Sonoraville can’t keep pace with Tigers
Phoenix fall behind early in 6-AAA loss to Ringgold
Sonoraville answered with a counterpunch to Ringgold’s first big blow on Wednesday, but the next few seemed to pile up on the Phoenix.
The Tigers scored three runs early, which Sonoraville answered with two of their own, but Ringgold continued to add on offensively to earn a 17-6 Region 6-AAA win on the road.
Ringgold (15-4, 6-1) led 3-2 after one inning but then added one in the second and really took control of the game with a five-run third to take a 9-2 lead. After the Phoenix (7-7, 2-5) scored one more in the bottom half of the third to make it 9-3, Ringgold exploded for a seven-run fourth to put the game out of reach for good.
“The last few ballgames we’ve done a good job bunting, getting runners over, putting the ball in play and just taking the RBI however we can get it,” said Ringgold coach Brent Tucker. “We’ve also gotten some big two-out hits. We just want to keep adding on once we get a lead and keep the pressure on teams. I think we’re starting to find it, but we’re still working to get there. We’ve just got to keep building each game.”
The Tigers got several big offensive performances led by Tyler Nichols who had two hits, including a double, to go along with five RBIs. Hunter Rickets added two hits and three RBIs, and Rhett Baldwin had two hits with a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Nathan Camp and Wyatt Tennant both had two-run homers, and Camp added a sac fly as well.
Grant Clark had a two-out, two-run triple in the first inning to pull the Phoenix back within a run. Tyler Lyles added a hit and an RBI, Gavin Phillips had a double and a run scored and Gage Soulios hit a three-run homer in the fourth.
Sonoraville coach Bret Greene said his team got down early to a good team, and the Tigers took advantage of their chances from there.
“Ringgold is a very good team, and when you give them opportunities, they’re going to do what they do,” said Greene. “We’ve just got to find a way to correct that by getting ahead in the count, playing good fundamental defense and getting out of innings limiting damage.
“I’m proud of the way the kids fought back and hit the ball back with them in the first few innings. If we could’ve gotten an out to get out of a couple innings, I think it could’ve been a 9-6 game or something close like that, but it didn’t work out that way and got out of hand.”
Camp got the win for Ringgold, pitching the shortened complete game. He went five innings and gave up six runs on five hits while striking out four.
“You’re never going to complain about your offense scoring 17 runs, but it’s hard to get in a groove as a pitcher when you have such long innings by your offense,” said Tucker. “But (Nathan) did a good job finding a little bit of a rhythm and battling through it to get a win.”