Ridgeland slow out of the blocks as region play begins

With one-third of their Region 6-AAAA schedule already in the books, things are not exactly going the way the Ridgeland Panthers had hoped.

The Black-and-White, who were swept by Heritage the week before, fell to 5-8 overall and 1-5 in the region after dropping two of three to the Gilmer Bobcats last week.

Gilmer 7, Ridgeland 3

The Panthers lost the opener of the series in Rossville on Thursday night as the Bobcats broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the top of the fourth, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Ridgeland’s Dylan Wooten had a hit and scored a run in the first inning on a steal of home, while Riley Harrison singled and scored in the fourth. Will Hodges had a double, which led to the Panthers’ final run in the bottom of the sixth.

Ridgeland 2, Gilmer 1

The first game of a doubleheader in Ellijay on Friday went to the visitors, who got a completegame, three-hitter from sophomore pitcher Tanner Hill. The Panthers had four hits - all singles - by Wooten, Hodges, Austin Delay and Jacob Stephens. Stephens picked up an RBI.

Gilmer 4, Ridgeland 3

In the nightcap, Hodges ripped a two-run single in the first inning and added another RBI in the third to give his team a 3-0 lead.

However, the Bobcats would tie things up in the home half of the third. McKinley Chadwick knocked in a pair of runs and an Evan Fraley RBI knotted the game at 3-3.

It would stay that way until the last of the seventh when Tatum Chadwick delivered the game-winner with a walk-off hit.

Hodges and Wooten each went 2-for-3 in the loss. Wooten scored twice and swiped a pair of bases.

The Panthers will look to right the ship this week as they start a three-game set with Southeast Whitfield. Ridgeland will host Game 1 on Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. Game 2 will be in Dalton at 5:30 on Thursday and the series finale will be back at Jay Smith Field Friday at 5:55.