By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

OCEAN SPRINGS — Ocean Springs survived a scare in its first-ever Class 7A South State playoff series. 

The Greyhounds rallied for nine unanswered runs at one point breaking a 3-3 tie in the process and galloping to a 12-4 win over visiting Peal in the third and deciding game of their three game affair. The win was the first at home by either squad in the series, as the Panthers came into “The Tom” Friday night and took a 5-2 win while Ocean Springs repaid the unkindly visit with a 4-2 win in Forrest County Saturday night.

The Greyhounds now advance to face Brandon in the Class 7A South State semifinals beginning Friday at home.

“We just battled,” first-year OSHS head coach Ryne Long said. “We put better at bats together I thought for the first time all series. We’re much better offensively when we put consecutive quality at bats stacked together. We were much more simple, and it paid off.”

The game was knotted up 3-3 after three frames, but in the fourth is when the Greyhounds began to make their move. Ocean Springs tallied three runs in the fourth inning to double its new found lead, and then erupted for a six spot in the fifth frame to blow the game open and take a 12-3 advantage.

“We missed some opportunities early, but we were able to find some barrels with runners in scoring position.” Long added.

Michael Diaz paced OSHS at the plate with a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs, while Jack Jordan supplied a big three-run double to the winning effort. Maddox Moreland and Simon Kruppa each chipped in two hits apiece for the Greyhounds, while Chris Fox added a two-run double as well. One of Moreland’s hits was a double also.

Ocean Springs out-hit Petal 9-8 in the contest.

Moreland, who relieved starter Cannon Hensarling in the top of the third, threw almost four frames to earn the win. Ryan Lemaire finished up.

“Cannon battled through his innings, not being his sharpest and kinda took the bend but not break approach.” Long said. “He pitched out of some huge jams to give us a chance. Maddox was solid for us as well.” 

Brandon eliminated Biloxi 10-0 in five frames Tuesday night in the third game of that series in Brandon. Ocean Springs is the top seed from Region 4-7A while the Bulldogs are the second seed from Region 3-7A.

“We’ll get back to work and get ready to face a really good Brandon team Friday,” Long concluded.