Walker Fleming delivered a four-hit shutout, Athens took full control with a five-run fifth inning and the Golden Eagles bested No. 8 Gardendale 8-0 in the Class 6A playoffs on Saturday to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.

Athens improved to 25-12 following the victory and will face off against No. 1 Hartselle — which moved past Pell City in three games — next week for a spot in the state semifinals.

On Saturday, however, the Golden Eagles were content on enjoying the present.

“Very excited for our guys,” Athens coach Chuck Smith said. “They’ve put in a whole lot of work and I’m glad to see that hard work paying off.”

A fielder’s choice off the bat of Caiden Dumas put Athens ahead 1-0 in the third inning before Fleming and Hudson Marks followed with consecutive RBI singles to stretch the lead to three.

Fleming then worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by inducing an inning-ending double play — one of three he produced in the clash. He also stranded runners at second and third base in the fifth to extinguish another threat by the Rockets.

“Walker threw a gem,” Smith said. “He’s been battling through a back injury, but he likes to work fast and get ground balls. He was throwing strikes and we were able to take care of things behind him with our defensive play.”

Though Fleming didn’t need more run support down the stretch, his teammates still obliged.

Dumas and Marks hit RBI singles in the home half of the fifth — Dumas later scoring on a passed ball. Austin Uptain then blew the game wide open with a two-run single.

“We’ve had ups and downs throughout the season with runners in scoring position — that’s kind of been our nemesis,” Smith said. “But today we came through and got the job done. Our lineup really took care of business.”

Uptain and Marks totaled two hits apiece for Athens, while Dumas, Fleming, Chase Taylor and Jaylen Malone each recorded one.

Fleming, meanwhile, scattered four hits, three walks and three strikeouts across seven innings.

While Saturday’s win was no doubt great for the program, Athens isn’t looking to rest on its laurels.

The next step toward a potential title begins on the road — Friday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Saturday at 1 p.m.) — at the home of the 2022 state champion Tigers.

“We’ll scrimmage and have some offensive and defensive days,” Smith said. “We’ll work on us, because if we don’t do us well, we don’t play well.”