The bats of the Brookhaven Brakemen have been on a blisteringpace in recent action. The Cotton State League leaders have wonseven consecutive games and appeared on their way to recordingnumber 8. Sunday’s opposition was in the form of the Clinton Bluffand Mother Nature.

The Brakemen had taken a 5-4 lead into the top of the seventh.The Bluff scored the typing run in its half of the inning to gain a5-5 deadlock, despite a torrid rain storm.

With 1 out and a 3-1 count on Clinton’s Tigger Lyles, home plateumpire Preston Wilson halted play immediately due to the streakingpresent of lightning in the dark gray skies.

The beautiful but deadly patterns of lightning caused havoc inthe area. Play was suspended immediately after a jolt of lightningstruck the scoreboard in right centerfield. After conferring withleague officials, Brookhaven was declared the winner; by virtue ofthe results of the game after 6 full innings. The Brakemenentertained a 5-4 advantage going into the seventh, before the gamewas made official.

Brookhaven played at Raymond in a doubleheader Monday night andplays a single game at Clinton today. The Brakemen, sponsored bythe Brookhaven Orthopedic Center, close their inaugural season inthe Cotton States League with a doubleheader at Hub City(Hattiesburg) on Thursday.

Brookhaven 5, Clinton 4

The Bluff took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Lyleswalked. Chad Case singled. Patrick Ferris walked to load the bases.Lyles scored on a passed ball.

Brookhaven answered the call in their half of the second to eventhe score at 1-1. On a 2-0 pitch from Clinton’s Judd Thigpen,designated hitter Tyler Walker delivered a fastball over theleftfield fence for a solo homer.

Clinton regained the lead at 2-1 in the top of the third. MatLea doubled. Bryan Scanlon reached on an error that allowed Lea tocome home.

The Brakemen realized their second tie of the game in the third.Centerfielder Cager Garner reached on a fielder’s choice and laterstole second. Shortstop Chris Dunn singled. Rightfielder BrandonAtkins singled to right, scoring Garner.

The Bluff took a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Lea singled. Scanlonreached on a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, Josh Christiandoubled to score Lea. Clint Turman was hit by a pitch to load thebases. Lyles walked to score Scanlon.

Brookhaven would take their third advantage of the evening at5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Walker and leftfielder Seth Loftonwere hit by pitches. Catcher Rick Carraway doubled to score bothrunners.

Clinton reliever Will Crowdus absorbed the loss. He allowed 3earned runs on 2 hits. He issued 2 base-on-balls and struck out1.

Brookhaven’s Doug Atkins picked up the win in relief of starterNick Smith. Atkins pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and nohits. He had no walks and struck out 1.

Smith opened the game, going 4 2/3 innings. He allowed 4 runs (2earned) on 7 hits. He allowed 2 walks and struck out 3.