With a pair of convincing wins over Oxford Thursday night, the Gardendale softball team has ascended to a place few have seen.

When Barry Brake—now in his fourth year leading the Rockets’ softball program after a long career on the baseball diamond—was asked if this was the best team he’s had the opportunity to coach, he had to dig way back for a memory.

He remembered the spring of 1997 when his Gardendale baseball team stared the season on a 3-10 skid, but came together to win 23 of its next 26 games.

Now, 21 years later, Brake is coaching a different game, finding the same ole success.

His 2018 Rockets have sprung out to a 22-0 start, including a pair of Class 6A, Area 12 wins over the likes of Pinson Valley and Clay-Chalkville. Gardendale has outscored its two area foes by a combined score of 19-4.

In non-area play the girls have notched wins over defending state champions Buckhorn (Class 7A) and Northside (Class 4A). Both of those wins came during a Wallace State Tournament championship run, which ended with a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Class 7A Mary G. Montgomery on March 3.

Gardendale also earned a John Carroll Kick-Off Classic championship on Feb. 24, thanks to a 3-2 win over last year’s Class 4A state runner-up, Westminster Christian.

“These kids work hard every day and they put themselves in position and so far this year we’ve been fortunate enough to get the right bounces, but the level of competition is still going to take another step up here in the next few days,” said Brake following a two-game sweep of Oxford on Thursday.

His girls are scheduled to square off with defending 6A state champion Hazel Green on Friday night. The Trojans beat Gardendale 6-3 last season in the state tournament and later bounced Daphne in the 6A finals.

But with an offense that has produced 211 runs (9.6 runs per game) through 22 games, the maroon and white aren’t shying away from any opponent. As a team, Gardendale has 21 home runs on the year, including five from Carlee McCondichie, three apiece from Sarah Beth Brake, Kylee Franklin and Chaney Phillips, two from Kailey Vaughn, and one apiece from Jaycee Dill, Savannah Pennington, Riley Phillips, Karlee Mayfield and Madalyn Beach.

“They’re just a special bunch of kids,” said Brake.

They played pretty special on Thursday night, taking a 10-2 decision over the Yellow Jackets and following up with a 15-5 win in the nightcap.

Haley Horton and Kaitlyn Clark split time in the circle to earn the evening sweep. Horton got the start in Game 1 and went five complete innings, much like Clark did in Game 2.

Offensively, the Rockets (22-0, 2-0 Area 12) poured runs across with regularity. Senior Chaney Phillips led the team with four RBIs to go with three apiece from Riley Phillips, Kailey Vaughn, Kylee Franklin and Madalyn Beach. Carlee McCondichie enjoyed a 5-for-5 effort in the box through Game 2.

Gardendale will look for its 23rd win on Friday at the Calhoun Field of Dreams Tournament.

“Everybody’s got to keep in mind, this is all practice because the big games come at the end of the year. This is all practice,” said Brake.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.