Coach Stephen Cooksey’s Brookhaven Academy Cougars set a newstandard this season. They won the District 4-AA championship andadvanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Cooksey’s crew captured the first round of the state playoffsbut lost a 3-game series to Adams County Christian School in theSouth State finals. They finished the campaign 24-4.

For his team’s performance, Cooksey has been selected The DAILYLEADER’s All-Lincoln County Baseball Team’s 2006 Coach of theYear.

“This is a team award,” said Cooksey. “We had a great season.Our seniors gave us a lot of leadership and our younger guys reallystepped up.”

Usually, there were five seniors in BA’s starting lineup: secondbaseman Ryan Vanderslice, centerfielder/pitcher Paul Davis,shortstop Jeremy Winborne, first baseman Seth Davis, andrightfielder Steven Covington. Senior reserves were Ben McKinneyand Kurt Perkins.

Juniors Keith Franklin and T-Boy Lynch started in left field andat third base respectively. Sophomore Cory Dickerson worked atthird base and pitcher. Freshman Kolby Byrd started at catcher.

Davis and Vanderslice participated in the Class AA/AAA All-StarBaseball Game last Saturday. Cooksey helped coach the team to a 4-2victory over the North.

Cooksey said volunteer assistant Cayce Wallace did a commendablejob helping coach the team. Wallace, a former star infielder atBHS, Co-Lin and Mississippi College, recently entered dentalschool.

“Cayce was great to have in our program this year,” saidCooksey. Now he is looking for one or two new assistantcoaches.

Baseball facilities at BA have made tremendous improvements inCooksey’s three years at the helm. He credits administrative andcommunity support.

“Everyone has worked together to create a first-class facility,”said Cooksey. “There has been a lot of painting and constructiongoing on.”

Cougar Field features a covered grandstand to protect patronsfrom the sun and rain. Two large isolating fans have been installedbeneath the bleachers to make the crowd more comfortable during thehot weather.

Another plus is an indoor hitting facility. A wooden outfieldfence has been completed, including a towering Green Monster wallin center field.

The Cougars finished 18-8 in 2005. They were destined for adistrict championship in 2006.

Cooksey’s first year at BA was difficult due to health problems.He developed septic shock when his appendix ruptured. He spentseveral weeks in the hospital.

“It was two years before I really got all my strength back andcould swing a bat,” recalled Cooksey. “I had no energy.

“Things are going good, now,” said Cooksey. “Each and every dayI enjoy being outside.”

He has been coaching for 10 years. He spent 5 years at McCombParklane working with the legendary Ken Jackson. “He’s a greatteacher and mentor,” said Cooksey.

He also coached 2 years at Amite School Center in Liberty.

Looking to the future, Cooksey said he is confident the Cougarscan maintain a high level of baseball success. “We have a greatgroup of eighth graders coming up. And we have some talentedplayers returning, too.”

Cooksey, 34, is a Magnolia native. He graduated from South PikeHigh School in 1989. He was a member of South Pike’s statechampionship football team and played center for Coach GregWall.

Continuing his football career at Southwest MississippiCommunity College, Cooksey played for Larry Kinslow. He transferredto Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C. and played football atthe NAIA school.

His life changed dramatically, when he met his future wife, theformer Menessa Riggsbee of Chapel Hill, N.C. She was a scholarshipvolleyball player. They have two children, Kaitlyn, age 11; andBraxton, 4.