You still need to wear a jacket to high school and collegebaseball games in late March but the division races are heating up,despite the chilly, damp weather. On the local scene,Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Brookhaven are anticipatingFriday showdowns on their home turf.

Co-Lin’s Wolves host Pearl River tomorrow for a South Divisiondoubleheader in Sullivan Stadium. The first game starts at noon.The Wolves, coached by Keith Case, are 16-9 on the season and theWildcats are 28-4, riding a 23-game winning streak.

Pearl River is pegged as a heavy favorite in the South Divisionrace. Co-Lin is contending for the title, too. It should be anexceptional doubleheader.

On Moyer Field Friday night, Brookhaven’s Panthers tackle theLawrence County Cougars at 6 p.m. Another large crowd is expectedto watch the defending Class 4A state champion Panthers battle thesurging Cougars who currently lead the Division 6-4A race.

The Cougars (12-3) are under the direction of first-year headcoach Corey Keyes. He has a young team, but the Cougars haveexceeded expectations thus far. They won a memorable, 15-inningstruggle with division power Terry last week.

Ole Brook, (5-7, 2-2) coached by Randy Spring, has experiencedthe expected growing pains. Only three starters returned from lastyear’s 30-8 state title team.

Two more local baseball teams expected to be contenders in theDivision 6-2A race are the Loyd Star Hornets and the Wesson Cobras.The Hornets, under the direction of first-year head coach JonathanBreakfield, are off to a 9-4 start. Breakfield prefers playing aheavyweight schedule against the likes of 4A McComb and 5AClinton.

The Cobras (8-4), coached by Hugh Knight, have some talentedunderclassmen who are stepping up against bigger competition likeBrookhaven and Lawrence County. The Cobras knocked off LawrenceCounty last Saturday at Monticello.

Coaches. who still have hair on their heads, have pulled outseveral strands while trying to cope with the continuous rain andcool weather this spring. One of these days, the sun will shine,and baseball can return to its regular practice and gameroutine.

Nighttime softball and baseball can be brutal. Wet grounds,combined with a cool breeze out of the north, causes bone-chillingeffects.

There have been a few sun-kissed weekends which makes outdooractivities wonderful. Cutting the grass can be a pleasantexperience this time of the year.

FCAA hosting golf tournament in Pearl

The Jackson Inner City Golf Tournament, sponsored by theFellowship of Christian Athletes, will be held April 4, at PatrickFarms Golf Tournament in Pearl. It is a 4-person scramble format,at a cost of $125 per player.

All proceeds will benefit the FCA. Sponsorships will helpmaintain and expand the FCA Huddle ministry program throughout thestate, helping meet the spiritual needs of hundred of junior andsenior high school students and college athletes.

It also will provide student scholarships to attend high schooland college FCA retreats and Leadership Camps. Proceeds alsosupport coaches and spouses scholarships to attend FCA CouplesWeekend, a marriage and family, finances and inspirationalretreat.

For five decades, FCA has impacted thousands of lives. Through adiverse and dynamic outreach program, FCA provides athletes andcoaches of all backgrounds the opportunity to gain athletic andspiritual insight; coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord andSavior.

The registration fee also will provide lunch and awards for thegolf teams. Two teams will qualify for the state tournament, lowgross and low net. State champions advance to the NationalTournament which will be played at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte VedraBeach, Fl., Nov. 18-20.

For more information contact the FCA office in Ridgeland, MS, at601-977-0957. Entry forms are available at the Brookhaven CountryClub’s pro shop.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com