Sophomores Jojo Parker and Ethan Walker capped off a dominant night for Purvis as the duo hit a pair of home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish off the Tornadoes’ 11-1 run-rule victory over Northeast Jones in the first game of the opening playoff round of Class 4A.
Parker and Walker combined for four hits, six RBIs, and five runs on the night.
“We’ve been hitting well for really about the last month,” Purvis head coach Tony Farlow said. “Getting those timely hits and bunts at the right time. We did leave some guys on base and I felt like we could have ended the game a little earlier than we did, but in the end, we got the big hits when we needed them.”
In the top of the first, the Tigers scored their only run of the game as Charlie Sims hit a ground ball to shortstop Caden Hartfield that was mishandled for an error, allowing sophomore Kaden Padgett to go home from second base. Jojo Parker, who started off the game on the pitching mound, quickly turned things around striking out senior Peyton Perdue for the final out.
In the bottom of the frame, the Tornadoes drove in two runs after Walker and Damon Putnam on back-to-back fielders choice hits. Austin Lawler hit a single during the next at-bat but was tagged out during a steal attempt to end the inning.
Jojo Parker quickly carved through the bottom of the Tigers lineup as he struck out the side. On the night, (Jojo) Parker pitched four innings, allowing three hits, one run, walking two, and striking out five, on his way to earn the victory.
“I’ve never really seen Jojo pitch as hard as he did today,” Farlow said. “He usually doesn’t throw as hard in terms of velocity, but both of our pitchers pitched great tonight. Jojo burned himself out a little early because he was throwing so hard early, but Jacob did a great job in relief and both were throwing some great strikes tonight.”
In the bottom of the third inning, the Tornadoes added four more runs to their lead. Jacob Parker hit an RBI single to start the rally, driving in Desmond Bolar from second base. Walker hit an RBI single to score Jojo Parker.
Putnam hit his second RBI after driving in Jacob Parker on the next at-bat. Cannon Turner finished the inning with an RBI double to right field, giving the Tornadoes a 6-1 lead.
The Tornadoes added two more runs from Jojo Parker hitting a line drive double to center field Then after the Tigers intentionally walked Jacob Parker during the next at-bat, Walker got on base on an error from third baseman Cruz Sullins that allowed Jojo Parker to score.
In the top of the sixth inning was the Tigers’ chance to strike back. The Tornadoes switched pitchers after Jojo Parker loaded the bases by walking two batters and hitting another. Jacob Parker, who came in relief, quickly turned things around by coming up with a strikeout and preserving the Tornadoes’ lead.
“It was huge for Jacob to get out that inning the way he did and not give up any more runs,” Farlow said. “He was at the end of his limit for pitches we wanted him to throw tonight, and for him to end it when he did was perfect for our game plan.”
The Tigers switched pitchers to Seth McNeil to finish the game, and the outing ended in just 12 pitches after he walked Bolar to start the inning and then gave up two home runs to Jojo Parker and Walker to seal the 11-1 victory.
“It feels really good to get a walk-off victory,” Farlow said. “We haven’t really had any walk-off opportunities at home this year; we’ve come close a couple of times but didn’t necessarily get a walk-off. I thought we could have done it the inning before, but we had some guys strike out before we could get to the top of the line-up. They stepped up when they got the opportunity and it feels really good when you can just walk it off like that and we hope to use that momentum.”
The Tornadoes travel to play Northeast Jones in game two of the first round of playoffs on Friday at 6 p.m.
