Monday March 18th, 2024 10:41PM

Opinion: Gainesville's heroic effort a worthy cap to an astounding prep season

Any coach, athlete, parent or booster that follows prep sports witnessed some amazing moments over the last few weeks -- from championships (some historic), to heartbreak and everything in between, as area teams and individuals provided us with a stunning finish to the 2014-15 high school sports campaign.

West Hall boys first soccer championship, as well as Buford baseball's charge to the Class AAAA title lead the way -- the Spartans giving their program and school something they will never forget with a first GHSA team crown. The Wolves, meanwhile, fielded perhaps the dominant baseball team in the state (a showdown with Class AAAAAA champ Parkview would be a mouth-watering prospect indeed).

But perhaps no effort/moment was as astounding as what Gainesville baseball produced on Wednesday.

True, the Red Elephants missed out on a state championship -- just -- in falling to Greenbrier over three contests in the Class AAAAA championship series. But Gainesville's battle was about far more than what appeared on the scoreboard at the end of Game 3 (a 5-2 victory for the hosts).

What the Red Elephants displayed on their road trip to Evans -- a near three-hour bus ride -- should never be forgotten, as they fought the No. 1-ranked squad in Class AAAAA to a standstill on Monday before maintaining their composure through a 24-hour rain delay. And while some may say that only champions live forever, Gainesville fans should never forget their battling baseball squad -- which fought off boredom, frustration and any number of other issues after watching rain and indecision force them to play a waiting game, as the decisive contest of the series was postponed a full day due to weather and hazardous field conditions.

Boredom is difficult enough for grown men. Can you remember what it was like as a teenager? Not only boredom, but pent up frustration, as Gainesville's players stalked the dugout on Tuesday, waiting for a game that never came before retreating for a second straight night into the cramped quarters of a local motel. And even then there was worry of possible rain on Wednesday -- and the limbo that more inclement weather might bring.

"It was about the worst nightmare you could imagine," Red Elephants coach Jeremy Kemp said. "No one wants to deal with something like that. But we came here and gave them a good series, and I'm proud of these guys."

Gainesville earned every bit of that pride and, for a handful of innings Wednesday, looked as though they might overcome the kind of road trip only Minor League ball players endure, jumping ahead 1-0 on a second inning home run from Brandon Sewell.

It would have been an ending that went down in program and school lore -- not to mention north Georgia prep athletics history. It was not to be, however, as Greenbrier fought back to take a lead and then pounce on some late Red Elephants' miscues.

That said, Gainesville's senior class, including Michael Curry, Mikey Gonzalez, Tanner Peacock, Sewell, Harrison Styles, Caleb Whitenton and Drew Wright, and its coaching staff -- once the pain subsides of coming oh-so-close -- can rest easy in the knowledge that they have pushed the Red Elephants one giant step further and onto the brink of another championship.

"This has been an unbelievable ride," Kemp said. "No one (at the start of the season) would have picked us to play for a state championship. But these guys never quit fighting. That's what they are, fighters. And they're also a bunch of winners."

NOTE: Look later in the week for a video wrap-up of this spring's prep sports highlights and memorable moments.

  • Associated Categories: Sports, High School Sports
  • Associated Tags: High school baseball, High school soccer, Gainesville baseball
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