Ridgeland splits last two games
The No. 5-ranked Ridgeland Lady Panthers led 3-2 after four complete innings at No. 3 Northwest Whitfield last Wednesday, but the Lady Bruins would push home the tying run in the fifth and tack on the go-ahead runs in the sixth to claim a 5-3 win in a Region 6-AAAA showdown.
It was the second of the night for Northwest, who beat Pickens, 8-3, in a game played earlier in the evening.
Haley Sandridge was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Black-and-White, who outhit Northwest, 8-6. Laine Hicks had a double as one of her three hits. Hailey Carroll took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks. She ended the night with two strikeouts.
Ridgeland 10, Gilmer 2
The No. 5-ranked Lady Panthers shook off the loss and picked up a run-rule victory over visiting Gilmer on Thursday.
Ridgeland jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring twice in the first and third innings. Ciera Foster and Katie Davis came through with RBI-hits in the first, while Whitney Boehm took care of the offense in third. After Davis reached on a two-out error, Boehm made the Lady Bobcats pay with a two-run shot to rightcenterfield.
It was the first career homer for the senior first baseman.
Davis cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double in the fourth to make it 7-2 after Gilmer scratched out a pair of run in the top of the frame.
The Lady Panthers (11-4, 4-2) would end things in the sixth. With Sandridge on second and Ciera Foster on third, Kiera Foster plated a run on an infield single as Ciera Foster raced all the way to third.
Gilmer would try to pick Foster off of third with a throw from the catcher, but the play backfired as the speedy Foster broke for the plate and beat the throw for a steal of home.
Kiera Foster moved to third on the play and scored the walk-off run as Gilmer dropped a fly ball in the right off the bat of Davis.
Ciera Foster went 3-for-4, while Sandridge, Davis, Grayson James
and Katie Carruth all had two hits apiece.
Head coach Richie Wood said the win was welcome, especially after loss 24 hours earlier.
“We really didn’t come out and play (Wednesday) night and that was our thing tonight, come out and play and have the heart of a champion,” he said.
“When you get down, you find a way.”
Carroll allowed just three hits and walked three - all in the fourth inning - as she finished with two strikeouts in the win.
“Hailey showed that heart of a champion,” Wood added. “We’ve been talking to her about just relaxing and throwing the pitches
she’s supposed to throw. She’s got athletes behind her on defense. She just has to let them play.”
The Lady Panthers also presented Gilmer’s Sara Mosley with a sympathy card and gift after the game. Mosley’s father unexpectedly passed away earlier this season.