PURVIS — Holding a 5-2 lead, Jacob Parker of Purvis saw his Grand Slam ball fly off the right field that opened Friday night’s game. It was the exclamation point of the Tornados’ big offensive night as Purvis unleashed his recent frustrations on Columbia for a 15-5 win.
“I just try to hit the ball hard,” Jacob Parker said. “Anything I can do to score points for the team, that’s what I was trying to do.
“We have had ups and downs since the Poplarville series. We needed a break and warm up the bats.
The Tornados bats had 11 hits, five of which were extra hits, and scored in every inning of the six-inning game. Notably, every Purvis hitter has recorded at least one RBI.
After starting the season 14-1, the Tornados came into Friday’s game having lost three of their last four games, which Farlow said was due to increasing opposing pitching talent.
“We knew when we came to the district the throwing was going to get better,” Purvis coach Tony Farlow said. “We haven’t really faced anyone who throws hard. Then suddenly you’re facing Lawrence County, Columbia, Poplarville and their main guys in the low to mid-80s.
“The biggest thing I was proud of tonight was that we scored in every set. There aren’t too many times you do this. We had some big first innings, then we crashed, then we didn’t put anything on the board for three or four innings. But it was huge tonight.
Purvis’ win now sets up a series showdown with rival Sumrall next week to win the regional title.
“Next week we’re going to bring it,” said Jacob Parker, who was 2 for 3 with six RBIs. “It’s a great game, a great rivalry game. I think we are both even. We balance well. They swing well. They have good arms but so do we. It should be a good game. »
Purvis (16-4, 6-2) took a 2-0 lead in the first after Jacob Parker hit his first home run of the night, which was a 2-run shot that went over the scoreboard Tornados. Columbia (15-8, 4-4) responded with a solo home run and an RBI single in the top of the second to tie the game at 2-2.
Still, the Tornados offense kept rolling as they added an RBI single from Conner Lawler. Then in the third, Kevin Krummel hit a teeing triple with a Columbia error that scored it. Finally, in the fourth, Jacob Parker extended the lead to 9-2 with a grand slam while Jojo Parker turned around with an RBI single.
Columbia was able to respond with a 3-run inning in the fifth to make it 9-5. However, an RBI triple from Austin Lawler and an RBI sack fly in the bottom half of the frame made Purvis’ lead 11-5.
Purvis starting pitcher Ethan Williamson was retired in the fifth as the sophomore allowed four of seven earned runs, struck out six and walked two.
Then in the seventh, the Wildcats were out of pitch and charged in the sixth inning. Hunter Jackson drew an RBI march, which was followed by an RBI single from Damon Putnam. Walker Flatt scored another point with a defender’s pick while the game-ending point came on an error.
With Sumrall’s victory over Lawrence County, Purvis will have to beat the undefeated Bobcats (20-0, 8-0) twice in the series.
“Next week being what it is, we still have something to play for,” Farlow said. “The first place is still wide open. This makes the series a bit more interesting next week. I think the Sumrall series will be a good series. We will have our work cut out. They are undefeated for a reason. It will be a question of whether we can put a bat on the ball and eliminate strikeouts.
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