TERRY – Senior left-hander Nathan Sanders did his job on themound Tuesday night and the Terry Bulldogs did the rest at theplate, cranking out 13 hits on their way to a 10-1 Division 6-4Awin over the Brookhaven Panthers in the first game of abest-of-three series for the division championship.

The final two games are scheduled for Moyer Field in BrookhavenSaturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. The Panthers must win thefirst game or finish as runner up to Terry in the division.

The win improved Terry’s district record to 12-1 and 23-3overall on the season. Brookhaven fell to 18-4 overall and 11-2 indivision play.

Brookhaven loaded the bases at the top of the first inning butcame away empty after hitting a double play. Terry responded andscored one run for a 1-0 lead when first baseman Chris Snellsingled to score Van Pope who doubled.

Following a scoreless second, the Bulldogs dug up three runs totake a 4-1 edge over the Panthers. Shortstop Van Pope belted atwo-run homer over the 375-foot center field fence. Pitcher NathanSanders singled. William Evans bunted. Centerfielder Adam Davisbelted a long sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed pinchrunner Austin Moore to score in place of Evans.

Terry’s bats picked up more steam in the bottom of the fourthwhen the hosts tacked on five runs to go up 9-0 over Brookhaven.Bulldog left fielder San Donald tripled off the right field walland leadoff man Corey Ezell walked. Pope singled to score Donaldfor the 5-0 lead. Snell singled then Evans followed up with a hardshot down the first base line to score Pope and Snell for two moreruns and a 7-0 lead with one out.

Brookhaven head coach Randy Spring replaced starter Miguel Bankswith Cayce Wallace who had been playing shortstop. With the basesloaded, Hood ripped a triple into right field to score two moreruns before Adams Davis struck out to the end the inning with Terryon top 9-0.

The Panthers scored their only run of the game in the top of thefifth. Wallace walked. Second baseman Daniel Boyd doubled to scoreWallace and cut the Bulldogs lead to 9-1.

Terry scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Evansdrilled a home run over the center field wall to push the hostslead to 10-1. In the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs got thePanthers out 1-2-3 to end the game.

“You’ve got to give them (Terry) credit,” said Spring after theloss. “They got the hits at the right time. We had the chance early(first inning) and we didn’t capitalize. The difference was earlywhen we had the chance to get the big hits and we didn’t.”

Sanders, a Meridian Community College signee, improved hisrecord to 7-1. He allowed one run on seven hits, struck out fourand walked two.

“Sanders is probably the best player in our division.” Springsaid.

At the plate, Terry collected 13 hits to Brookhaven’s 7.

“The first inning was the the ball game,” said Terry coach JerryGibson after the game. “Brookhaven loaded the bases and we got adouble play. (Their first of two in the game.) Then we got up onerun early in the game.”

“We always have trouble with Brookhaven here,” added Gibson.”Brookhaven is one of the better hitting teams. Banks is a prettygood pitcher.”

Absorbing the loss was Banks (4-3) in three and one thirdinnings with three strikeouts, two walks and seven runs allowed oneight hits. Wallace finished with three runs allowed on five hitsand one strikeout.

Brookhaven catcher Aaron Oberschmidt led with two singles.Banks, Ben Goza, Fred Perkins, James McCall and Kern Hoffsingled.