Ringgold on a roll as region play begins
The sun was shining brightly on Bill Womack Field early last Wednesday evening, but with temperatures struggling to get out of the 40’s at first pitch, the fans had come prepared with blankets, toboggans, heavy coats any other type of protection they could find from the non spring-like cold snap.
Ringgold pitcher Nathan Camp wasn’t immune to the frigid conditions either, so he did his best to make sure he, his teammates and the heavily-bundled spectators didn’t have to spend any more time in the elements than was necessary.
In a game that lasted less than 90 minutes, start to finish, Camp gave up just four hits, walked three and struck out eight in a completegame victory as the Tigers - ranked No. 3 in the latest Class AAA poll - slipped past No. 10 Calhoun, 1-0, in the Region 6-AAA opener for both clubs.
“That was fun,” said Camp after being in the center of a mini moshpit of his celebrating teammates following the game’s final out. “In the seventh inning, it still felt like the fourth inning because it went by so fast. I was really in a groove. But man, I couldn’t really even feel my arm, it was so cold out here.”
Although he ultimately took the loss, Calhoun sophomore lefty Davis Allen also turned in a heck of a performance, matching Camp by allowing just four hits in his six innings of work.
(Calhoun head coach) Chip (Henderson) and I are old college teammates,” Ringgold skipper Brent Tucker said. “We always know it’s going to be a good game and we always know it’s going to be a battle. Like I told him after the game, it was cold and I’m sure that had something to do with the offense, but the way those two guys were throwing today, it could have been 90 degrees and it may have still just been a 1-1 or 2-1 game.
“But Nathan Camp, my goodness, he was on today. He got behind a couple of batters, but for the most part, he was getting it over for strike one and going from there.”
The game’s only run came in the bottom of the third as courtesy runner Wyatt Tennant scooted home on a passed ball to give Ringgold the lead for good.
Camp got some help in the field in the top of the sixth as left fielder Holden Tucker got on his horse to haul in a blast that seemed destined for extra bases and the Tigers almost picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Andre Tarver just missed a homer to right center.
The Jackets would put a runner on at second in the top of the seventh on the Tigers’ only error of the night and a stolen base. But Camp, who got the first two outs in the seventh on strikes, would get the final hitter looking to seal the win.
“A game like this helps my confidence a lot, but I have to stay
level,” Camp added. “You can’t get too high or too low out here.”
Gavin Hollis had two of Ringgold’s four hits, while Tarver and Tyler Nichols picked up one hit apiece.
Ringgold 10, LFO 0
The Tigers busted out the big sticks against the Warriors, belting homers in three straight innings in the run-rule victory in Fort Oglethorpe on Thursday.
Tarver hit one in the four-run second inning. Noah Parrish went yard as part of a three-run third and a Nichols blast in the fourth accounted for half of the two runs in the frame.
Tarver finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Daulton Schley was also 2-for-3 and knocked in one run. Tucker added an RBI-double and Camp also doubled in the win.
Tucker also got the win on the hill, throwing five innings of one-hit ball. He walked just one and struck out eight LFO hitters.
Garren Mauldin suffered the loss. He lasted just two innings, allowing six runs - five earned - on four hits and three walks. He finished with four strikeouts. Jake Bass had the lone hit for the Warriors.
Ringgold 8, Adairsville 5
The Tigers played a little more long ball back at home on Friday as Tarver launched another homer and Nichols was 3-for-3 with another dinger and three RBIs.
Adairsville led 4-2 after three complete, but Ringgold (12-3, 3-0) would score six times in their final three at-bats.
Andrew Ghormley got the win for Ringgold, while Ammon Murphy collected a save.
Garrett Mishoe had a two-run homer for Adairsville (3-8, 0-2).
Ringgold (12-3, 3-0) has a big home game against North Murray (83, 3-0) slated for Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. The Tigers will travel to Coahulla Creek on Thursday and be back at Bill Womack Field on Friday to host Haralson County.