Despite a tough week on the diamond, the Gatewood Gators won their second straight region championship last week.
The Gators are 5-0 in Region 2-AA, but four straight non-region losses have shown the Gators they still have room to improve with the playoffs nearing. Gatewood lost 1-0 to Pinewood and 7-0 to First Presbyterian Day before their second game with Pinewood last Friday.
Lawson Moore started on the mound versus Pinewood in game two with the Patriots.
Moore got off to a rough start, allowing three runs in the first inning. With two outs and three runners on, Pinewood scored three runs on a double and took an early 3-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning and one runner on, Ames Johnson doubled to center field, scoring Ben Brannen to cut the Patriots’ lead to two. Lawson Moore struck out three batters over the next two innings and allowed zero runs, giving the Gators hope of a comeback.
Moore got some help from Ames Johnson, who hit his first home run of the season to cut the Patriots lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning. The Gators failed to complete the comeback with no runs after the fourth inning and lost 3-2 to Pinewood.
Despite the tough loss, Moore still had a good performance, going five innings deep on the mound, striking out six batters, allowing only two hits, two walks, and three runs. Trey Wiggins finished off the game, going two innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out two batters.
Ames and Hunter Johnson accounted for all three of the Gators’ hits. Ames had two hits, including an RBI double scoring Ben Brannen and a solo homer in the fourth inning.
Hunter Johnson’s lone hit came in the fifth inning on a base hit to left field. The Gators’ struggles came to a fever pitch on Monday against Heritage.
The Gators gave up a season-worst 24 runs to the Hawks, including five home runs.
In their season finale, the Gators will travel to Macon on Wednesday to face Tatnall Square Academy (17-8, 6-2).