After walking off against Armuchee, Ridgeland stymied by LFO

It might just be the shortest, two-run, walkoff single in the history of Ridgeland High School baseball.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Ridgeland senior Austin Delay beat out an infield chopper on a bang-bang play at first, while both the tying and winning runs scored in a 5-4 home win over Armuchee on Friday night at Jay Smith Field.

“It was funny. Before the game, we were kicking around whether we were going to move (Austin) from left field to right field and Austin said ‘Coach, I promise I’ll hustle. Just keep me left field.’,” Ridgeland head coach Scott Harden said. “So we left him out there and he made a huge diving catch to potentially save a run late in the game. Then on that last play, if he’s not hustling down the line, we lose.”

With the Panthers trailing by a run, Riley Harrison beat out a oneout infield single and Dylan Wooten was hit by a pitch. Armuchee pitcher Hunter Clark got a strikeout to put the Indians just one out from victory, but he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the runners to move into scoring position, setting the stage for the wild final play.

Pitts was inserted into the game to pinch run for Wooten and Clark worked the count to 2-2 before the lefthanded Davis bounced one on the ground toward second baseman Ethan Nixon.

Davis motored down the line and was called safe on a very close play at the bag as Harrison scored easily. But with the Indians lamenting the call at first, Pitts never stopped running and crossed the plate just moments after Harrison without a throw home even being made.

“That was a big heads-up play by Seth,” Harden said. “He realized there was a bit of controversy going on at first after that play and he just kept hustling all the way around to score.”

Harrison, the fifth pitcher used by Ridgeland in the game, picked up the win in relief, while Clark took the loss for the Indians after throwing the final 1.2 innings.

Delay finished 2-for4 on the night. Tanner Hill was also 2-for-4, including an RBI-triple in the second inning, while Harrison was also credited with an RBI.

The win moved the Panthers to 4-2 on the season and also served

as the 200th career victory for Harden, including his stints at Silverdale Baptist and Ridgeland.

“This is a special bunch of kids to share it with,” He added. “When I started coaching, I never thought I’d get to 200, but it’s a special moment and I’m glad I get to share it with these guys.”

LFO 7, Ridgeland 1

The Warriors limited the Panthers to just two hits on Saturday to claim a win at Chattanooga’s AT&T Field.

Garren Mauldin had a big game for LFO. He threw six innings of one-hit ball, allowing one run and walking just two. He finished with 10 strikeouts on the afternoon and helped himself with an RBI at the plate.

Wooten took the loss for the Panthers. He started the game and threw just two innings, allowing three runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. None of the runs were earned.

Ivy Boehm had both hits and drove in Ridgeland’s only run of the day.

Ridgeland (4-3) will begin Region 6-AAAA play this week with a three-game series against defending region champion Heritage. They will play at Heritage on Tuesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. and host the Generals on Thursday at 5:55.