MCCOMB — The McComb Tigers and Mother Nature did nothing tocool the bats of the Brookhaven Panthers Saturday afternoon,against the McComb Tigers at Rotary Field. Despite temperatureshovering nearly the 45-degree mark and a gusty wind, Ole Brookheated up Tiger pitching for 12 hits; thus claiming an 18-4Division 6-4A win in 6 innings.

With the win by Brookhaven, the Panthers claimed the No. 3 spotin the 6-4A regular-season race. McComb finished fourth.

Both teams will play in the 6-4A double-elimination tournament,beginning Thursday at regular-season champion Terry. Brookhavenplays runner-up Lawrence County, while McComb gets Terry. Times tobe announced.

Both teams close out the regular season Monday at Brookhaven’sMoyer Field. The JV game gets under way at 4:30 p.m., following bythe varsity game at 6:30.

Brookhaven 18, McComb 4

After the Panthers in the top of the first, McComb (12-12, 5-6)took their first and only lead of the game. Senior shortstop AlonzoHarris took the first pitch and launched a solo shot over the20-foot high rightfield fence for a 1-0 Tiger lead.

Brookhaven (19-8, 8-3) responded with a 4-run second.Centerfielder Nick Helmstetter reached on an error. Cody Ratcliffand Taylor Newman were each hit by a pitch from Tiger starter DylanBoyd to load the bases. R.J. Jenkins’ walk allowed Helmstetter toscore to foster a 1-1 deadlock.

Shortstop Elliot Warren’s sacrifice fly to centerfield scoredRatcliff. Pitcher Paxton King grounded out to second; scoringNewman. Bud Britt singled to score Jenkins.

Ole Brook led 4-1 and would score at least 1 run in theremaining 4 innings. With the Panthers leading 9-4 , they wouldevoke the 10-run rule with a 9-run sixth.

“We have not been hitting the ball well lately,” said Panthercoach Randy Spring. “We were able to get some good hits towards theend of the game.”

Brookhaven got a single run in the third, 2 each in the fourthand fifth.

McComb, coached by Brady Jones, got a single run in the third.Kenny Artiques singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and tothird on a passed ball. Two batters later, Harris’ sacrifice fly tocenterfield scored Artiques. Jones’ ballclub trailed 5-2.

The Tigers cut their deficit to 5 runs, 9-4 in the fifth. L.E.Carter and Artiques hit consecutive singles. Artiques’ hit scoredCarter. Three batters later, catcher Ben Slaton grounded out tothird to score Artiques.

King (6-3) authored the win in 6 innings. He allowed 4 earnedruns on 5 hits, with 4 walks and 9 strikeouts.

Boyd suffered the loss, giving up 18 runs (14 earned) on 12hits. He walked 5, struck out 4, while hitting 6 Brookhavenbatters.

Artiques led the Tigers with 2 singles and 2 runs scored. Harrishomered and had 2 RBIs.

Leading the Ole Brook offensive was Britt with 3 singles, adouble, 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Cole Newell singled, doubled,scored 3 runs and had 2 RBIs. Ratcliff scored 4 runs. Taylor Newmanclosed out the scoring with a 2-run homer that also scored Ratcliffin the sixth.

All 9 batters in the Panther line-up scored at least 1 run.