Tigers enter week on the cusp of 6-AAA crown
The Ringgold Tigers entered this week needing just one more victory to claim the Region 6-AAA title.
Region leader Ringgold was set to play a two-game series against second-place Gordon Lee this week and the Blue-and-white went into the final week of the regular season fresh off a two-game sweep of Lafayette.
RINGGOLD 10, LAFAYETTE 1
In the series opener this past Thursday in south Walker County, Aidan Hickman got the top of the first inning started with a single and scored on a Sebastian Haggard double, while Haggard later came home on a single by Jackson Black.
Five more runs crossed the plate in the top of the second as the first six batters reached base consecutively. Haddon Fries and Conner Christopher had back-to-back two-run doubles, while Haggard followed suit with a one-run double to make it a 7-0 game.
The Tigers’ final three runs came in the third. Hickman had an Rbi-double and scored on an error before Black delivered his second Rbi-single of the game.
Lafayette finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases on two walks and a single before Isaiah Mckenzie worked his way for a walk to bring in the run. However, Black got a strikeout and a 6-4 force at second to end the threat.
Black pitched all five innings for the Tigers, allowing just the one earned run on four hits to go with two walks and five strikeouts.
Hickman paced the offense by going 3 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored. Haggard and Black each went 2 for 3 with two RBIS, while Garrett Edgar and Ryder Fairchild each had a single.
Mckenzie, Hunter Jefferies, Bryson Cleghorn and Braxton Kilgo had singles for the Ramblers. Caden Carpenter gave up six earned runs in three innings, walking three and striking out one, while Michael Hamilton pitched 2.1 innings of solid relief. He walked three and struck out two, but did not give up a run or a hit.
RINGGOLD 11, LAFAYETTE 1
Back at home on Friday, Ringgold completed the sweep and also got some assistance from Ridgeland, who defeated Gordon Lee that same night to put the Tigers in sole possession of first place in the region with two games remaining.
Christopher singled to bring in a run in the first and Hudson Moss later scored on an error before Haggard plated Alberto Searles with a run-scoring single.
Christopher added a two-out, Rbi-single an inning later, while Searles, running for Christopher, stole second base and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 5-0.
put her team back in front with 22:10 showing on the first-half clock off an assist by Betsy Hixon. It was Ronda’s 40th career tally and the 19th of the season for the junior.
Ronda had three shots on goal and Hixon took two, while Davenport and Kylie Thurman had one apiece.
The Ridgeland defense did the rest with Stella Stephens coming up with five saves to preserve the win for Ridgeland (4-12). Ringgold ended its season with a 1-13 overall mark.
LAFAYETTE GIRLS 5, RIDGELAND 2
The Lady Ramblers took a 1- 0 lead 8: 02 into last Tuesday’s home match, only to see the Lady Panthers tie things up at the 12:31 mark of the first half as Davenport scored off a pass from Ronda.
At 17:27, Ronda took a feed from Hixon on the left wing and knocked it home to give Ridgeland a 2-1 cushion that it would take into intermission.
However, the second half was all Lafayette.
The Orange-and-black netted the equalizer at the 51:47 mark and went up 3-2 with 60:51 left on the clock. Shortly thereafter (64:08), they increased their lead to two and a final goal came at the 77:06 mark.
Senior Teara Snider had a hat trick for Lafayette ( 2- 9) on Senior Night, while Naomi Thompson and Channing Johnson each scored once.
Mya Haun had five saves on the night and Paisley Johnson added two. Head coach Jacob Harris also praised the play of seniors Olivia Cornejo, Mattilee Massey and Addi Hurt for their leadership on defense.
Stella Stephens stopped 12 shots for Ridgeland.
LAFAYETTE BOYS 3, RIDGELAND 2
In the boys’ match, Wyatt Ballew scored twice and Elijah Decker found the back of the net once off an assist by Nate Campbell to give the Ramblers the victory. Individual scoring for the Panthers was unavailable.
Lafayette also faced Adairsville on the road to close out the regular season on Thursday and dropped a 5-2 decision. Kaden Miller and Andrew Martin both scored for the Ramblers.
COAHULLA CREEK BOYS 5, HERITAGE 1
The visiting Colts collected a win in Boynton last Tuesday with Ben Breedlove scoring the lone goal for the Generals (10-7-1).
Heritage will travel to face Westminster in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs this Friday, April 19. The Wildcats are the No. 1 seed from Region 6 and the Generals are the No. 4 seed from Region 7.
DALTON GIRLS 5, HERITAGE 1
The Lady Generals also fell at home last Tuesday to drop to 8-6 on the season. Zoie St. John connected on a penalty kick for the Navy-and-red.
Heritage will be the No. 3 seed from Region 7 and will be on the road. The Lady Generals’ first-round opponent will be Holy Innocents’, the No. 2 seed from Region 6. The match will be played on Thursday, April 18.
NORTH MURRAY BOYS 5, LFO 3
The Warriors closed out the 2024 soccer season this past Friday night with a loss at Tommy Cash Stadium.
The visiting Mountaineers scored three times in the second half after the two teams went into intermission knotted up at 2-2.
Denis Velic had a goal and an assist for LFO to go with four shots on goal. Rafael Leal and Moses Reyes also found the net for the Warriors. Leal, Thomas Long III and Ernes Keserovic took two shots apiece, while Ray scored on his only shot of the game.
Jose Alvarez had seven saves in net for the Warriors, who finished the season with a 4-11 record.
LFO GIRLS 10, NORTH MURRAY 1
The Lady Warriors closed out a 6-6-1 regular season behind hat tricks from Abbie Rifenberick and Kaylee Mizell, along with solo goals by Flor Rodriguez, Laura Rodriguez, Makia Mathews and Presley Piatt.
LFO, the No. 4 seed from Region 6, was scheduled to open the state tournament at Region 7 champion Wesleyan on Tuesday of this week.
OAKWOOD GIRLS 6, CHRISTIAN HERITAGE 2
In Dalton last Monday, the Lady Eagles climbed back over the .500 mark behind a hat trick from senior Cheyenne Simpson. Solo goals were tallied by Mana Gilchrist, Naomi Thompson and Kimber Goertemiller, while Janel Buckels had several saves in net for OCA (3-2).
The Lady Eagles will continue their season on Thursday, April 18 with a match in Powder Springs against Praise Academy. They will conclude the regular season at Berean Academy in Chattanooga on April 29.