Ringgold blanks 2019 state champs to end week
After a week that saw them endure three tough losses to quality opponents, the Ringgold Tigers ended the week on a huge positive note with a shutout victory over a recent state champion during the Catoosa Children’s Fund Classic at AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday.
Gordon Lee 8, Ringgold 6
The Tigers fought back from an 8-1 deficit last Monday night, but would come up two runs short on a cold night at Bill Womack Field.
Ringgold, who scored solo runs in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth innings, put up a three-spot in the sixth. Sam Mills had a one-out double and, after a strikeout, a walk and a hit batsman loaded the
bases with two outs, Kenyon Ransom came through with an RBI-single before a Ross Norman two-run hit got the Tigers back to within two.
Eli Norris drew a walk to lead off the seventh, but two final
strikeouts ended the game.
Mills went 2 for 5 and Norman had three RBIs to pace the Ringgold offense. Chase Ghormley had an RBI-single, while Norris and Colin Mountjoy had one double each.
Mountjoy also picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Mountjoy was saddled with the loss after pitching the first two innings of the game. He allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout. McCain Mangum, Mason Burt and Austin McMahan threw a combined five innings of relief, allowing four hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.
Calhoun 6, Ringgold 3
The Tigers surrendered four runs in the top of the eighth inning and were not able to answer in the bottom of the frame as they dropped an extra-inning affair to the Jackets on Thursday.
The game was tied 2-2 after seven complete.
Mountjoy and Mills had two hits apiece for Ringgold. McMahan and Mangum each had a double, while Ghormley, Ransom and Mason Parker drove in one run apiece.
Ransom pitched seven strong innings, giving up just two earned runs on three hits. He struck out 12 batters and did not issue a walk. Norris begin the eighth, but was replaced by Hudson Chandler after recording just one out.
Gordon Lee 13, Ringgold 3
On Friday night in Chickamauga, the Tigers gave up 10 unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings as they dropped the road contest.
Mountjoy had an RBI-double for the Tigers, while Ransom singled and later drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Robbie Bates pitched the first four innings. He gave up three earned runs on three walks and five hits, finishing with four strikeouts, while Parker and Chandler pitched in relief.
Ringgold 4, Heritage-Conyers 0
Facing the 2019 Class 6A state champions, the first 15 Tiger hitters were retired in order, but things would change in the bottom of the sixth as a walk and a Patriot error got the ball rolling.
A sacrifice bunt by Norris moved two runners into scoring position and Mills drew a walk to load the bases. Parker came through with a timely two-run single and, after a Mangum fly ball moved Dre Morris to third, Mountjoy delivered an RBI-single. McMahan capped the inning with a single to right field to score Parker.
Ghormley did the rest, shutting down the Patriots to just three hits over seven innings. He did not allow a walk and finished with 11 strikeouts as Ringgold ended the week with a 5-5 overall mark.
The LaFayette Ramblers and Lady Ramblers hit their opening tee shots of the 2021 golf season on their own home course against Northwest Whitfield on Tuesday.
In the boys’ match, the Bruins scored the victory, 170-189. Matthew Rollins was low medalist with a 37 for Northwest.
Senior Scott Smith had a 39 for LaFayette, followed by freshman Mason Thompson with a 43, freshman Isaac Lawrence with a 52 and junior Braden Queen with a 55.
Also playing for LaFayette was freshman R.J. Harris (59) and sophomore Jackson Brewster (63). Junior Keegan Johns did not get to finish his round due to darkness.
Northwest also won the girls’ match by a score of 121-132.
Senior Emma Moore paced the Lady Ramblers with a 41, while three other freshmen were playing their first-ever career matches. Maggie Green shot a 45, followed by Jaylee Samples with a 46 and Hannah Kresser with a 47.
Only seven holes were able to be completed by all players in the girls’ match before darkness set in. The scores were tabulated using those seven common holes and the top three scores counted towards the team score.
Heritage girls third, LaFayette sixth at Nob North
The Calhoun Lady Jackets got a 76 from low medalist
Ella Manley as they won the Dalton Lady Cat Invitational at Nob North Golf Course on Thursday afternoon.
Calhoun finished with a team score of 279. Dalton was second with a 301, followed by Heritage (321), Northwest Whitfield (327), Coahulla Creek (344) and LaFayette (355). Team scores were comprised of the lowest three individual scores on each team.
Heritage got a 93 from Lauren Self, a 99 from Kendal Harrell, a 129 from Zoe Ha and a 138 from Madison Langford.
Green led LaFayette with a 114, followed by Kresser (120), Moore (121) and Samples (133).
Gordon Lee’s Cora Mount, playing as an individual, shot an 85 to make the AllTournament Team.
The 2020 season ended before it even began for the Oakwood Christian baseball team as COVID-19 concerns cancelled the season.
And while the Eagles would have much rather played baseball last spring rather than sit, there was a bit of a silver lining with the hiatus.
“We’re looking a lot better than we would have last year,” head coach Kraig Givens explained. “We’re a lot more experienced (this year) in that we have a number of players that moved up from the eighth grade and we had two kids moved into the area who love baseball and that’s going to help us a ton.
“There’s still a lot to be determined, like pitching. There’s a lot of guys that can (pitch), but who’s going to be able to do it well is the question. Still, we have a lot of potential. We have the potential to be strong at each of the defensive positions and these guys are ready to go. They’ve been missing it for a while now.”
Givens will have just two seniors on the club and just three underclassmen total, while underclassmen dominate the make-up of the roster.
Senior Caleb Epperson has played third base in the past and will pitch some this year, but is versatile enough to play most positions on the field. Then there is senior Jared Haney, who did not play baseball until his freshman year, but enjoys the game and has good potential. He will mostly play at first base and could see some time of the outfield.
Givens said both players will provide excellent leadership for his young squad.
The lone junior is Jarrett Chambers, who has played for Givens at Oakwood since middle school. Chambers can play in the middle of the infield or in the outfield and will give the Eagles good speed and athleticism.
Among the sophomore, Joseph Dawson, who moved to the area out of Washington State, has plenty of baseball experience and can play a number of different positions on the field. Meanwhile, Corey Holder is returning after not being on the team last year. He will see most of his playing time in the outfield.
A large freshman contingent will see several players earn starting positions. Those players include catcher Cason Baggett, third baseman/ shortstop Ryan Davis, corner infielder Tanner Davis, utility player Hunter Hickman, outfielder Jayden Patterson, first baseman/outfielder Noah Renshaw and outfielder/ catcher Nick Yearout.
The roster is rounded out by eighth grader, Gabe Daugherty, who will play mostly in the infield, but could see sometime in the outfield. Several of the underclassmen will also log innings on the mound.
Givens said he is still rounding out his coaching staff, but one coach who is expected to help out with the Eagles this year is an Oakwood Christian baseball alum, Philip Davis, and the older brother of two players on this year’s team.
“It’s kind of hard to say what the strength of this team will be,” Givens added. “I’ve kind of been surprised by a lot of things, especially with the ninth graders, but I think (one of) the strengths will be unity. There’s a ton of potential for them to come together and become family and they’ve already begun that process.
“Games tend to dictate how that process goes along, but if we can stay unified, I think it’ll definitely be a strength. Plus, our defense should probably be a strength as well.
The coach added that the key to the season would be how his team’s pitching develops.
“If we can keep moving forward with our pitching, then we have a chance to really fight and be in just about every game on our schedule, from what I know about our competition,” he said. “I think there’s a lot we can do if it develops.”
The Saddle Ridge Lady Mustangs got two goals from Addison Sanders in a 4-3 win at Ringgold last Monday night. Cora Lanier and Maddie Underwood both found the net once in the win.
Individual scoring for the Lady Tigers had not been provided as of press time.
Ringgold boys 3, Saddle Ridge 3
The first Ringgold goal in the nightcap came on a kick by Isaac Talley with an assist from Levi Kooi. Anakin Cummings scored the next goal unassisted, while Talley found the net again on a corner kick.
Head coach Jonathan Fincher said he liked his team’s aggressiveness on offense and the way his defense protected the keeper.
Elijah Decker scored twice for the Mustangs, while Riley Ledford’s goal knotted up the match with two minutes to play. Isaac Hamilton helped preserve the tie with several saves in goal.
Rossville boys 2, Lakeview 2
The Bulldogs and Warriors battled to a draw in a match at Ridgeland High School last Monday night.
Bryan Ojeda scored the first goal for Rossville. Then, with just seconds remaining in the match, Brandon Quintilla found the back of the net for the equalizer after he previously had a goal called back earlier in the night.
Head coach Whitney Kisor credited Branson Dean, Isaiahas Bautista and Chase Fowler for their offensive performance throughout the match, while Dyllon Lecroy
and Lorenzo Tyson were defensive standouts.
Individual scoring for the Warriors had not been reported as of press time.
Lakeview girls 6, Rossville 1
The Lady Warriors won in the opener behind four goals from Keely Johnson and a pair of goals by Kaylee Mizell.
Lizet Jimenez came up with six saves, including one on a Rossville penalty kick.
Maria Ronda scored for the Lady Bulldogs.
Lakeview girls 1, Christian Heritage 1
The Lady Warriors hosted the Dalton school in a non
league match on Tuesday and finished in a tie against the Lions, who are a co-ed team.
Mizell blasted home a shot from just outside the 18-yard box for Lakeview’s only tally of the night, while Jimenez made several saves to keep her team in the match.
The girls’ match was the only one scheduled of the night.
Rossville boys 2, LaFayette 1
The Bulldogs picked up a win at Ridgeland High School on Thursday, getting the first win for Kisor, the team’s new head coach.
Bautista scored just before the first-half horn to stake Rossville (1-0-1) to a 1-0 lead and Bryan Ojeda
added a second-half tally. Dean assisted one of the goals, while Kisor credited Jake Waters, Tyler Sharp, Seth Murray and LeCroy, the captain for the match, for their performances in the win.
Individual scoring for the Ramblers was not available as of press time.
LaFayette girls 6, Rossville 0
The Lady Ramblers pitched a shutout in the nightcap behind five goals from Channing Johnson and one by Harley Perkins.
Perkins also added an assist, as did Malorie Durham, Olivia Durham, Aleia Harris and Emma House, while keeper Mya Woodard had
several saves to preserve the shutout.
Heritage girls 10, Ringgold 0
The Lady Generals got four goals from Airearina Williams and a hat trick by Zoie St. John in a win over Ringgold on Thursday.
Taylor Wade added a pair of goals. Anna Bradford and Zoe Parham each scored once for the Lady Generals, who are now 1-0 in the NGAC. Williams and St. John combined for a goal and St. John also recorded an assist.
Heritage head coach Mike Craft credited defenders Emilie Freeman, Victoria Gray, Charlotte Hayen, Reagan Stallings and Kinsey Woodard for helping keepers Reese Abercrombie and Emily Holcomb combine for the shutout.
Heritage boys 2, Ringgold 1
Tristan Simmons and Cruz Jackson found the net for the Generals in the nightcap. Hyrum Smartt was named by head coach Nate Erwin as a defensive standout, while keeper Cooper Chappalear made several big saves.
Individual scoring for the
Tigers was not available as of press time.
Lakeview girls 5, Dade 2
The Lady Warriors picked up the victory behind Johnson’s hat trick. Mizell also netted a goal, while Abby Riffenberrick scored her first goal in middle school.
Head coach Bill McDavid gave credit to defenders Laura Rodriguez and Makia Mathews, adding that Micha Valdes controlled the middle of the field.
Lakeview boys 3, Dade 0
Randy Floyd recorded a hat trick to help the Warriors collect a win in the second match of the night.
Trion girls 3, Chattanooga Valley 0
Lady Eagles head coach Deborah Rosenbloom gave credit to Amelia Sells and CarrieAnn Hill for their play on offense, while naming Jerreca Curtis and Cydney Killian as defensive standouts in Thursday’s match.
Results of the boys’ match were not available as of press