By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

D’IBERVILLE — So far so good in year two of the Ryne Long era for Ocean Springs High baseball.

Last season, in his initial season as head coach, Long guided the Greyhounds to the Region 4-7A regular season title. On Tuesday night, Ocean Springs clinched a spot once again in the opening round of the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs with a 5-1 road win over D’Iberville in the region race.

The win moved the league-leading Greyhounds to 9-1 in the standings, and no matter what happens in the final five region games OSHS can finish no lower than the third spot in the region race.

Just as it’s been for most of the past two years under Long’s guidance, the story for the Greyhounds in game one of a region series centered around ace starting pitcher Jack Jordan. And Tuesday was no different.

Jordan went the distance on the hill and earned his fourth straight league win as he struck out four, walked none and scattered five hits.

“It’s been very comforting to know that every week we can run Jack out there in game one of a series and you pretty much know what you’re going to get from him,” Long said. “He brings everything to the table, including a great knowledge of the game and leadership. He’s very impressive on the field but he does even more for us that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.”

Jordan’s teammates gave him all the offensive support he would need before he ever stepped foot on the mound, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first on an RBI-single by A.J. Arguello and a run-scoring sacrifice fly from Justin San Miguel. Cannon Hensarling led the game off with a triple and Arguello drove him in with his hit.

Ocean Springs eventually steadily stretched its advantage to 5-0 with single runs in the third, fourth and seventh stanzas thanks to a wild pitch, a passed ball and an RBI-single by San Miguel.

Meanwhile, Jordan was rolling right along on the hill keeping the Warriors at bay until the final at bat for the Warriors when the home team scored an unearned run on a Greyhound fielding error.

“We felt like we were a little snake-bit at times on offense hitting some balls right at them and that we also shot ourselves in the foot some also,” Long added. “We were fortunate enough to get those two runs in the first and then Jack took over. He’s tough, especially when he’s in a rhythm. He’s been just phenomenal for us the past two years.”

Ayden Toncrey started and went five frames to take the loss for DHS. The Warriors now stand 4-6 in the region race and in the third spot.

A.J. Rossi tallied a game-high three hits to lead OSHS offensively, including a double, and Jordan added a double also. Nicholls State signee Hensarling stroked that triple.

Both Carter Naron and Jaxon Harris had a double apiece for the Warriors.