Michael Clements provided the big bat for Brookhaven’s BanditsMonday night on Brookhaven Academy’s Cougar Field. Clements slugged2 home runs as the Bandits split a Cotton State League doubleheaderwith the Clinton Lumberjacks. Clements hit a 3-run homer inBrookhaven’s 6-4 opening victory and launched a solo shot in thenightcap as Clinton rallied for a 2-1 win.

Brookhaven (3-3) resumes play tonight at Smith-Wills Stadium inJackson, meeting the Capital City Rangers in a 7 p.m. CSL contest.It’s a busy week for the Bandits as they host Capital CityWednesday at 6 p.m., host Hub City Thursday at 6 and Clinton Fridayat 6:30.

The Bandits play Clinton in a Saturday twinbill, meeting theLumberjacks on the Millsaps College field in Jackson. On Sunday,the Bandits host Hub City for a doubleheader, starting at 1:30p.m.

Clements, a rightfielder, from Summit, recently signed ascholarship with Troy State (Al.) University. He starred at NorthPike and played two years for Southwest Mississippi CommunityCollege, helping lead the Bears to the state playoffs.

Last night Clements showed his skills with the wooden bat. Hebroke one bat in the second game, his fourth of the season. He hasthree homers to his credit.

“I’m getting my money’s worth in broken bats,” joked Clements.”I’ve broken four already.”

The change from aluminum to wood bats has been a majoradjustment for Clements and his teammates. “It’s a challenge. It’sa lot different.”

In the opener, Clements said he hit a hanging curveball offClinton pitcher Justin Vandevender. The third-inning, 3-run cloutscored Chase Coley and Taylor Jones, puting Brookhaven up 6-2.Clements had 2 hits in the opener.

In the second game, Clements greeted pitcher Clifton Baxter,with a first-pitch solo blast to start the second inning. “He justthrew it right over the plate.”

Brookhaven field manager Pete Young, Co-Lin’s pitching coachlast season, saw Clements swing the bat for Southwest for twoyears. “Michael has some power and he’s been on fire lately. Heburned us several times at Co-Lin.”

Young said he was happy to get his team back on the playingfield. The Bandits had gone a week without playing a game due tothunder showers.

“The layoff hurt us,” said Young. “We hadn’t played since lastSunday.”

Brookhaven 6, Clinton 4

In the opener, Co-Lin product Lance Deville pitched thevictory, authoring a 4-hitter. He struck out 3 batters and walked3.

“I thought Lance was 190 percent better than than he wasthe last outing,” said Young. “He threw the ball over the plate andgave us a chance. He has some good stuff. He game is location andthrowing strikes.”

The Bandits scored twice in the bottom of the first andled 6-2 after 3. John Birdsong, Jody Britt, Jace Conway and TaylorJones singled.

Clinton 2, Brookhaven 1

Louisiana Tech product Gene Taylor slapped and RBIsingle to score Adrian Holley with the tying run in the top of thefifth. Craig Gentry singled, stole second base, scored on a passedball and the Lumberjacks led 2-1.

Omar Johnson, an assistant coach at Jackson StateUniversity, is managing the Clinton squad. Johnson said he only hastwo returning players from last summer’s team.

“I like the opportunity to be head coach,” said Johnson.”There’s a lot of travel in this league.” Clinton (6-4) plays atPoplarville tonight.

“This year the players are a lot better,” said Johnson.”Most of our guys are going to be sophomores incollege.”

Brookhaven sent recent Wesson High graduate Justin Smithto the mound last night. Smith pitched well, giving up 5 singles,striking out 2 and walking 1.

“Justin pitched real well,” said Young. “He’s a highschool senior facing a lot of junior and senior collegeplayers.”

Clinton started Clifton Baxter and he went 5.2 innings.Baxter gave up 3 hits and 1 earned run, fanning 6 and walking1.

Wesson graduate Ryan Williams, fresh from a Saturdayappearance in the Class 1A-2A-3A All-Star Baseball Game, led offthe bottom of the sixth with a single to right field. Williams, thetying run, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Coley anda grounder by Jones but was left stranded as relief pitcher CraigGentry cooled the rally.

Gentry, a University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith Smithproduct, retired the final 4 batters in order to preserve thewin.

Brookhaven first baseman Gray Silva, a Mississippi Stateproduct, had a fourth-inning single for the Bandits.

@Linescore:BROOKHAVEN 6 CLINTON 4

Clinton

020

200 –

4

4

2

Brookhaven

213

000

x –

6

6

2

@Bbstandings: Vandevender and Coleman. Deville andBarksdale. WP: Deville. LP: Vandevender. HR: Clements (B). Multiplehits: Clements (B) 2.

@Linescore:CLINTON 2, BROOKHAVEN 1

Clinton

000

020

0 –

2

5

1

Brookhaven

010

000

0 –

1

3

1

@Bbstandings: Baxter, Gentry (6) and Diggs. J. Smith and Silva.WP: Baxter. S: Gentry.LP: Smith. HR: Clements (B).