AISA CLASS AAA FINAL: Glenwood holds on to beat Lee-Scott
Glenwood celebrates the state championship after a 7-5 win over Lee-Scott on Friday at Paterson Field. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
After stranding 10 base runners in a nine-inning loss to Lee-Scott Academy on Wednesday afternoon, the Glenwood Gators came out with some early determination in the deciding game of the Alabama Independent School Association’s Class AAA baseball finals at Paterson Field on Friday.
“It just left a bad taste in my mouth,” said Glenwood junior Mason McCraine, a junior who is an Auburn commitment. “We came together as a team and we talked. We knew we had to get it done and we got it done.”
McCraine, Andrew Wilkinson and Jaxson Griggs all had two-run hits as the Gators jumped out to a five-run lead and held on for a 7-5 victory to win the best-of-three series over their arch rivals.
Glenwood (36-8) defeated Lee-Scott for the fourth time in six meetings this season and the second time in the finals, grabbing a 4-1 win in the first game before Lee-Scott pulled out a 5-4 victory in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. After a one-day delay because of rain, the two teams met again on Friday, giving Hall of Fame coach Tim Fanning a chance to reflect after winning his 10th state title with a rebuilt team that featured just one starter (Griggs) from a year ago.
“It is super special,” Fanning said. “I will say I was probably amped up higher today than I realized I would be and I think it had a lot to do with that. To build a culture and be part of a program where you can lose 12 seniors -- 10 went to the next level and we were 46-4 -- and win 36 games and be here with all new starters except one, it’s a testament to our program and these kids, what they buy into and give every day to this game. I could not be more proud to be their coach.”
Sophomore left hander Hudson Campbell threw a no hitter through five innings, but Lee-Scott trailed just 5-3 after a run scored on an error and two more on bases-loaded walks. The Warriors (37-10) would get two more runs on RBI singles by Sam Jackson and Garrett West in the sixth but Griggs’ two-run double provided a four-run cushion.
“Our guys aren’t going to quit,” Lee-Scott coach Jarrod Cook said, “but we were playing behind the whole game and that puts stress on the mound and defensively as well because you know every run counts. I’m proud of the fact we didn’t lay down and quit. I think that’s the difference in where we were earlier in the year and now at the end and I wouldn’t expect anything different out of our guys.”
Friday’s meeting marked the final athletic event for both teams in the Alabama Independent School Association. Both will be joining the Alabama High School Athletic Association in the fall.
“I don’t have anything against the AISA,” Fanning said. “For our school, it was the right move. I am going to miss this place. It holds a special place in our heart. People have been playing here a long time and we’ve been a big part of that. I remember the first one I won here in 2007. There’s a lot of great memories here, a lot of special relationships we’ve made in the AISA and those won’t go away.”