Redemption for Hicks as Glenwood advances to finals

Cason Hicks knew what he had to do when he took the mound against Monroe Academy for the third and final game in the AISA Class 3A semifinals.

The left-hander threw a complete-game one hitter as Glenwood (40-5) advanced to the championship series with a 5-0 win against the Volunteers (28-9) Friday at Bill Bowers Field.

Hicks was a focal point of the three-game series as it was his throwing error that allowed Monroe to win the second game of the series by a 1-0 score.

“I had to put that previous game out of my mind and go out there and throw strikes and get outs,” said Hicks after the game. “It was a great game, a little nerve-wracking but great.”

Told that the last out of the win was Griffin McKenzie, the player that scored that single run in Glenwood’s loss, was a surprise.

“That just makes this win even sweeter,” he added.

Glenwood coach Tim Fanning had high praise for all his pitchers as Hicks, Tyler Cadenhead, Daniel Holley and reliever Nick Adams allowed only six Volunteers hits in three games.

“They (Monroe) were here for a reason, and we knew this was the third year in a row we have faced them and they were a good team. They don’t give these things away.” Fanning said after the game.

The day started with Glenwood finishing the first game of the series that was suspended due to rain on Wednesday. The Gators tacked on an insurance run for a final 4-2 win as Adams relieved Holley for the final inning.

The second game was a tense battle between Cadenhead and Monroe’s Trace Holder. Both teams had only two hits, but both of the Volunteers hits were owned by all-state shortstop McKenzie. He doubled to lead off the in the sixth, advanced to third on a groundout and scored when Hicks overthrew third for the only run of the game.

In fact, all three runs scored by the Volunteers were unearned as two Gator errors resulted in two runs in the first game of the series.

The Gators started off in the final game as the first four batters reached and Glenwood wound up with a 2-0 lead after one. It would be all the runs Hicks would need.

The Gators chipped away with additional runs in the third, fifth and sixth to make it 5-0 with Carson Allison’s double and two straight bunts plating the final run of the game.

“We preached patience to them after the second game. Don’t swing at bad pitches and don’t go after the first thing you see and we executed exactly as we needed to win,” Fanning finalized.

Glenwood will meet Autauga Academy in the finals at Paterson Field in Montgomery May 11-12.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Redemption for Hicks as Glenwood advances to finals."