2018 winner Franklin hosts two-time defending Ringgold in first round
By Shane Scoggins
Publisher
The Franklin County Lady Lions were eliminated from the Class AAA state softball tournament Wednesday with back-to-back losses to two-time defending state champion Ringgold in Carnesville.
Ringgold won the first game 3-1 and the second 8-5.
Franklin led each game, but Ringgold used stellar defense and got hits at key times to claim the victories.
Ringgold won the last two state championships for fast-pitch softball, defeating Franklin County for the 2019 title in Carnesville. The Lady Lions won the 2018 championship.
Franklin won the right to host the first-round matchup by winning the Region 8AAA championship with a perfect 10-0 record.
Ringgold finished fourth in Region 6AAA after a loss Saturday to Rockmart.
Despite its fourth-place seed, Ringgold was ranked No. 6 in AAA by MaxPreps and ScoreAtlanta, just one spot below No. 5 Franklin County.
Franklin finishes the season with an 18-10 record to go with the region title.
The loss ended the high school careers of eight Franklin County seniors, Kadence Bell, Emily Carson, Jayden Gailey, Ginger Mitchell, Sarah York, Gracie Hulsey, Kayleigh Chappell and Mia Blackmon, the largest single class in team history.
The seniors finish their careers with the most wins in school history, two region championships, a state runner-up finish and a state championship.
Coach Jason Oliver said he was proud of his team and the seniors.
“Our kids played hard and fought to the end,” he said.
Full coverage of the playoff games and photos will be featured in the Oct. 21 issue of the Franklin County Citizen Leader and on the newspaper’s Facebook page.