By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

D’IBERVILLE — Last season, Gulfport played for the Class 6A state baseball championship.
If early action in the new Region 4-7A is any indication, the Admirals have their sights set once again on sailing into the overall title series this year as well.
Gulfport moved to 2-0 in league play with its second consecutive convincing win over longtime foe D’Iberville Friday night, knocking off the Warriors 8-1. The decision comes on the heels of a 9-0 shutout home win for the Admirals Wednesday night over the Warriors.

“Anytime you can win division games that is big,” Veteran Gulfport head coach Jamie McMahon said. “So getting off to a 2-0 start is good for us and we just need to keep the momentum going.”
For the second straight outing, the Admirals got a strong pitching performance in turning back the Warriors. Joel Smith and Wesley Hyde combined on a two-hitter on the hill Friday night to guide Gulfport to the win.
On Wednesday night, the Admiral hurlers were even a bit better as GHS got off to a good start in league play thanks to a one-hitter from the duo of Southeastern Louisiana signee Nico Williams and Thomas Stennis. Williams started and threw the first four frames to pick up the win and Stennis went the rest of the way after that in combining on the one-shit shutout.
“Our starters have been really effective,” McMahon added. “Both of them gave us quality starts. Relievers have come in and done their jobs also. Only giving up the one run is more than we could ask for to have a chance to win.”

After earning that nine run win in game one of the series, Gulfport wasted no time in carrying that momentum over two days later jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first frame.
The Admirals used a bases-loaded walk as well as a hit by pitch with the sacks full and a double play to push across their first three runs in the opening inning eruption. Javin Childress added a run-scoring single also.
After D’Iberville scored what turned out to be its only run of the game in the bottom on the first on a Canon Wilson RBI-ground out, the visitors all but put the game away in their next at bat.
Gulfport came right back in the second stanza to add three more runs to continue to take command of the contest. Ole Miss signee Ethan Surowiec’s RBI-double was the big blow in the inning.

From there, with more than enough support on his side, Smith started and hurled almost almost six full frames allowing both hits and the lobe run while striking out five and walking four. Hyde came on with two outs in the bottom of the fifth after Smith walked two straight batters and after hitting a batter managed to induce a ground out to end the threat.
He then just faced four Warriors in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.
Childress carried the big stick at the plate for Gulfport, registering one more hit than the entire DHS squad managed as he finished with a game-high three hits and the one RBI. Williams, Surowiec and Davis Ormes also drove in a run apiece in the winning effort.
Carter Naron started and took the loss for the Warriors.
The teams were set to complete the three game series back at Herbert Wilson Field in Gulfport Saturday afternoon.