The Brookhaven High Panther baseball team moved a step closer toa possible repeat as Division 6-4A champions this week with a pairof wins over Wingfield and Jim Hill respectively.

The Panthers put the ream, steam and dry-clean on the WingfieldFalcons 23-1 in Jackson Tuesday at Leavell Woods Field. Ole Brookevoked the 10-run rule in the sixth to defeat the Jim Hill Tigers11-1 at Moyer Field Thursday night.

Ole Brook hosts Franklin County and Jefferson County Saturday.The Panthers meet Franklin County at 11 a.m., followed by FranklinCounty and Jefferson County at 1:30 p.m. Ole Brook and JeffersonCounty close out the tripleheader at 4.

The Panthers’ final division test is April 16 at Rotary Fieldagainst second-place McComb.

Brookhaven defeated Jim Hill 15-0 in the JV game.

Brookhaven 23, Wingfield 1

The Panthers (14-4, 10-0) continue their winning ways within thedivision. A solid offense effort and a nearly error-free defensewere the forefront for victory, as the visitors put 16 runs on thescoreboard in their half of the fourth.

Ole Brook is the defending champion.

“We played solid defense,” said Panther head coach Randy Spring.His ballclub had committed a season-high 12 errors in their loss atClinton.

Sophomore right-hander Brandt Hinton authored the win for BHS.He allowed 1 unearned run on 2 hits, with 4 strikeouts.

“Brandt threw strikes for us,” added Spring.

Senior centerfielder Xavier Qualls led the Panther offense with4 singles and a double. Brooks Hall had a double and 2 singles.Adam Ogden drilled his second 4-bagger of the season. Hinton helpedhis cause at the plate with a single and a homer.

Brookhaven 11, Jim Hill 1

Ole Brook (15-4, 11-0) trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom ofthe third. The Panthers exploded for 11 runs over the final 4innings for the win.

“We were a little slow coming out tonight,” said Spring. “JimHill has improved a lot since we last played them.” Spring wasreferring to the Panther’s 17-0 win over the Tigers March 19 inJackson, at Battlefield Park.

Panther starter Scotty Smith (5-2) garnered the win allowing onerun on 3 hits. Smith walked 1 and fanned 11 Jim Hill batters.

Ogden led Ole Brook with a solo homer in the sixth, histeam-leading third. Hinton singled and tripled. Grant McDonniealand W. T. King each had a single and a double.