PURVIS – Purvis continues to play as one of the hottest teams, if not the hottest, in the Class 4A playoffs as the Tornados rolled past Stone County for a 14-2 victory to punch their ticket to the South State championship game.
Purvis has now won 18 straight games and improved to 28-5, which is the most wins for the program as far back as the 2007 season.
"I've lost track, but it's been a long streak," Purvis coach Tony Farlow said. "It's pretty special. We have been hot for a while now. I keep telling them to keep doing what we have been doing with being loose and playing the game.
"It's a really good feeling. We have been to the third round the last two years in a row and lost. Two years ago, Stone was probably the better team than us. Last year, Northeast Jones 10-run ruled us, and that kind of left a bad taste in our mouths."
Purvis jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and then later tacked on one more run in the second before unleashing a 9-run inning in the third. This was aided by Stone's inconsistent pitching as the Tomcats' pitchers combined to walk seven batters, three of which scored runs for the Tornados and hit another batter.
Highlighting the victory were the three home runs by Purvis, one of which was a grand slam by Damon Putnam in the third inning. Notably, Cannon Turner led the inning off with a home run.
"Our bats are working," Putnam said. "Our pitching is working. Everything is working for us right now.
"It's unreal (to reach South State). It's been a while since we have gotten there. Last year, it was like we didn't want it as bad. This year we have a really good team chemistry that keeps us going every day."
On the mound, Jojo Parker again lived up to his recent honor of being named the Mr. Baseball of Class 4A. Parker earned the victory after recording four strikeouts, walking one batter and allowing just three hits. Parker also led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run.
"I think (the home run) got the energy going in the dugout was pumped after that," Parker said. "It did carry over to the mound. I struggled last game pitching. It really helped me out and got my energy level up.
"I was throwing strikes. I was trying to let the defense play. They made some good plays. I was trying to put the ball in play, and we had the bats hot tonight."
Purvis will now wait and see if the Tornados will meet rival and defending state champs, Sumrall, in the South State championship. Ironically enough, the last team to defeat Purvis was Sumrall back on March 16 in extra-innings.
"It's the team we want to play," Parker said. "That's all I have got to say."
Sumrall's second game against Newton County was rained out and will be played on Saturday at 5 p.m. Sumrall won the first game of the series 10-0 on Tuesday.
"This (crowd) is probably mild compared to what it will probably be like," said Farlow on the potential game environment. "I think it was 2007 when we played them for the south state championship, and it was crazy.
"We felt like all year that we probably would have to go through Sumrall if we wanted to play for a state championship. It looks looking that way, but the series isn't over yet."
