branch 1, Northwest Whitfield 0: The Bruins' season ended with a second-round loss in Class AAAA.
SOFTBALL
Baylor 4, Silverdale Baptist 1: Morgan Sharpe led off the game with a home run for the Lady Red Raiders (20-1), who also got a solo homer from Cadashia Collins and a two-run homer from Riley Oleksik. Katie Raper went 2-for-3, and Collins was 2-for-4. Syd Berzon carried a no-hitter through six innings, striking out 15 batters, and earned the win, while Acelynn Sellers came on to close out the victory.
Walker Valley 9, McMinn County 1: The Lady Mustangs received four-hit performances from Hannah Guffey and Maddie Davis and scored a run in every inning but one. Kiarra Nicholes drove in a game-high three runs, Madilyn Kidd homered and drove in two and Hailey Leslie threw a complete game.
Whitwell 2, Red Bank 1: The Lady Tigers fought back as Mallory O'Neal and Ava Layne hit home runs in the top of the seventh and Maria Basham closed out the victory. Whitwell's Tori Grayson and Red Bank's Hailey Hanks each had two hits. Bailee Phillips struck out 16 and allowed four hits in a complete game.
Boyd Buchanan 16, Hixson 8: Presley Williamson hit two home runs and had four hits, and she drove in four runs along with Kiley Elliot. The Lady Buccaneers totaled 16 hits, and Izzy Messer had three hits and three runs scored. Hixson's Meghan Kernea went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, while Ari Neal tripled twice.
BOYS' TENNIS
McCallie 6, Baylor 1: The Blue Tornado improved to 10-0 with the region road victory in which Andreas Sillaste won 6-2, 6-1 in singles and teamed with Colin Tuttle for an 8-4 doubles victory.
Compiled by Stephen Hargis, Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.