RINGGOLD - The Jack Mattox Complex, along with Ringgold Middle School, played host at an early-season softball tournament this weekend, and the LaFayette Lady Ramblers returned home with the runner-up trophy.

LaFayette opened the tournament on Friday with a 5-2 win over Chattanooga Valley. Madison Harris was 2-for-2 with two RBIs in the victory.

The Lady Ramblers moved into the winners' bracket final with a 2-0 shutout of Heritage on Saturday morning.

Lindsey Shepherd pitched a complete-game one-hitter, striking out four batters with no walks allowed.

Katie Cain had a triple, a walk, and scored the only two runs of the game, while Shayla Ludy, Madison Harris, Kiki Evans, and Raleigh Lewis each had a single.

In the winners' bracket final, LaFayette fell to Calhoun by a 6-0 count. Sydney Adkins and McKenzie Hogue each went 2-for-3 in the loss.

LaFayette bounced back in the elimination rounds with a 3-1 win over Heritage, getting a 2-for-3 performance from Shayla Ludy.

The second win over Heritage put LaFayette in the championship against Calhoun, and the Lady Ramblers scored four runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit to grab a quick 4-0 lead.

But the powerful Lady Jackets would answer with six runs in the second inning, then tacked on three more later in the game to win the title with a 9-4 victory. Ludy, Hogue and Harris paced the offense for the Lady Ramblers (3-4 overall) with two hits each.

Gordon Lee, who entered the tournament unbeaten at 2-0 on the young season, found the going a bit tougher as they went 1-2 in their three games.

The Lady Trojans dropped their Friday night opener to Calhoun, 11-2. Alyssa Coates went 2-for-2 in the loss while Madison Collier had a double.

Canaan Burnett went 2-for-3 and fired a no-hitter in the circle, fanning 10 Dade County hitters, in an 8-0 win on Saturday morning. Katherine Grace McElhaney helped the cause by going 2-for-2 at the plate.

But Gordon Lee would give up seven runs to Heritage in the final two innings Saturday afternoon before falling to the Lady Generals, 7-3, in an elimination game. All four of Gordon Lee's hits were doubles while Faith Alexander, Taelyn Bates, and Paxton Grimes drove in the runs for the Lady Trojans (3-3 overall).

Chattanooga Valley saw its tournament end early as they dropped a 5-2 decision to LaFayette Friday night before losing to Westside on Saturday. The final score and statistics were not available as of press time.

Heritage went 3-2 in the tournament to move to 3-3 overall on the year. The Lady Generals defeated North Whitfield, Gordon Lee, and Ringgold, but were eliminated with two losses to LaFayette.

Ringgold also went 3-2 for the weekend with two wins over Westside and one over Dade County. They were beaten by Calhoun and sent home by Heritage in the losers' bracket semifinal.