No. 2 Mobile Christian survives then dominates No. 3 Gordo in sweep
Mobile Christian’s Grant Jay could have defeated Gordo on his own.
Jay put on an immaculate hitting performance that peaked in six runs, including a home run in every game of a playoff double.
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It didn’t hurt that the rest of his team was so accurate at home plate as the mound was ablaze with gallant pitchers.
The second-seeded Leopards endured an eight-set fight before dominating the last drink in a doubles sweep of No. 3 Gordo, 7-5, 14-1, in the Class 4A semi-final of today at The Armpit in Gordo.
Mobile Christian (31-4) fell behind in the second inning of Game 1 with Gordo scoring on an RBI sack fly from Landon Fike, but the Leopards responded with an tying run on an error in the bottom half of the frame. The Green Wave regained the lead in the next inning at 3-1 on RBI singles from Caleb Jennings and Jase Neel.
The Leopards regained the lead in the fifth, scoring on an RBI sack fly from Ty Mancha, and took a 5-3 lead in the sixth on an RBI single from Southern Miss commit Seth Smith and a two-run double from Zane Stokes .
Gordo (26-7) tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh, sending the contest into extra innings on a two-out, two-run single from (Jase) Neel.
Mobile Christian kicked off with a solo home run from Jay in the top of the eighth and capped the score two batters later on a solo home run from Stokes.
Game 2: Mobile Christian took an early 2-0 lead in the first period, scoring on back-to-back RBI singles from Stokes and Mancha, and pounced on Gordo with a seven-run second inning.
The Leopards got the order in the second quarter and scored on several hits, including a two-run single, an RBI double, a two-run double, and an RBI single. Mancha scored the frame’s seventh point on a wild pitch from Gordo’s reliever Brady Jones.
The Green Wave scored its only run of the game on an RBI pitch by Ben Capps.
Mobile Christian added to their lead in the third, Jay scoring three on a blast over the left field fence and got the run rule win in the fourth on wild pitch, scoring Brody Hinton and a RBI on choosing a defender. .
Gordo ends his season with a loss to the Leopards for the third time in the last four playoff seasons.
Doubleheader star(s): Jay and Stokes. The two seniors were dominant at the plate and responsible for 12 of the 21 total runs Mobile Christian scored in the doubleheader.
“They were great,” Mobile Christian coach Talley Haines said. “You can’t say enough, these two guys have been through their ups and downs throughout their careers. The fact that they find themselves in situations of great pressure shows their talent but also how tough they are.
Jay, a Dallas Baptist signee, went 2-for-5 with a single and a solo home run in Game 1 and went 3-for-3 with 5 RBIs in the last drink, tackling runs on a two-run single and a 3- run home.
“You can never fully prepare for this kind of atmosphere, but we do a very good job as a team of adapting to any situation and we did a very good job tonight,” he said. he declared.
Stokes was 3 of 4 in Game 1, recording 3 RBIs on a double and solo home run, and went 2 of 3 in the last drink, recording another 3 RBIs on a single and a double.
“That’s what we’ve been preparing for all week. We knew it was going to be a crazy atmosphere. We slowed things down and hit the fastball. The first two runs came out a bit shaky, but when we settled in it was downhill from there,” he said.
Stat sheet: Mobile Christian – Kelly Lanier took the win in Game 1, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 7, and Cam Diamond took the win in the last drink, tossing a gem allowing 1 run on 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 6 For the doubleheader, Jay McCants was 5 of 8 with five singles, Mississippi State signee Charlie Keller was 1 of 4 with a double and two walks, and Smith was 4 of 5 with two RBIs on a single and a double. . Mancha had two RBIs in Game 1, despite not recording a hit, and was 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the final drink. Gordon – Capps was tagged with the Game 1 loss, allowing 7 runs on 13 hits while amassing 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of work, and Lang took the loss in the last drink, allowing 8 of 9 runs. hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. (Lawson) Neel was 3 for 7 in the doubleheader, recording two doubles, a single and a walk. In Game 1, Jennings was 1 for 4 with an RBI single and (Jase) Neel was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI on two singles. Fike was 0-for-3 but tackled a run on a sack fly.
Coach language: “I could tell throughout training this week that our boys were nervous. They knew what they were getting into coming here and Gordo gave us everything they had. That first game could have gone back and forth So much credit to these guys and the way Coach (Jonathan) Pate runs this program — Mobile Christian Coach Talley Haines
“This group has been with us for a long time, some since seventh grade, and there is a story behind every child here. We had six senior players, a manager, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It’s a great group of kids and nothing has changed tonight. I still love them as much as before the football game. — Gordo’s trainer, Jonathan Pate
They said it: “We have had a bond since we were very young. Half of us played at a little league park and the other half played at the rival park, so we were able to fit in well. I think that’s the reason. –Stokes
“The most important thing is to have our guys behind us and supporting us. It’s a great feeling to see your pitcher on the mound looking at our coach and saying, “I want to go to the next inning. It motivates us, ready to play and ready to strike. I have a deep love for these boys. — jay
Following: Mobile Christian advances to face No. 6 Etowah in the AHSAA Class 4A Championship Series starting Tuesday at Oxford.
