Glenwood rolls into AISA semifinals

Glenwood’s McKenna Gillespie was a dominant pitcher and set a new Glenwood record for strikeouts as the Lady Gators took advantage of multiple errors as they won two games on the first day of the AISA Class 3A state tournament at Lagoon Park.

Gillespie was masterful against Pike Liberal (27-21) in Glenwood’s second game as she allowed only two hits and struck out seven batters in a 10-0 victory.

“McKenna set the single-season record for Glenwood when she struck out her second batter against Pike,” Dusty Perdue said. “Good pitching stops good hitting every time.”

Pike’s only scoring threat was the second when the Lady Patriots loaded the bases, but Gillespie struck out the side, stopping Pike and setting the strikeout record in the same inning.

Providing the offensive fireworks was the team’s leading home-run hitter, catcher Kirsten Reynolds, who highlighted a three-run third with a long blast to left. Two batters later, Sara Kate Smith made it 6-0 when she hit a two-run homer, the first home run of her career.

“Sara is one of only two seniors and I couldn’t be prouder,” Perdue said. “We do start four freshmen and one eighth grader and once we get ahead, we relax and play a lot better.”

It took Glenwood only 55 minutes to take care of Monroe Academy in the first game as the Gators pounded out 15 hits and scored 18 runs.

After scoring three in the first, the Lady Gators made it a mercy-rule contest as they sent 18 batters to the plate and scored 15 runs in the second. Hope Gullatt had four RBIs and went 3-for-3 as every Glenwood batter collected at least one hit.

Gillespie pitched two innings of hitless ball striking out five. Carle Hampton finished up, allowing the only Monroe hit in the game.

“We executed well and played great as a team,” Perdue said. “Now we have to prepare in the morning for our next opponent.”

The Lady Gators will meet a surprise opponent, Bessemer Academy in the semifinals. Bessemer upset the Region 2 No. 1 seed Autauga Academy, 6-4.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Glenwood rolls into AISA semifinals."