It hasn’t been exactly a home run derby, but the fences have definitely been challenged in the Greyhounds’ last four games.

Powered by 10 home runs, Jones County scored a total of 51 runs in the four games as it ran its winning streak to five games. After a 1-3 start to the season, the offensive resurgence has been very welcome as the Greyhounds have improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in Region 1-AAAA after a 15-5 romp over Dublin on Monday evening.

“The guys started hitting over at Upson-Lee (in a 10-4 victory on March 15), and we’ve been able to keep it going the last week,” said coach Barry Veal. “Someone different seems to have heated up each game. Hopefully we can keep that going. We’ve also been getting pretty good pitching from several guys.”

Most of the games have also featured late-inning outbreaks that have helped the Greyhounds rally from deficits or put overmatched opponents away.

The first big comeback came at Harris County last Wednesday. Jones County scored eight runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 15-10 victory.

Cody Lanford went 4-for-5 with two three-run homers and six RBIs to lead the attack. Coleman Greene and Kasey Soles also had two-run home runs for the Greyhounds.

Terrance Gore was 3-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases, Zack Blount was 2-for-4 with a RBI, and Cody Evans had two RBIs and two steals.

Hudson Jacobs started for the Greyhounds and allowed only three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. After Harris County took the lead against Jones County’s middle relievers, Eric Coleman took the mound for the first time in a varsity game and went the final 1 2/3 innings for the victory.

“That was a good win for us to come back that way,” Veal said. “They won the subregion last year and have a good team again, so that was a big step for us. We played the whole game in a light rain, more than a drizzle, so that made it tough. We got behind but we battled back. It was also good to see Lanford finally break out with the bat. He hit the big one in the rally.”

At home on Thursday against Americus-Sumter in a makeup of a game rained out the previous week, the Greyhounds continued to pound the ball, hitting three first-inning home runs in a 12-run outburst on the way to a 15-0 four-inning victory.

Blount started the onslaught with a three-run homer to left following a leadoff double by Lanford and a bunt single by Gore. A pair of walks put two more men on base for Tanner Bernard, who cleared them with a three-run homer to right.

Then, after the Greyhounds added a couple of more runs on a double by Chaz Smith and two Americus errors, Evans capped the inning with a grand slam homer to right field.

Jones County added a run in the third on a double by Greene and a RBI-single by Chandler Vaughn.

The Greyhounds completed the game with two runs in the fourth on a walk and doubles by Tyler Connell and Tyler Clifford.

Dylan Dupree picked up his second victory in his first start, giving up one hit and striking out five in two scoreless innings.

Ryan Skinner finished up, allowing three hits but no runs over the final two innings.

“We needed one like that after several close games in a row,” Veal said. “It added some confidence for the batters and was a good outing for Dupree and Skinner,” Veal said.

Dupree, who is still working to gain arm strength after missing preseason practice while playing basketball, was held to two innings because he had worked a couple of innings in relief at Upson-Lee and also warmed up during the game at Harris County the previous day.

“His velocity was down a little (against Americus) after being up in the last two games, but he’s coming along,” Veal said.

The best victory came Friday at Lee County, a 6-4 win against one of the region’s top teams.

Senior left-hander Kyle Perry went the distance, scattering six hits, one walk and two earned runs over seven innings. He struck out four.

Still, it took another seventh-inning rally for the Greyhounds to win.

Smith reached on an error to begin the comeback. Pinch-hitter Kaleb Deason then doubled over the center fielder’s head to drive in the tying run. Lanford walked and stole second before Gore tripled him home and later scored on a passed ball.

Lanford was 1-for-3 with two runs and Greene went 2-for-3.

In the 15-5 non-region victory over Dublin Monday on another cold, damp evening, the Greyhounds again had three home runs, this time by Lanford, Smith and Soles. Soles had three RBIs.

Smith also hit two doubles and drove in four runs, and Lanford, Blount, Evans and Connell also doubled.

Jacobs picked up the victory, striking out nine and giving up six hits in five innings.

After hosting Westside-Macon on Wednesday, the Greyhounds have a short break before hosting Hardaway on Monday.

JV team wins twice

The junior varsity ’Hounds won twice last week, rallying past Houston County 10-9 at home on Tuesday and downing Northside-Warner Robins on the road Thursday.

That improves Jones County’s record to 7-1.

Down by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning against Houston County, the ’Hounds began their rally with a single by Cole Thompson. With two outs, Tyler Echols drove in the tying run with a single to center, and Jacobs followed with another single to center to drive in the winning run.

Thompson was 2-for-3, Jeremy Palmer was 2-for-3 with a RBI, Echols was 2-for-4 with a RBI, Jacobs was 2-for-4 with a RBI, and Dillon Mills was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

Thompson picked up the victory in relief of Echols, who pitched the first 3 2/3 innings. The win avenged Jones County’s only JV loss of the season, which was to Houston County.

Against Northside on Thursday, Brandon Spivey pitched a complete game, giving up only two unearned runs.

Deason, Echols and Anthony Harrison had two hits each for the ’Hounds.

The JV team hosts Warner Robins at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Ninth graders lose close game late

The ninth grade team lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to Houston County last Tuesday.

Chandler Green went 7 1/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking only one.

Jon Michael Chambers led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a RBI.

The ’Hounds host Warner Robins at 4 p.m. Thursday, then play a double-header at Upson Lee at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Gray Station downs Upson County

The Gray Station Middle School Greyhounds improved to 3-0 with a 9-3 victory over Upson County last Tuesday.

Jacob Walden went 3-for-3 with a RBI and Jake Thompson was 3-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the offense.

Cody Miller pitched five solid innings, coach Brandon Davis said, allowing only two runs, one of which was unearned. Zack Odom pitched the final two innings, striking out one.

Davis was disappointed in several base-running blunders and five defensive errors on routine plays, however.

The Greyhounds visit Lamar County Wednesday and host Crawford County Friday.

Clifton Ridge splits pair

The Clifton Ridge Middle School Cougars split a pair of games last week, falling 9-5 to Monroe County on Tuesday and edging Upson County 2-1 on Thursday to go to 2-2 on the season.

Coach Dan Wright reports that Corey Hardwick pitched well in the loss but was victimized by six errors that led to eight of Monroe County’s runs.

Landon Vaughn pitched a gem against Upson, striking out eight and allowing only two hits.

The Cougars host Byron at 5 p.m. Friday at the Highway 49 recreation complex.