Ocean Springs got off to a bit of a slow start this season on the diamond, as the Greyhounds lost four out of their first five games.
But first-year head coach Tommy Walker’s crew has rounded into shape in the past week or so as OSHS as has won five of its last six games including four in-a-row after a big 6-1 win over visiting Gulfport Tuesday night in a battle of Class 6A icons in the “Southern Six”.
With the win, OSHS sits above the .500 mark for the first time this season at 6-5 overall.
The Greyhounds jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first and two more in the third frame to take a lead they would never relinquish. Two more in the fourth inning and another insurance run in the fifth resulted in the final count.
Brock Cantrell led OSHS at the plate, as he recorded two hits including an RBI-double. Will Gray also added a double to the winning attack, while Maddox Moreland and Chris Fox also drove in a run apiece for the Greyhounds.
Senior J.P. Ford hurled a complete game five-hitter scattering five hits to pick up the win.
Ford’s solid effort extended a string of successful outings on the mound for several Greyhounds pitchers during the winning span.
Ocean Springs was coming off a 2-0 shutout of Pike County (Ga.) over the weekend in the Perfect Game Tournament in Hoover, Ala. Griffin Frye earned the win in that game, as he tossed five frames of three-hit ball allowing no runs and striking out six.
The Greyhounds followed that up with a 10-3 win over the Patriots of Bob Jones High (Madison, Ala.) later on Saturday as sophomore Jack Jordan threw a complete game three-hitter striking out six. He also helped himself out at the plate with a pair of hits and driving in two runs.
Ocean Springs started play in the event on Friday with a 10-0 loss to IMG Academy out of Bradenton, Fla., but followed that up later in the day with an 8-0 shutout of Helena (Ala.) that began its current four game win streak.
In that game, Cantrell hurled six innings of two-hit ball striking out nine and walking five. Like Jordan, Cantrell also provided himself some support as well at the plate as he collected a game-high three hits and drove in a pair of runs with a double. Brayden Thomas, Michael Diaz and Moreland each added two hits apiece to the winning effort, while Diaz also drove in two runs. LaBarron Brumfield had a double for OSHS.
Next up for OSHS is a trip to Lyman to face yet another Region 8-6A rival in the Harrison Central Red Rebels, before the Greyhounds begin play in the annual battle of the Beach next week.
There were no stats available on Gulfport in the loss to OSHS. The Admirals are 4-5 overall on the year.
