The Gatewood Gators went 4-1 recently, including a pair of key region wins over Brentwood late last month.
The Gators took game one over the Eagles 4-2 on March 25 in Sandersville and followed that performance up three days later with a 7-2 win at home.
An outstanding pitching performance from Walker Roberts was the key to success for the Gators’ first victory over Brentwood. Roberts racked up nine strikeouts and walked just two batters while allowing only two hits and two runs in seven innings of work.
Their offense had a good day as well, tallying five hits off the Eagles’ pitching staff, though managing to score only two runs over seven innings.
A scoreless seventh inning for Brentwood gave way to a two-run eighth for the Gators. That was followed by an eighth-inning shutout from relief pitcher John Wallace Thompson, who struck out one batter and had two balls fielded for outs to close out the first game of the series.
Game two in Eatonton delivered a more decisive victory to the Gators, who took a 5-0 lead in the second inning. Wallace Thompson pitched five innings and allowed just four hits, two runs, two walks, and struck out five batters.
Gatewood pitchers Jackson Love and Lawson Moore combined to close out the victory with four combined strikeouts, no walks, and no hits allowed.
Gatewood head coach Brandon Moss said he feels like the team’s early-season struggles are contributing to its recent success.
“The tough early-season schedule definitely has aided us in preparation for region games,” Moss said. “I’m hoping that a tough end-of-season schedule will do the same in preparing us for the playoffs.”
Moss also mentioned he has seen multiple players step up into leadership roles this season, including several underclassmen.
Last week, Gatewood made the most of a long trip south to Statesboro by beating the Bulloch Academy Gators 3-2 on Tuesday before suffering a 5-4 loss at home the next night to Plainfield North, out of Plainfield, Ill.
Gatewood bounced back quickly, though, with a convincing 13-6 home win on Thursday over Westminster Christian Academy from Watkinsville. The Gators got out front early, leading 4-0 after two innings. The Lions made it interesting with three runs in the fourth, but in the fifth inning, the Gatewood bats came alive, driving in six runs for a commanding 10-3 lead.
WCA added one more run in the sixth, answered by three more scores by the Gators in the bottom of the inning, before the Lions managed two more runs in the seventh to reach the final score. Despite the offensive explosion for Gatewood, only junior Ben Brannen managed to hit one over the fence to score unassisted.
The Gators returned to action this week on Tuesday (past press time), facing region foe Windsor Academy at home before also hosting Pinewood Christian of Bellville at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Gators will cap their week off with a trip to Macon on Friday to finish off their series with Windsor Academy.