By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

(Editors Note: This is the first of a four part series on standout student/athletes in the “Southern Six” that recently completed their careers and graduated.)

OCEAN SPRINGS — When the Ocean Springs High Class of 2025 walked across the stage at The Mississippi Coast Coliseum for graduation Wednesday night, a big piece of the Greyhound baseball program was a part of that process.

Versatile senior standout Jack Jordan departs OSHS after leading OSHS to two straight Region 4-7A titles in the program’s first two seasons ever in Class 7A play.

In the process, Jordan became one of the most dominant starting pitchers in South Mississippi, leading the Greyhounds to the Class 7A South State semifinals each of the last two years.

Greyhound second-year head coach Ryne Long has had an up close an personal seat for Jordan’s accomplishments from the Greyhound dugout over the past few seasons.

“Jack has been unbelievable for us,” Long said Friday afternoon. “A four year starter, an anchor in the middle of the line up, and a Tuesday night guy we ran out there with an expectation to win every time out.”

After an impressive junior campaign, the future Jones Bobcat Jordan elevated his game on the hill as went a solid 9-2 overall in 12 appearances with a diminutive 1.99 earned run average. He recorded 57 strikeouts in just over 67 frames of work with just 11 walks and he allowed just one home run all season up until a season ending loss against perennial state power Brandon. He also hurled an impressive eight complete games and won seven straight starts at one point.

“As a coach, it’s extremely comforting knowing that every time you send him out to the mound you’ll have a great chance to win,” Long added. “He’s a complete player, and an outstanding leader. And of all his accomplishments and production on the field he meant that much or more in the locker room as a leader and teammate. He’s been a huge part of the culture we want to instill in these guys and a tradition of excellence that allows for sustained success. He’s a really good baseball player, but I think his teammates and coaches think just as highly of him as a person. We’re extremely proud to send him off to Jones (Junior College) and excited to see him playing at the next level.”

Jordan was also a two-way threat, as an infielder when he was spending time on the hill. He became a huge factor offensively also, carrying a .376 batting average with 25 RBIs, seven doubles and three home runs.

He was named to the Class 7A First Team All-State squad recently and was selected to compete in the prestigious “Crossroads Diamond Club All-Star Game” which will take place next week in Hattiesburg.

Jordan didn’t just impress his own head coach, but others as well in Region 4-7A.

“Jack has been a staple in the Greyhounds line up for his entire career at Ocean Springs,” Neil Frederic, who spent the past eight seasons leading Harrison Central. “He could be found on most portions of the dirt and grass on a baseball field. I liked the way he competed, controlled the tempo of a game and had a very high baseball IQ.”

Jordan follows a family tradition on the pitcher’s mound in Jackson County also.

His father, John Jordan, was a standout on some powerful Pascagoula High teams under legendary head coach Johnny Olsen in the mid-1990s.

The elder Jordan was one of the more effective pitchers in the state for a two year span as a junior and senior and combined with classmate Blair Varnes to give the Panthers one of the best one-two pitching punches in the Gulf South region in 1996 when Pascagoula captured the Class AA state championship.

“The Frederic and Jordan family’s baseball journey started nearly 40 years ago,” Frederic, a former Panther stalwart as well, said. “And Jack was right up there with his father making their mark on their programs.”