The District 4-AA champ Brookhaven Academy Cougar baseball teamwill host the opening round of the MPSA Class AA State Playoffstonight at 7 p.m. Brookhaven (19-2) faces the Central Hinds Cougars(14-6), the No. 2 seed out of the District 3-AA.

In the other South playoff series, Centreville Academy (11-9) isat District 3-AA champion Adams County Christian School (20-4)tonight. In the North AA playoffs, Canton Academy (19-8) is atIndianola Academy (18-7) and Bayou Academy (20-7) is at SimpsonAcademy (20-4).

The second game of this series will be played at Central Hindsin Raymond Thursday night. If a third game is necessary, it will beplayed on Tuesday, May 2, at Brookhaven.

The Cougars are under the direction of Coach Stephen Cooksey.The Cougars have outhit their opponents 254-88 this season. Theyhave a .387 team batting average.

Powering Brookhaven at the plate is senior pitcher/outfielderPaul Davis with a .652 batting average. Davis has hit 10 home runs,13 doubles and 2 triples, with 43 RBIs and has walked 9 times.

Corey Dickerson follows with a .514 batting average, including 7homers. Dickerson hit 12 doubles and 2 triples with 38 hits and 40RBIs on the season. He was walked 8 times.

Following with a .458 batting average is Keith Franklin.Franklin had 33 hits, including 9 doubles and 2 homers for 24 RBIand 33 hits.

Also among BA’s leading hitters are Ryan Vanderslice, .431;Jeremy Winborne, .377; Kolby Byrd, .338; and Steven Covington,.327.

On the mound, Seth Davis (5-0) had a 3.12 ERA in 24.6 inningspitched. Davis had faced 101 batters and allowed 20 hits and 14runs. He has struck out 27 and walked 10.

Paul Davis (5-0) has a 1.98 ERA. Davis had pitched 28.3 inningsallowing 15 runs and 21 hits. He has struck out 28 batters andwalked 13.

Ben McKinney (5-0) has a 3.67 ERA. In 26 innings, McKinney hasallowed 24 hits, struck out 16 batters and walked 18.

Dickerson has faced 146 batters and allowed 19 hits. Dickersonhas struck out 36 batters, walked 22 and allowed 23 runs in 31.6innings pitched. He has a 4.20 ERA.