Ringgold Tigers set atop Region 6-AAA

The Ringgold baseball team is hitting its mid-season in first place in Region 6-AAA play.

The Tigers have achieved that lofty status despite the lack of time on the field. Like many of the area teams, Ringgold is enduring the continuing rainy weather.

On Saturday, after canceling another game on Friday due to rain, Ringgold defeated Gordon Central, 11-1, on Senior Night.

Ringgold head coach Brent Tucker said the fact that their annual festivities to honor the upperclassman took place at 10:30 a.m. was proof the past few weeks have been nothing short of chaotic when it comes to field time.

“You come into work every day and start looking at possibilities and how to get a game in with this weather,” he said. “Then the difficult part is once something is set you have to get the communication out to everyone, which has been the hardest thing probably.”

Tucker said battling the rain and having to reschedule so many games has hurt the Tigers crowd size tremendously.

“Sometimes the parents aren’t exactly sure where the kids are and we’re having to deal with transportation issues and having to find buses to get us to and from games,” Tucker said.

The veteran coach said the most unusual situation last week was against North Murray. Ringgold was scheduled to play away, but North Murray came to Ringgold to play on Tuesday. Then Ringgold faced Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe later that evening at home.

While there’s been much confusion in the past few weeks with weather, Tucker said his team has remained focused.

“When you’re not practicing outside, it’s not a good thing for any baseball team,” he said. “We had a few weeks where were outside every day, practicing on the field and playing well. Now, we’re back to get practice in when and where you can and get a game in when in and where you can.”

“It’s stressful, but the boys have handed great.”

Tucker said he had the seniors to thank for leading by example and keeping the rest of the team focused.

“This senior class has been fantastic,” he said. “They just go out there lead and play. They show up every day.”

Tucker said he hoped the next few weeks would require a lot less time with the tarps.

“We’re tired of having to put the tarp on the field,” he said. “It’s a lot of bags and getting that thing off, with water everywhere, is heavy.”

Ringgold was scheduled to play at Adairsville on Monday. The weather forecast