FAYETTEVILLE, Ala. – The Fayetteville Wolves are headed to the AHSAA Class 1A State Semifinals after winning one of the most thrilling playoff series in recent memory against the Maplesville Red Devils.
Fayetteville secured the series with a dramatic 7-5 victory in Game 3 in Maplesville, a game that players, coaches, parents, and fans will remember for years to come. The win, broadcast live on MIX 106.5 and the Fayetteville Sports Network, sends the Wolves to their first semifinal appearance since 2017 and marks the first semifinal trip under head coach Matt Collier.
With the season on the line, Fayetteville turned to junior pitcher Carter Goins, who delivered one of the biggest performances of his career. Goins threw a complete game, allowing just six hits while striking out seven batters to lead the Wolves to victory. Things did not come easily for Fayetteville. The Wolves trailed for most of the afternoon and found themselves down 5-1 entering the top of the sixth inning, but even facing a four run deficit on the road, Fayetteville never lost belief. As legendary baseball figure Yogi Berra once famously said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” and the Wolves proved exactly that Saturday afternoon.
Earlier in the game, Fayetteville had a golden opportunity to shift momentum in the top of the fifth inning when the Wolves loaded the bases with no outs. However, Maplesville managed to escape the inning without allowing a run, keeping control of the game and setting the stage for Fayetteville’s dramatic comeback later in the contest.
Eli Burns sparked the comeback by leading off the sixth inning with a solo home run that brought life back into the Wolves dugout. Fayetteville continued to apply pressure throughout the inning before Blake McDaniels delivered a clutch hit that tied the game at 5-5.
Maplesville threatened to answer in the bottom half of the inning and had the go ahead runner standing on third base with two outs, but the Wolves came up with a huge defensive stop to escape the inning and keep the game tied. Fayetteville took control in the top of the seventh inning with aggressive baserunning and timely hitting, pushing across two runs to break the 5-5 tie. One of those runs came off the bat of senior leader Brenton Cantrell, who blasted a home run over the fence in right center field. The two run inning gave the Wolves a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
From there, Goins slammed the door shut. The junior retired Maplesville in order in the bottom of the seventh inning with a clean 1-2-3 inning, securing the comeback victory and sending Fayetteville into the semi-finals.
Following the game, Coach Collier praised the resilience and determination of his team.
“This is what playoff baseball is all about,” Collier said. “I can’t tell you how proud we are of our guys. We’ve been challenged over and over throughout the season. We’ve fallen at times, but these guys never gave up hope. They wanted it badly and never stopped believing.”
Collier also pointed to the complete team effort displayed throughout the series.
“One thing that will always stand out to me about this series, beyond all the excitement, is how many different guys contributed in big moments,” Collier said. “This was a total team win. Some performances stood out more than others, but we had guys step up all over the field when we needed them most.”
Fayetteville’s offense produced five home runs during the series from four different players. Cantrell led the way with two home runs, while Ethan Jones, Blake McDaniel, and Eli Burns each added one of their own. The Wolves also received strong pitching performances from Ethan Jones and Carter Goins in their two victories, along with timely hitting throughout the lineup.
The three game series was tightly contested from start to finish. Fayetteville won Game 1 by a score of 7-4 before Maplesville answered with a 7-3 win in Game 2. The Wolves then captured the deciding Game 3 with another seven run performance and a huge come from behind win.
Playoff baseball often delivers unforgettable moments, and this series provided plenty of them. Every inning carried pressure, every pitch mattered, and both teams battled until the very end. Fayetteville and Maplesville left everything they had on the field in a hard fought series that showcased the intensity and excitement that make high school playoff sports special.
Fayetteville will travel to Livingston to face University Charter School in the semifinals next week for a chance to play for the State Championship. The series will be played at Tartt Field on the University of West Alabama campus. Game times and dates will be announced later.
