Staff Reports

NORTHPORT – The best baseball season Collinsville has had in 25 years came to a close Thursday night at third-ranked Gordo. The Green Wave swept the fifth-ranked Panthers 9-6 and 21-3 in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at River Run Park.

In the first game, Gordo scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and held off a late Panther rally.

Gavin Lang led the Panthers (26-7) at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double, a run, and a RBI. Jeremiah Killian homered, walked, and drove in three runs. Colton Pettus went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs. Jacob Niles had a hit and scored a run. Bronner Jones contributed a hit.

Mason McAteer walked and drove in a run. Noah Johnson drove in a run. Sylas Adams walked and Carson Clanton scored a run.

Lang suffered the loss after allowed five earned runs on five hits with three walks and no strikeouts in 2/3 of an inning. Brantley Daugherty worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

In the second game, Collinsville took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Gordo erupted for 16 runs in the top of the third to take control.

Lang went 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI. Niles doubled twice and drove in a run. McAteer also doubled and scored a run. Adams added a hit and scored a run. Killian contributed a hit. Chase Godshall drew a walk.

McAteer suffered the loss after working 2 1/3 innings. He gave up seven earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Lang tossed 2/3 of an inning and allowed eight earned runs, a hit, and seven walks. Adams pitched two innings and surrendered three earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Gordo advances to the state semifinals where it will host second-ranked Piedmont. The Bulldogs swept Oakman 5-2 and 15-3 in other playoff action on Thursday.