The Gatewood Gators rallied from a 1-0 series deficit last weekend to take their GIAA AA semi-final playoff series 2-1 over the Edmond Burke Academy (EBA) Spartans.
The win sends Gatewood to its third-consecutive state championship series, beginning this Thursday in North Augusta versus Southwest Georgia Academy from Damascus.
Playing at home in Eatonton last Friday, the Gators lost game one 6-2 to the Waynesboro-based Spartans before battling back in game two that same day with an 8-7 victory, which sent both teams to a series-deciding third contest on Saturday.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams in game one, EBA jumped out to a four-run lead after the second inning. The score remained 4-0 until the bottom of the sixth when Ben Brannen and Ames Johnson each crossed home plate.
That was the end of the scoring for the Gators, though, and EBA added two more runs in the top of the seventh to reach the 6-2 final.
Later that same day, Gatewood took on the designated visitor’s role, batting in the top of each inning for game two. EBA again jumped out to an early lead on a one-out solo home run to right field before Gators’ pitcher Walker Roberts was able to force a pair of ground outs to end the first inning.
At bat, the Gators answered with a John Wallace Thompson single that scored Lawson Wooten to give them their first run of the game in the top of the second. Gatewood then took a 2-1 lead when Wilson Moore scored on a Hunter Johnson single to left field before Roberts hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the third to extend Gatewood’s lead to 3-1.
Next, Caleb Riser hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to highlight a four-run inning for the Gators. They needed the insurance, too, as the Spartans responded with a six-run effort in the seventh inning that fell just one run short of sending the game to extra innings.
Roberts’ night on the mound was highlighted by getting the win after five innings of work, seven strikeouts and just one run and one hit allowed.
Game three began at 4 p.m. Saturday, with Gatewood again officially listed as the home team.
Despite a solid first inning at the plate, the Spartans were unable to score any runs and the Gators fared no better. Just as in the game the night before, though, the Spartans jumped out to a second-inning 1-0 lead after a ground out to Gators’ third baseman Wilson Moore for out number two, but a Spartans runner scored from third base to give EBA the early advantage.
A ground out ended the second inning's top half, and Gatewood managed to tie things up on a Wallace Thompson double-scoring Roberts from third base.
Gatewood held EBA scoreless in the third, then took a one-run lead when Ames Johnson grounded out in the bottom of the inning while Hunter Johnson was able to score as Gatewood went up to a 2-1 advantage.
The Gators extended their lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning on a Spartans catching error at home plate that let Hunter Johnson score again. Ames Johnson also would score later in the same frame on an error by the Spartans' second baseman as Gatewood extended its lead to 4-1.
The fifth and final run for the Gators came in the bottom of the sixth on a Brannen single hit to right field that sent John Wallace Thompson home and gave the Gators a 5-1 lead.
The game would be sealed in the top of the seventh on a ground out to second basemen Hunter Johnson, who made the throw to Wooten on first to record the final out and send the Gators back to the state championship series for the third time under head coach Brandon Moss.
Wooten put up six innings of work on the bump, allowing one run and striking out one batter. Roberts pitched the final inning and allowed no hits.
Moss said earlier this season that the strong point of this year’s Gators is the team’s desire and there is little doubt it was pure desire that drove the Gators back to the state championship.
Gatewood (17-8, 5-1) heads to SRP Park at North Augusta, S.C., to face the Southwest Georgia Academy Warriors (14-11, 5-1) for game one on Thursday at 1 p.m. and game two on Friday at 4 p.m.