Gatewood finished its regular season on a disappointing note, losing three consecutive games to First Presbyterian Day, Tallulah Falls, and Bulloch Academy.
The Gators completed their regular season with a final record of 19-10 but went undefeated in region play at 5-0 to secure the No. 1 overall seed for the GIAA Class AA playoffs. Being the top seed means the Gators will have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs until the state championship series.
After receiving a bye in the first round, Gatewood will face Brentwood (15-12) in a best-of-three series in the Elite Eight at home on Friday. As of press time, however, game times were not yet announced.
The two teams are quite familiar with each other. Gatewood defeated Brentwood 4-2 and 7-2 in late March.
Walker Roberts and John Wallace Thompson had successful outings on the mound for the Gators when facing Brentwood. Both earned wins, with Roberts pitching seven innings and striking out nine batters while allowing just two hits en route to a 4-2 win. In the next game, Thompson pitched five innings with five strikeouts while allowing just four hits on his way to a decisive victory over the Eagles.
“The past few weeks have been a little bit of a roller coaster,” Gatewood head coach Brandon Moss said of the regular season. “We scheduled the games at the end of the season the way we did so that we could face the best possible competition heading into the playoffs. And while we definitely could have played a lot better than we did, it also gave us a real look at areas we needed to shore up before the playoffs.”
Moss added that he thought the Gators’ biggest advantage heading into the playoffs is experience.
“Our guys have been in these moments over and over the last few years, and we have seen almost every scenario unfold, whether it’s us jumping out to a big lead, the other team getting out to a lead, late losses, late wins, weather delays, field changes, or injuries,” he said.
“Most any scenario a team could face adversity with, we have faced it at one time or another over the last five years. That is preparation that you just can’t get in any other way. I have complete confidence that when the time comes, these guys will be ready to perform.”
Moss added that the Eagles don’t have any overpowering arms; however, their pitchers do a good job of getting ahead, mixing pitches, and expanding the strike zone. He believes his batters will be prepared for Brentwood, regardless of what gets thrown at them.