Patience was the key for the Gordon Lee High School Trojans as they entered Wednesday's do-or-die GHSA Class A public school baseball championship game at Savannah's Historic Grayson Stadium.
The game plan worked to perfection as the Trojans earned their second consecutive state title with a 9-3 win over top-seeded Schley County. The Trojans (33-5) overturned a 1-0 deficit in the top of the first with four runs in the bottom half and added three in the second and two in the third to take control.
"We had a little game plan," Gordon Lee coach Mike Dunfee said. "We wanted to take the first pitch, make them work through the nervous energy. We're not swinging at the first pitch. We answered with four and (our players) did a good job of taking what they were giving us."
After the Wildcats (29-7) had taken a 1-0 lead on Dylan Taylor's RBI single in the first, the Trojans went to work quickly against Schley County pitcher Trent Bivins. Justin Wooden led off the bottom half with a single - one of two hits for the center fielder - Brody Cobb singled with one out and Chris Potter reached on an infield error, with two runs scoring. Jake Wright later delivered a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.
After Wooden and Will Sizemore led off the second inning with singles, Hunter Hodson brought home one run with a sacrifice fly and J.D. Day drove home two with a double for a 7-1 lead. Sizemore and Hodson added run-scoring singles in the third for a 9-1 lead.
Cobb got the start on the mound for the Trojans and earned the win by going four innings and allowing four hits and one run. Logan Streetman pitched the next two innings, giving up two hits and no runs, and then Hodson went the final frame and gave up a run while striking out two.
"Our pitchers and our defense were outstanding today," Dunfee said. "J.D. Day made a big play in the fifth inning with a diving catch on a line drive and turned it into a double play. Really an unbelievable play.
"It was a lot of fun. I was nervous about the kids, but they were loose. I told them, 'This is out of our hands - just go enjoy the moment and do your best.' This is such a great group, and they deserve it."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.