Prep baseball is in full swing and the weather is becoming, well, more fan friendly.
If you are a Northwest Georgia-area fan, here are five terrific high school baseball venues to take in.
1. Ringgold
Bill Womack Field was rebuilt after the 2011 tornado outbreak tore through the school campus, and what was already among the state's best ballparks is now at the elite level.
Fans can easily find a seat most days, though big games will pack the stands. The field itself is immaculate and the action is intimate — maybe too much so, if you ask pitchers. If the wind is blowing out, well, think Wrigley Field, but the dimensions are something that often make for dramatic endings.
The ballpark has also seen several of the best players in Chattanooga-area history call it home, from Jesse Cross to son Colton, Kenny Henderson, Billy Stephens, Matthew Crownover, 2023 graduate Ross Norman and many others.
What also stands out about the program itself is how many of its former stars regularly attend games.
2. Ridgeland
The Ballpark at Ridgeland (that's its official name) has the feel of a high-end minor league stadium, complete with chair backs, covered seating for the bleachers, heaters for those chilly early-season games, a huge scoreboard and terrific views.
Coach Scott Harden has continued to elevate the ballpark to its status among the state's best on a yearly basis, including the installation of new outfield turf.
The only thing that's hurt is the program hasn't hosted many huge late-season games in recent years, but Harden's crew appears to be changing that this season with an undefeated start and early state ranking in GHSA Class AAA.
Staff file photo/ The Ballpark at Ridgeland offers area baseball fans one of the most upscale spots to watch a high school game.3. Northwest Whitfield
Like Ringgold, this ballpark is named after the program's most legendary figure. Richard Chumley Field, which sits on a hill overlooking the rest of the campus, has one of the most scenic views in the area.
It's also the perfect spot — if you can lug it up the long set of stairs — to take a chair and sit on the hill on the third-base side.
Staff file photo / Umpires Jeff Keen, left, and Randall Flowers stand for the national anthem before a game between Northwest Whitfield and Cedartown at Northwest Whitfield High School's Richard S. Chumley Field.4. Gordon Lee
OK, the occasional flood can be an annoyance, but I always find watching a game at the ballpark on Crittenden Avenue is relaxing, especially if you can get there early enough to secure a chair spot under the trees in right field.
The addition of a video screen to the scoreboard is a nice amenity for fans, and the line of pine trees beyond left field gives the place a definite southern feel.
The Trojans are also one of the state's winningest programs, which makes this a must place to visit each spring.
5. LaFayette
FYI, I haven't personally seen a game at the school since a massive renovation last year, but I anticipate it will live up to expectations. New turf was installed, which includes the colorful school logo behind home plate, and is now one of the best playing surfaces in the area.
Even before that, though, the ballpark was a nice place to watch a game due to its wide-open spaces. One thing that's always stood out there is the number of children who take advantage of the greenspace around the ballpark to play.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.