5/11/2011 3:02:02 PM
The headline series of this week's second round of the Georgia playoffs is the match-up between Ringgold and Columbus, but not for the reasons one would have expected only a few weeks ago.
The teams squared off in last year's AAA championship with Columbus sweeping Ringgold to win their first title since 2005, and both teams have been highly ranked in the Georgia Coaches Assocation poll as well as the PG High School Southeast Regional Rankings all year.
Both teams have top level talent, especially on the mound with Columbus featuring
LHPs Will Solomon and
Kyle Carter, who doubles as one of the state's best outfielders. Rinngold counters with
LHP Matthew Crownover, a junior committed to Clemson, and senior
RHP Colton Cross, a Kennesaw State commit that is one of the risers in the state this spring, as well as Mercer commit
RHP Corey Kafka.
But the Ringgold Tigers run in the state playoffs was put on hold April 27, when a series of tornadoes ripped through the Southeast, destroying the Ringgold Middle and High Schools and devastating the town.
The damage to the school was too much to continue classes for the year, but the baseball team will continue playing.
Ringgold swept their first round series against Riverwood, and their preparation for the series against Columbus has been made easier by the city of Columbus, who has collected donations for the city of Ringgold, secured free hotel rooms for the baseball team during the series, as well as allowing them to using Columbus HS Jordan Field for their practices.
The series should be a great one, maybe even the best of this year's Georgia playoffs, but it will be with heavy hearts as the town of Ringgold attempts moves on from this disaster.