Long Beach made it look easy in sweeping Brookhaven in theopening round of the Class 5A state baseball playoffs. Seniorhurler Michael Paul tossed a 4-hitter, striking out four andwalking none as Long Beach eliminated the Brookhaven Panthers 11-1Saturday on rain-soaked Moyer Field.

Long Beach (18-10), an 8-0 winner over Brookhaven (17-11) Friday atLong Beach, eliminated the Panthers last year when both teams werein the Class 4A state playoffs. The Bobcats were eliminated by WestJones last year in the second round.

Paul is a Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College signee. He hit asolo homer off BHS relief pitcher Andrew Culver in the sixth.

Sophomore Dillon Newell (1 K, 4 BB) started on the mound for BHSand lasted four innings. He gave up seven runs, five of themearned, on seven hits.

Culver (1 K, 1 BB) allowed three earned runs on three hits. SeniorPatrick Valentine (0 K, 0 BB) hurled the sixth inning. He gave upone run on two hits.

“Long Beach is very solid and their pitchers throw strikes,” saidBHS coach Randy Spring. “We were banged up going into theseries.”

Third baseman/pitcher J.D. Britt missed the series due to a brokenright thumb. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Scottie Peavey wassidelined by a strained back muscle.

Due to the threat of rain, the game started at noon, three hoursearlier than scheduled. The Bobcats, coached by Mark Ross, forged a6-0 lead, exploding for five, second-inning runs.

Justin McMahon delivered two doubles for the Bobcats. ChaseLunsford tripled.

The Panthers scored their lone run in the third inning, reducingtheir deficit to 6-1. Brandon Foster and J.B. Perkins doubled forBHS. Gabe Wilson collected two singles.

Spring’s team only had six hits in the 2-game series.

LONG BEACH 11, BROOKHAVEN 1

Long Beach 150 023 — 11 10 1

Brookhaven 001 000 — 1 4 2

Michael Paul and Garrett Larosa. Dillon Newell, Andrew Culver (5),Patrick Valentine (6) and J.B. Perkins. WP: Paul. LP: Newell (2-4).HR: Paul (LB). 3B: Chase Lunsford (LB). 2B: Paul (LB), McMahon (LB)2, Brandon Foster (B), J.B. Perkins (B). Multiple hits: Hammons(LB) 2, Paul (LB) 2, McMahon (LB) 2, Lunsford (LB) 3, Gabe Wilson(B) 2. Single: Long Beach (Marks).