Riley Nayadley (Senior, Ringgold) The 2020 Catoosa County Softball Co-player of the Year

Big things were expected from Riley Nayadley from the first day she started with the Ringgold High softball program, and over the past four seasons, big things were delivered.

Nayadley was part of the resurgence of Lady Tiger softball as a large and talented collection of players took the program from a sub-.500 record just three years ago to the top of the mountain as back-to-back Class AAA state champions.

As a freshman, Nayadley earned the starting shortstop position and gave Ringgold coaches and fans a taste of things to come as she hit .346 with six doubles, one triple and one home run.

The following season, she batted .273, but bumped up her power numbers with 11 doubles, one triple, three homers and 24 RBIS. However, it was her junior season when everything finally clicked.

She finished that year with a .479 average, 13 doubles, one triple, four homers and 38 RBIS, while slugging at a .705 clip and scoring 35 runs. In addition, she made just four errors all season long and helped Ringgold capture its first state title in the sport since 2005.

Then this past fall, her final

season with the program, she once again earned first team All-region and All-state honors, along with being named the Region 6-AAA Player of the Year. She ended the year with a .454 average, eight doubles, a pair of triples, 35 runs scored and careerbests in home runs (7) and RBIS (43), helping Ringgold to another amazing run to a state crown.

“I started off a little sluggish the first few games,” she admitted. “But after that I

just reminded myself that I was a good hitter and I knew my team would back me up.”

Nayadley’s postseason also included a Georgia Dugout Club Class AAA Co-player of the Year award and, today, she shares Catoosa County Co-player of the Year honors for a second consecutive year.

“It was a great season,” she continued. “I think this year we faced a lot of adversity. At the beginning of the season, we really didn’t show

what we definitely had, but once the state (tournament) started, we all came together as a team and really put it together.”

East Tennessee State University is the next stop for Nayadley, but she said she would never forget her days of playing softball at Ringgold.

“Everyone is so close and the coaches are great,” she added. “It’s always just so fun and everyone works so hard. It’s like a family.”