By BILL LUTHER
News-Sentinel Sportswriter
If Farragut fans begin referring to Mike Jordan as Mr. Fireman, it is well deserved. The Admiral senior righthander keeps responding to each call. He couldn’t have been any sharper in save No. 14.
Jordan needed only nine pitches to preserve a 3-0 victory for Jeff Glover over Baylor Thursday on Lower Hudson Field and send Farragut into the state Class AAA championship series.
The Admirals will play Memphis Christian Brothers or Nashville McGavock, who were rained out and will play tonight.
The best two-of-three finals will open Tuesday with a double-header at Tennessee. If a third game is necessary, it will be played Wednesday.
It marks the first time a Farragut team has reached the finals in any sport. Farragut’s girls are in the AAA softball title round.
Jordan (3-0) came on with no outs, a runner on first and a 3-0 count on Raider Doug Manley.
He fanned Manley on a 3-2 pitch. Catcher Randy Huffaker made a sensational catch, falling into the Baylor dugout, on Greg Newsom’s pop foul for the second out. Jordan then struck out Alan Carmichael.
"I’ve never been called into a game in a tougher situation," said Jordan. "Those were the biggest three outs I’ve had. My heart was jumping and my stomach was full of butterflies. I came in there to throw strikes and I grooved them. I threw nothing but fast balls.
"Sometimes, it is frustrating coming out of the bullpen," Jordan, who hasn’t made a start, said. "Today, I enjoyed it. I was ready because Coach told me he was going to bring me in if Jeff began to stiffen."
Glover, shaky at the start, ended up allowing only three hits to a Baylor team coming off an 18-run outburst in the quarterfinals. Glover got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first by fanning Archie Smith and Rich Panner.
"Jeff’s arm is the most important thing," said Admiral coach John Heatherly. "I watch him closely. When his arm begins to stiffen, I don’t hesitate to pull him. Jeff wasn’t sharp, but he showed a lot of guts pitching out of a couple of spots early."
Farragut (24-4) scored in the sixth. Shortstop Bobby Gaylor led off with a single and took second as Jeff Sexton grounded out on a swinging bunt. Greg Schwartz got Gaylor home with a sharp single to right.
In the seventh, loser Greg Smith (6-1) retired Kenny Woodhull and then Pat Dorwin, who had already gone three-for-three. David Mowery and Huffaker then singled and the Raider defense became unglued. Third baseman Panner couldn’t handle Gaylor’s hard smash and Mowery scored. A throwing error by shortstop Newsom on Sexton’s grounder allowed Gaylor to score.
The Admirals wasted a Craig Schnupp triple in the second and left two runners in the first and fifth.
Besides the first inning, Baylor (22-3) had runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth but Glover wiggled off the hook each time. The loss halted a 12-game winning streak.
"That was a super job by their relief pitcher," declared Gene Etter, Baylor coach. "I thought we’d be in good shape when Glover left the game. You have to figure you’re in good shape when a guy like him goes out. You have to feel this is the chance you’ve been waiting for."
It marked the third time in four years Baylor has lost in the semifinals. "I guess that’s got something to do with the strength of teams in this area," said Etter. "They seem to be stronger. Farragut’s pitchers were better than we had heard."
FARRAGUT BAYLOR
AB R H BI AB R H BI
Dorwin LF 4 0 3 0 Newsom SS 3 0 0 0
Mowery CF 3 1 2 0 Carmichal C 3 0 0 0
Huffaker C 3 1 1 0 G. Smith P 3 0 1 0
Gaylor SS 4 1 1 0 Breakshire 1B 2 0 0 0
Sexton DH 4 0 0 0 A. Smith LF 3 0 0 0
Schwartz RF 3 0 1 1 Panner 3B 2 0 0 0
Schnupp 3B 4 0 1 0 Powell CF 2 0 1 0
Clements 1B 2 0 0 0 Clark RF 1 0 0 0
Woodhull 2B 3 0 0 0 Manley DH 2 0 1 0
Totals 30 3 9 1 21 0 3 0
FARRAGUT............................000 001 1—3
BAYLOR.................................000 000 0—0
E-Panner, G. Smith, Newsom. LOB–Farragut 10, Baylor 5
3B–Schnupp SB–Powell, G. Smith S–Mowery
IP H R ER BB SO
Glover (W, 14-1) 6 3 0 0 5 8
Jordan (S, 14) 1 0 0 0 0 2
G. Smith (L, 6-1) 7 9 3 1 2 6
T—2:13 A—756
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