LAUREL — The Brookhaven All-Stars produced a must-win 5-4victory over Columbia Tuesday in the Dixie Boys 13s Baseball StateTournament.

Brookhaven faces unbeaten Laurel-Jones County who eliminatedWayne County last night. Today game begins at 4 p.m. Brookhavenmust win and force a second game which will would immediatelyfollow.

Winning pitcher Matt Smith worked the first two innings with twostrikeouts, one walk, one hit and no runs allowed. Gage Wilsonpitched the final 5 innings and finished with three strikeouts,three walks, eight hits allowed and four runs scored.

Brookhaven was led at the plate by Kyle Cross who led with aground rules double. Singling were Grant Burke, Brandon Allen andWilson.

Brookhaven scored its runs in the second and third innings.

In the second inning, Smith walked for Brookhaven. Cross doubledover the fence to move Smith to third. Wilson singled to scoreSmith and Cross was thrown out at home plate. Wilson went to secondthen Burke singled to score Wilson to put the 13s up 2-0.

Brookhaven’s Calvin Robinson reached first on an error to startthe third inning. Gib Britt’s sacrifice bunt moved Robinson tosecond . Allen singled to score Robinson. Allen stole second andtook third on passed ball. Smith singled to short. Petal caughtAllen in a run down but he reached third and Smith made it tofirst. Smith stole second then Allen scored a run on wild pitchwhile Smith went to third. Tyler Lumley hit to short and a throwingerror allowed Smith to score for a 5-0 lead.

Petal scored three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Brookhaven came up with a big defensive play in the sixth inningto prevent Petal from scoring and tying the game, Petal had runneron base and a ball was hit to right center where centerfielderCalvin Robinson slide for the catch for the final out.

14s resume action

The Brookhaven 14s were off Tuesday and resume play Wednesday at7 p.m. against Perry County. Terry Britt coaches Brookhaven.