Jacob Blakeney overcame a sluggish first inning to toss a2-hitter as the Brookhaven Brakemen, claimed a 7-1 win over theRaymond Cannons Saturday night at Moyer Field.

Brookhaven, sponsored by the Brookhaven Orthopedic Clinic, willplay its final regular season home game this afternoon against theClinton Bluff. Game time is set at 2 p.m.

The Brakemen (20-12) have a 1-game lead over second place RankinCounty in the Cotton States League standings. The Rednecks (19-13)split a doubleheader with Clinton last night, winning Game 1, 4-1;before losing the nightcap 9-2.

Brookhaven 7, Raymond 1

Blakeney, a righthander, went the distance (7 innings) allowing1 unearned run. He walked 4 and struck out 4. Blakeney had notpitched in 2 weeks, due to a cut on the index finger of histhrowing hand.

“I haven’t pitched in two weeks,” said Blakeney following thegame. “I tried to overthrow too much. I had to settle down and workthe strike zone.”

The Cannons would open the scoring in their half of the first.Centerfielder Casey Long walked. He would steal second and reachthird on an error. Two batters later, first basemen Nathan Purvis’sacrifice fly scored Long.

Both pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone in the first,before they settled and threw extremely well.

Brookhaven gained a 1-1 deadlock in the bottom of the second.Rightfielder Brandon Atkins walked. First basemen Lea Miltonsingled and Atkins scored from first.

The Brakemen added 2 runs in the third. Catcher Lance Newman washit by a pitch and later reached second on an error by Raymond.Shortstop Chris Dunn reached on a fielder’s choice. Two batterslater, Atkins singled to center. The throw to the plate was not intime as Newman scored. The throw to second got Atkins for thesecond out of the inning, but Dunn was able to cross home plate fora 3-1 Brookhaven lead.

“Blakeney was trying to overthrow the ball,” said Brakemen fieldmanager Pete Young. “I just told him to back off a little.”

Blakeney threw 82 pitches in the game. Losing pitcher JasonChabeck threw 90 pitches in 4 2/3 innings.

Brookhaven produced 4 runs in the fifth to claim the finalmargin of victory. Third basemen Britt Hederman reached on anerror. Atkins walked. Milton’s single scored Hederman. Designatedhitter Tyler Walker doubled, scoring Atkins and Milton.

After a Raymond pitching change, Brookhaven leftfielder SethLofton singled. Second basemen J.T. Hardcastle singled, scoringWalker.

Hardcastle and Dunn made several outstanding defensive stopsduring the game to aid Blakeney.

Chabeck suffered the loss for the Cannons. He pitched 4 2/3innings, allowing 7 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits. He walked 6 andstruck out 2. Josh Oubre came on in relief in the fifth.

BROOKHAVEN 7, RAYMOND 1

Raymond 100 000 0 – 1 2 3

Brookhaven 012 040 x – 7 8 1

Chabeck, Oubre (5) and Pickett. Blakeney and Newman.WP: Blakeney. LP: Chabeck.2B: Walker (B). Multiple hits: Hardcastle(B) 2, Walker (B) 2, Milton (B) 2.