By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — Pascagoula started its second baseball season off under the guidance of head coach Colton Carver with two wins over Jackson County foes this week.

The Panthers knocked off visiting East Central 8-2 on Tuesday night to open the new campaign, and then followed that up by dispatching arch-rival Moss Point back across Jefferson Street 7-3 on Saturday afternoon also at Tillman Field.

The Panthers now stand at 2-1 overall after the home-standing Hornets got a little payback with a 3-2 decision Friday night in Hurley.

“Our guys played some good baseball this week, and I’m proud of how far they have come.” Caver said, after Saturday’s win. “We obviously had some up and downs with some minor mistakes but we will address those and move forward.”

On Saturday, Pascagoula jumped out to a seemingly comfortable 4-0 advantage after the second stanza but despite never relinquishing that led the Tigers made things interesting before falling to 0-2 so far.

After a scoreless first frame, PHS tallied those four runs in their next at bat as J.J. Trinidad cracked a two-run double and came around to score on a Tiger error while Willie Simms added an RBI-single as well.

The score was still 4-0 in the fourth when Moss Point’s KeVon Ford led off the frame with a double and scored on a wild pitch two batters later to make it 4-1.

The Tigers continued what they hoped would be a comeback effort two innings later, cutting the deficit to 4-3 on Ford’s two-run home run to right field.

But that would be where the threat would end, as PHS responded in the bottom of the sixth stanza with three runs to wrap up the scoring.

Braden Smith’s two run double to right was the big blow, while Sean Norvel then drove Smith home with an RBI-single.

“We try to really focus on the little things each and everyday,” Caver concluded. “Being able to focus throughout an entire practice or game is highly important and we think that’s what’s gonna make a difference for us this season.”

Norvel paced Pascagoula at the plate with three hits, including a double. The Panthers had nine hits in the win.

Ra’Shard Earnest started on the hill and went three frames to pick up the pitching win for PHS.

The Tiger senior multi-sport standout Ford, fresh off his basketball duties on the hardwood as well as being the starting quarterback on the football field for MPHS had the two extra base hits and the two RBIs on the round-tripper. Jonovan Thompson, just an eighth grader, also had two hits for the Tigers and Javonte Penny added a double.

Thompson, one of a trio of Tiger pitchers, also took the loss.