EATONTON, Ga. — This may not be the first time it’s said in the next few years, but Gatewood Gators baseball ruled Class AA of the GIAA for the 2023 season. In head coach Brandon Moss’ three seasons at the Eatonton school, every one ended in the state finals, and the third time was the best.

At two different parks in three days, Gatewood won a best-of-3 series against Southwest Georgia Academy of Damascus with the final game held May 21. Despite all of the uncertainty caused by inclement weather over the Augusta area as the host of this year’s GIAA finals — not to mention watching Southwest Georgia do a championship-like celebration after winning Game 2 on a walk-off — this extremely young group was not going to be denied.

This young roster has two seniors. But when looking at statistical leaders, it’s all 10^th grade, 10^th grade, 10^th grade with an 11^th and even 9^th sprinkled in.

“The core of this team has been together for three years now,” said Moss. “This year we finally pulled it out. We did most of our damage with good baserunning. We had a couple of guys in there who could really hit for some power. Mostly, we played the game of baseball well. We stole bases, laid bunts down. Our defense got better as the season went on, and our pitching was strong from the beginning. We had four really good starting pitchers … in any game they were going to keep you in it. It was just a really good mix.”

Gatewood had previously lost the last two state finals, to Piedmont and Terrell, and those series, like this year’s, also went the full three games.

As for this year’s weather issues …

“It was a mess, but it was part of it,” said Moss. “You’re not the only team dealing with it. Both teams have to change plans. You just get up, get your work in and get ready to play. Our guys did a great job with that.”

In fact, every Gatewood playoff series this year had weather issues. For the finals, SRP Park in Augusta was the venue for all four classes, but on May 18 only one game was completed, and then on May 19 no games were played there. Gatewood and Southwest Georgia went to the Georgia School for Innovation and Classics in Hephzibah to play Game 1 that Friday.

The Gators won 10-4 after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning. By the fourth inning, the game was tied 4-4. Moss said Wilson Moore was the starting pitcher but struggled on a tough mound in still rainy conditions. The coach said Moore is routine-oriented but had issues with the strike zone. Moss made a change to J.W. Thompson, who kept Southwest Georgia at four runs and maybe one hit in 75 to 80 pitches.

In came the ace, Walker Roberts in the fifth inning to further shut things down. The Gators score six in the bottom half.

The action returned to SRP Park Saturday. There was more great Gator pitching but no offense. Southwest Georgia tied the series winning 2-1.

“We had phenomenal pitching,” said Moss. “We started Moore again. He threw four scoreless innings. He’s one of those kids, once he’s comfortable and got it figured out, he’s got truly dominant stuff.”

Gatewood scored its run early. The Gators faced a left-hander Moss said was in the 70-72 mph range.

“We could hit velocity,” he said. “That’s why we played such a tough schedule. When we face guys who really throw soft, we really struggle. We couldn’t get anything going. We didn’t strike out, but everything we hit, we didn’t have enough to get it over those guys’ heads because we were playing on a minor league field.”

It was still 1-0 in the seventh when Southwest Georgia — the home team — led off with a ‘seeing-eye’ single and a walk. Moss said they were expecting a bunt, but the next batter swung away and hit the ball off the pitcher’s leg. After a pitching change, it’s bases loaded with one out, and a line drive to the gap scored two.

“I think that helped the guys,” said Moss. “It was over pretty quick. They didn’t like seeing those guys go crazy. They weren’t going to be denied again. We knew we just had to come out (in Game 3) and play baseball.”

After a good night’s rest at home, Gatewood dominated Game 3 10-0 in five innings, again at the Hephzibah park on May 21. Walker Roberts was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Caleb Riser was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Ben Brannen and Jackson Hewatt each drove in two runs. Lawson Wooten pitched all five innings for a one-hitter with two walks and four strikeouts.

Gatewood scored eight in the first inning.

For 2024, all starting position players return, and most of them will still be Gators for 2025.

“We have some good young players coming who are going to add to it,” said Moss. “They are going to be able to compete with some of these 3A and 4A teams.”

Five Gators made All-State. Roberts was state Player of the Year leading in home runs, RBI and earned run average. Riser was an outstanding catcher, and Ames Johnson was the shortstop who had almost 30 hits for the season hitting around .350. Hunter Johnson was the ‘get dirty’ player. Brannen raised his average from .240 to .300.

“We have a good, balanced team,” said Moss.