Tigers, Trojans finish 1-2 in 6-AAA
Sebastian Haggard has pitched his share of big games for the Ringgold Tigers over the past few seasons and he got the call for another important contest last Tuesday.
The senior and University of Pennsylvania signee allowed just two hits and one walk and finished with nine strikeouts as the Tigers claimed a 6-0 victory at Gordon Lee in the first game of a two-game Region 6-AAA series.
More importantly for Ringgold, the victory gave the Blue-and-white another region championship, the 24th in the program's illustrious history.
Ringgold got the only two runs it would need in the top of the first inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Haggard, who brought in a run with a sacrifice fly. Jackson Black drove in the second run on a groundout.
In the fourth, Black led off with a double and two walks filled the bases for Garrett Edgar, who delivered an Rbi-single. A second run scored following an error at the end of the play.
Then in the sixth, the Tigers added two more insurance runs without the benefit of a base hit.
Conner Christopher and Aidan Hickman also had singles for Ringgold.
Aiden Goodwin pitched the first five innings for Gordon Lee. He allowed four earned runs on three hits, striking out three batters, but issuing six walks. Brayden Stoker and Colton Baker combined for two innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on one hit and one walk.
The only two hits for the Trojans came on singles from Brock Crutchfield and Ty Thompson.
GORDON LEE 6, RINGGOLD 0
The Trojans still had plenty to play for as they took the field for the regular season finale at Ringgold on Thursday as a win would assure the Navy-and-white of at least one series at home to start the Class 3A state playoffs.
And that's exactly what Gordon Lee got.
The Trojans posted arguably their most important win of the season as they turned the tables on Ringgold with a win at Bill Womack Field, securing the No. 2 seed out of 6-AAA and snapping the Tigers' win streak at an impressive 11 games.
Gordon Lee opened the scoring in the top of the third, getting a single and a walk before scoring the first run of the inning on an error. Peyton Groce, who doubled earlier in the game, brought in a second run with an Rbi-single.
Maddox Millard added to the lead with a solo blast in the top of the fourth and the Trojans managed to get out of trouble in the bottom of the inning to preserve their lead.
Haggard doubled for Ringgold and Black singled to put two runners on in scoring position with one out. However, Gordon Lee pitcher Dustin Day induced a flyout to shallow right before serving up a fielder's choice at second base to leave both runners stranded.
Gordon Lee tacked on three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh. A one-out walk and back-to-back singles by Jackson Scali and Brady Little loaded the bases. Groce earned his second RBI of the night by drawing a walk and Scali scored moments later on a wild pitch. Day was intentionally walked to reload the bases, but Landon Norton was hit by a pitch to bring in the final run.
Day polished off the complete-game shutout in the bottom of the inning. He allowed just five hits and struck out one batter without issuing a walk.
Little joined Groce with two hits on the night, while Thompson and Norton also collected singles.
Black worked 6.1 innings for Ringgold, surrendering three earned runs with nine strikeouts and two walks. Braydon Sylar and Logan Bramlett both pitched in the seventh.
Eli Crew and Haddon Fries had singles for the Tigers, while Ryder Fairchild added a double.
Gordon Lee finished the regular season 17-12 overall and 11-3 in 6-AAA, while Ringgold will take a 21-6 record into the state playoffs. They ended the year at 12-2 in region action.
The best-of-three first round
of the Class 3A state playoffs was scheduled to begin on Tuesday of this week with doubleheaders. Both the Trojans and the Tigers will be at
home, Ringgold against Gilmer and Gordon Lee against Wesleyan. Game 3 of each series, if needed, would be played on Wednesday.