Brookhaven splits twinbill

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 19, 2002

CLEVELAND -The Brookhaven Panthers won and lost in theseason-opening Wildcat Classic. They edged the Cleveland Wildcats3-1 in extra innings and lost 23-4 to Warren Central.

The Ole Brook Baseball Classic starts tonight on Moyer Field.Loyd Star plays Bogue Chitto at 5 and Hattiesburg meets Brookhavenat 7:30.

Thursday’s games feature Natchez versus McComb at 5 and Natchezvs. Brookhaven at 7:30.

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Brookhaven 3, Cleveland 1

Kern Hoff’s 2-run homer in the top of the ninth liftedBrookhaven past Cleveland in the 9th inning. An RBI single byBrooks Hall had tied the game at 1-1 in the third.

At the plate, Brookhaven finished with 5 hits. Hall and Hoff had2 hits. Grant McDonnieal singled.

Justin Sykes was the winning pitcher. He struck out 11 batters,waked 1 and gave up 4 hits in 8 innings. Hall got the save,allowing 1 hit, striking out 1 and walking 1.

“Justin Sykes didn’t have his best stuff but he battled andlocated his pitches well,” said Brookhaven coach Randy Spring.

Greg White was the losing pitcher.

Warren Central 23, Brookhaven 4

Powered by Ole Miss signee Greg Pettway’s grand slam homer, theVikings overwhelmed Brookhaven with a 17-hit attack. They scored 10runs in the top of the first inning.

The Panthers scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first. They leftthe bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.

“Warren Central has a great team,” said Spring. “They tookadvantage and put us away.”

Brookhaven had 4 hits. Sykes doubled and singled. Hall and CoreySmith singled.