The final day of the regular season for GHSA baseball programs was packed with major playoff implications and, for the most part, teams in favorable situations survived.
Several postseason spots and seeding in two area regions, 6-AAA and 7-AAAA, were undecided entering Friday's action.
Ringgold (18-12, 13-3) defeated Catoosa County rival Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 5-3, securing 6-AAA's No. 2 playoff seed and the home-field advantage that comes with it in round one while also dealing the Warriors a playoff death blow.
LFO (16-12, 9-7) needed a win at Ringgold and a loss by Coahulla Creek to secure the region's fourth playoff spot. The Colts (13-14, 9-7) lost to No. 3 seed Sonoraville, but they earned the postseason bid after sweeping two regular-season games against LFO.
For Ringgold, Friday was another win secured by a late rally, this time with the Tigers trailing 3-1 after four innings at their Bill Womack Field. A Ross Norman single with two outs and nobody on base started the rally, which was extended by an error and capped by Ty Gilbert's tying two-run double.
The Tigers extended the momentum in the sixth as Dre Morris led off the bottom half with a double and scored on Connor Christopher's RBI single. Mason Parker followed with a run-scoring double for the final margin, securing a coveted home series in the state playoffs that start next Wednesday.
"We needed to win to get the home series," Ringgold coach Drew Walker said. "The two seed will be huge for us for home-field advantage. Bill Womack Field is magic in the playoffs, and there is no better venue in the state."
Sonoraville 9, Coahulla Creek 8: The Phoenix (20-7, 12-4), who would have received the 6-AAA No. 2 seed with a win and a Ringgold loss, closed the regular season with a win as Zach Lyles had four hits, including a triple, and scored three runs, while Jaxon Pate and Cole Gross added three hits each and Trevor Childers knocked in three runs. For Coahulla Creek, Bailey Saylors had two hits and an RBI, while Ryan Langford had two hits.
Trion 8, Armuchee 2: Brandon Dover hit a homer and drove in three runs while also pitching a complete game with two earned runs and four strikeouts as the Bulldogs (15-10, 10-5 Region 6-A public) closed the regular season with a victory. Brody Brown had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, with Clay Chesley adding two hits and two RBIs.
Gordon Lee 13-16, Mount Zion-Carroll 2-0: The Trojans (18-10, 14-1 Region 6-A public) swept the doubleheader on their way to the playoffs. Nate Dunfee had three hits, including a triple and a double, and scored three runs, while Brodie Genter had three hits and three RBIs and Bo Rhudy drove in a run and scored three times in game one.
Rhudy and Holt Roberts each had three hits, an RBI and three runs in game two, with Trevor Wilson adding a triple, a double and two RBIs, Genter three RBIs and two runs and Blake Rodgers three RBIs.
Northwest Whitfield 3-9, Central-Carroll 4-7: The Bruins (17-13, 11-7 Region 7-AAAA) regrouped to avoid being swept in a home doubleheader and clinched their region's No. 3 playoff seed in the process.
Heritage 6-7, Cedartown 7-6: Heritage was on the outside looking in of the playoff race entering the week's three-game series with Region 7-AAAA champion Cedartown, but the Generals (18-12, 11-7) secured the No. 4 playoff seed with Tuesday's victory in the opener and a bounce-back win in the second contest Friday. Heritage moved past Central-Carroll (18-11, 10-8) for the region's final spot in the state bracket.
Silverdale Baptist 10, Hixson 3: Brett Rogers was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, and Cameron Mullins added a grand slam for the Seahawks (22-3-1).
Boyd-Buchanan 11, CSTHEA Patriots 0: Perry Griffin struck out seven batters and allowed no hits in four innings, and Brodie Johnston had two hits, one a homer, and drove in three runs for the Buccaneers (10-7).
SOFTBALL
Notre Dame 21, Grace Academy 10: Jade Rutley was 4-for-4 with a homer, a double and five RBIs to lead the Lady Fighting Irish (4-8), while Scarlett Hughes had a homer and double while driving in five runs and scoring twice.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.