After a rough patch in mid-March, the Oak Grove Warriors appear to be rounding into form having won seven of their last eight games overall and two straight in division play. On the heels of a convincing win over first place George County, the Warriors kept things rolling on the road Tuesday night by taking their regular season series against rival Petal with a 10-5 win.
With a five-run first inning and a one-run second, the Warriors (15-4) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on the Panthers.
“We came out ready to play,” Oak Grove coach Chris McCardle said. “We got on them early in the game, but I thought we relaxed after.”
Thanks to a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch and a throwing error, the Panthers answered with a four spot in the bottom of the second inning, cutting the lead to 6-4.
“My guys fought well,” Petal coach Shane Kelly said. “They played the scoreboard like it was 0-0 every inning after the first.”
Oak Grove starting pitcher Luke Lyon walked four batters in five innings of work, and three of them came in the second. McCardle attributed Petal’s turf mound to some of Lyon’s struggles in the frame.
“He [Lyon] was slipping a lot when he was putting his foot down,” McCardle said. “I knew he would settle down and get us at least five. He threw more pitches in five innings than I wanted him to, but that’s expected in this kind of rivalry.”
Lyon held Petal scoreless in his final three innings of work prior to being replaced by Parker Harrington, who closed the game out and allowed just one run the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Warriors added a run in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh to distance themselves.
Cade Cuevas led Oak Grove at the plate by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, and John Rhys Plumlee added three hits as well. In addition to striking out eight Petal batters, Lyon helped his own cause offensively with two hits.
“We scored in every inning except one. That was big for us, and we talked about that from day one,” McCardle said. “Actually, we’ve talked about that a lot lately because we’re starting to get to where we need to be as a team. It’s a big win for us.”
The Warriors improved to 5-2 in Region 5-6A play with the win. With two division games left on the schedule, they sit a game behind George County, who they will play again on Apr. 9 at Harry Breland Field.
Petal fell to 3-4 in division play with the loss. Bowen Knight had two of the Panthers’ four hits in the game, while Asher Hill and Cade Law each had one. Colby Pittman drove in two runs for the Panthers, who, like the Warriors, have already clinched a playoff spot.
“Every game we’re getting better,” Kelly said. “They’re improving, and the more they play, the better we get. We like how we’re going right now. We’re moving in the upward direction, and that’s what you need to be doing when you’re getting ready for the playoffs.”
