Class 3A baseball: Glenwood overwhelms Gordo in Game 1

If you were looking for the MVP of Glenwood Academy’s explosive Game 1 victory over Gordo, you would have to start by checking the entire lineup. The Gators put on an absolute clinic on Tuesday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, storming to an 18-6 win in the Class 3A state baseball finals.

Gators One Win Away From Repeat

Glenwood is now just a single victory away from capturing back-to-back Class 3A state championships. The Gators’ offense was firing on all cylinders, pounding out 20 hits in a dominant display. Kade Cox paced the attack with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, crossing the plate five times. Trey Claridy was equally impressive, driving in runs in each of his first four plate appearances while finishing with three hits and two sacrifices. Carter Judah chipped in with three hits, while Hudson Campbell, Andrew Wilkinson, Sawyer Moss, and Asher Long each contributed two hits to the cause. Wilkinson also provided a highlight-reel moment, launching the first home run of the week at Choccolocco Park.

Fanning Praises Team Growth

"I’m just proud of these guys. They’ve been working toward this all year," said Glenwood coach Tim Fanning, reflecting on his team's transition from an AISA title in 2024 to their current success in the AHSAA. "It’s been pretty spectacular watching them grow as a team, especially as an offensive unit. They showed today what we’ve pretty much been doing throughout the playoffs."

The Game Flow

Glenwood (34-8) set the tone early with a four-run first inning and never trailed. Despite falling behind 9-1, Gordo showed resilience in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run rally sparked by an RBI single from Makain Robertson. With the tying run at the plate, Glenwood relief pitcher Peter Sfakianos stepped up, recording the final out to strand the bases loaded and stifle the momentum. The Gators pulled away again with three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and four in the seventh.

Gordo Looking for a Bounce Back

Despite the tough loss, Gordo saw strong efforts from junior Noah McDaniel, who tallied two doubles and a single. Freshmen Levi Brooke and Robertson also added two hits apiece for the Green Wave.

Gordo now faces a must-win situation, needing to sweep two games on Wednesday at Jacksonville State to claim the state title. First pitch for Game 2 is slated for 4 p.m.

"Today is a one-day deal. Win or lose you can only get half of it today," said Gordo coach Jonathan Pate. "We’ve got to play better and compete better. A series like this is built so much on momentum. You have to have the mentality to bounce back and compete and we will."