Gatewood’s trip last week to the annual Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Ala., did not go as hoped for, with the Gators finishing with a 1-3 record for the tourney.
The Gators were shut out 14-0 on Feb. 27 against Hartselle (Ala.) but bounced back with a 5-3 win over Sparkman (Ala.) the next day.
Games three and four on March 1 were not much better than game one with a 12-2 loss to Mountain Brook (Ala.) followed by a 13-3 decision favoring Brandon (Miss). The Hartselle team went undefeated in four games to win the division.
Regardless, the Gators’ most crucial win last week was their 7-6 victory on Tuesday at home over Westfield (1-2).
Gatewood found itself trailing 6-3 in the bottom half of the seventh inning after six Gator pitchers took the mound, allowing five hits as they combined to strike out nine batters.
The Gators rallied and scored four runs in the seventh, stealing the win from the Hornets and improving their record to 2-0 before their trip to Hoover.
Freshmen Lawson Moore and Connor Mitchem each hit home runs. Mitchem scored two runs against Westfield, while senior Ames Johnson had two hits, recorded an RBI, and crossed the plate once in the win.
The Gators are now 3-3 early in the season and play at Westfield this Tuesday (past press time). On Thursday at 5 p.m., Gatewood will host one of the GIAA’s top programs, First Presbyterian Day (5-1). On Friday, they will travel to Monroe Area to play the Purple Hurricanes (3-3).