The Brookhaven Academy Cougar baseball team kicked off itsseason opener against the Oak Forest Yellow Jackets on a chilly,windy Friday night.

Powered by a 3-run home run and a triple from centerfielder/pitcher Paul Davis, the Cougars came back from a 5-3deficit to post a tough 10-6 win over the visiting YellowJackets.

“It (win) was real big for us,” said a happy Davis following theseason-opening win. “Coach (Steven Cooksey) put us in the rightplaces.”

Davis, a 6-foot-3, 150-pound senior who recently signed abaseball scholarship with Co-Lin, smashed his homer in the bottomof the sixth inning to help push the BA lead to 10-5. Davis alsotripled and finished with 4 RBI.

“It was a fastball,” said Davis of the homer. “I got a shot atwhat I wanted. My dad (Steven Davis) told me get closer up in thebox.”

Davis relieved starter Corey Dickerson in the top of the fourthand finished the game. Dickerson struck out 3 batters, walked 2 andallowed 3 hits. Davis fanned 3, walked 2, hit 2 and allowed 3hits.

Following a scoreless first inning, Oak Forest struck in the topof the second when first basemen Josh Miller singled,then advancedto third base where he scored on a sacrifice by Randall Miller.

In the bottom of the third, BA struck with three runs and took a3-1 lead. With one out, Casey Vanderslice walked and advanced tothird on an Oak Forest throwing error. Keith Franklin walked andstole second base. Designed hitter Bradley Allred belted a tripleto right field to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Davis followed witha triple to score Allred for the third run.

Oak Forest came back in the top of the fourth with four runs totake a brief 5-3 lead. German Hayes doubled and Matt Poirrierwalked. With one out, Shane Holland doubled to score Haynes.Randall Miller followed with a triple to drive in two more runs andtake a 4-3 lead. Davis came in to relieve Dickerson. BrandonZachery walked and Miller stole home plate on a wild pitch for thefifth run.

BA roared right back in the bottom of the fourth with three runsto claim a 6-5 lead. Seth Davis doubled to center field followed byCasey Vanderslice with a double. Dickerson walked and the baseswere loaded with no outs. Franklin ripped a hard double to scoreSeth Davis and Vanderslice to tie the game at 5-all. Oak Forestbrought in Poirrier in relief. Allred made it to first on an errorand Dickerson stole home from third base.

The Cougar defense took over in the remaining innings. YellowJacket Mark Thompson was picked off third base with the basesloaded. Paul Davis retired the next two batters.

Randall Miller was hit by Davis and went to first to start thetop of the sixth inning. Brandon Zachery singled. Miller was pickedoff at third base. Cody Zachery and Brandon Tull singled to loadthe bases. Davis fanned Thompson and Hayes to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, BA added four runs for the 10-5lead. Vanderslice singled followed by a double from Dickerson tocenter. Franklin singled in Vanderslice for the 7-5 lead. Davisfollowed with his 3-run homer.

In the top of the seventh, Oak Forest scored one run to cut thedeficit to 10-6. Davis struck out Poirrier. Josh Miller singled,stole second and third base on a Cougar throwing error. ShaneHolland grounded out to score Miller. Randall Miller followed withan infield popup to end the game.

“It was a good team effort,” said Cooksey after the win. Twoplayers, Jeremy Winborne and Kurt Perkins missed the game due tocommitments in the MPSA All-Star Basketball games. Winborne playsshortstop and Perkins is a utility player.

Singling for BA was catcher Kolby Byrd.

Junior Varsity Results

The Cougars pounded out a 14-2 win over the Yellow Jackets.

BA hosts Amite School Center Monday. The junior varsity gamebegins at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity.