By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

With just two wins so far on the season, Bay High can clinch a spot in the upcoming Class 4A South State playoffs Thursday night.

That band of Tigers travels from Hancock County east down U.S. Highway 90 to Pascagoula to face off with Region 8-4A rival Moss Point in a key league encounter. After an 11-4 win by Bay in game one on Tuesday night, another win in game two would clinch the three game series and send head coach B.J. Corr’s squad back to the state playoffs for the second straight season.

Bay High opened the season with 19 straight losses, before earning it’s first win over the weekend 7-5 over Pleasure Ridge Park High of Louisville, Ky., at St. Stanislaus.

Tuesday’s win over MPHS was the first of the season over competition from the state of Mississippi as Corr’s squad moved to 1-9 in region play.

In that one, Bay led slightly at 3-2 entering the bottom of the fourth frame before a four-run rally pushed the home team into a commanding 7-2 lead and they cruised to the win.

Tucker Monti wielded the big stick at the plate for BHS, as he collected a game-high three hits, including two doubles, and a game-high six RBIs. He had a key two-run double in that decisive rally for BHS, and Kannon Cook added a run-scoring double as well. Frederick Weems and Brayden Pepperman each added two hits apiece to the game-winning effort.

Landen Marquar started and worked four solid stanzas on the mound to pick up the pitching win.

Kevon Ford had two hits, including a double, for Moss Point, and Jonovan Thompson also had two hits for those Tigers.

Aiden Evans tossed the complete gszme to take the loss for MPHS.

Moss Point, meanwhile, sits at 0-10 in the region race and at 3-17 overall. That band of Tigers would need to rally to take not only Thursday’s game over visiting Bay High but the rubber match in the series finale on Saturday back in the Bay as well to grab that final playoff spot in Region 8-4A.

Currently, Moss Point has lost 19 consecutive Region 8-4A games dating back to the end of the 2023 season.