Riding a victorious wave of success, the Brookhaven AcademyCougars face a major roadblock Tuesday night when they challengeAdams County Christian School’s ace pitcher Timmy Foster and therest of the Rebels. Game time is 6 p.m. in Natchez for the openerof the best-of-three South State AA finals series.

Game 2 will be played Thursday at Brookhaven Academy, startingat 6 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would be played Friday atACCS, also starting at 6.

In the North State AA finals, Simpson County is playing CantonAcademy in a similar best-of-three series.

“We have to deal with Foster and he’s a very good pitcher,” saidBrookhaven Academy head coach Stephen Cooksey. “He does a good jobwith off speed pitches. He also has a fastball, curveball andchange up”.

Foster (6-2, 210) already has signed a scholarship with SouthernMiss. Foster (9-1) beat the Cougars 6-3 in early March at Natchez.He has hit 8 homers this season.

“Adams has a good team but Foster really anchors that team,”said Cooksey. According to Cooksey, the Rebels (22-4) have severalstrong hitters. “They have some guys who can run well in theoutfield.

Cooksey’s Cougars are 21-2 on the season. They swept CentralHinds Academy in dominant fashion, winning two straight by marginsof 4-0 and 13-3.

“Our kids are playing well,” said Cooksey. “I’m real happy withthe way they have focused on the playoffs.”

Leading off for the Cougars is second baseman Ryan Vanderslice.He’s followed by left fielder Keith Franklin, pitcher CoreyDickerson, center fielder Paul Davis, shortstop Jeremy Winborne,third baseman T-Boy Lynch, first baseman Seth Davis, catcher KolbyByrd and right fielder Steven Covington.

Price Sessums and Kurt Perkins are the courtesy runners. Sessumsand Perkins also play the outfield.

On the mound, Seth Davis (5-0), Paul Davis (6-0), Ben McKinney(5-0) and Cory Dickerson 4-2) are in the primary rotation, followedby Johnathan White.

There are seven seniors on the BA squad.

Cooksey is in his third year at Brookhaven. The Cougars were18-8 last year, losing to ACCS is the first round of theplayoffs.

“We have been able to hit the ball in this series,” saidCooksey. His Cougars hit five homers against Central Hinds andagainst Columbia Academy.

Rushing Pilots Rebels

This is Ron Rushing’s third year at ACCS, his first as headcoach. He was formerly head coach at Brookhaven Academy

“We have had a good season,” said Rushing. Four of his sixseniors are starters.

“Coach Cooksey has done a great job,” said Rushing. “They areprobably the best team in the South. They run and are veryathletic.”

Leading off for the Rebels is senior center fielder ColeBradford. Foster bats second while pitching and playing first base.Senior C.J. Wright is in left field, followed by senior David Newas designated hitter, junior catcher Eric Perry, junior AustinWeeks at third base, sophomore Dustin Carroll at first base,sophomore Brian Sanderson in right field, sophomore Luke Brumfieldat shortstop and senior Clay Floyd at second base.

“It should be a good series,” said Rushing. “I think the twobest teams in the South are playing.”

Playoff note: The MPSA has added an OverallBaseball Tournament this season. The champion and state runner-upfrom each classification advance to the Overall which will be heldat Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson.