MONTICELLO-Lawrence County was the big winner in a long andlively opening day of high school baseball action Saturday atJimmie Davis Park. The Cougars squeaked out two 1-run victories,edging West Marion 8-7, and Brookhaven 7-6. In the day’s othergame, Ole Brook pounded out a 19-3 win over West Marion.

“I thought it was a good opening day,” said seventh-year LawrenceCounty coach Cory Keyes. “We were blessed with a great day, aftersome miserably cold practice sessions earlier this year. We wantedto play some games, and I’m sure Brookhaven and West Marion did,too.”

Keyes’ Cougars had to battle from behind to win both games. AgainstWest Marion, LCHS gave up 7 fourth-inning runs, and trailed, 7-3,entering the bottom of the sixth inning. Jordan Grayson’s 3-runhomer cut the lead to 7-6, setting up Adam Watson’s 2-out, 2-run,walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh.

For Lawrence County, Dylan Lea won in relief of left-hander JordanMcCaffrey. Junior Wells took the loss for West Marion. He relievedstarter Sam Regan in the sixth.

Lawrence 7, Brookhaven 6

The Lawrence County-Brookhaven game played out similarly. ThePanthers’ Scottie Peavey and Gabe Wilson both blasted first-inninghomers off Cougar ace Scott Votaw, staking Ole Brook to a 5-0lead.

LCHS came back to tie the game in the bottom of the third on a2-run homer by Matt Patterson, after Panther flame-thrower Peaveyleft the game with back discomfort. This game also went to thebottom of the seventh, when Votaw doubled home Tucker Smith withthe winning run.

Votaw struck out 7 in a route-going performance that saw playersfrom both teams fighting cramps in the late-going. J.D. Brittrelieved the ailing Peavey. Wilson relieved Britt in the fourth,and was the tough-luck loser.

“We could have easily been 0-2 today,” Keyes said, “and it wouldn’thave meant that we played bad baseball. As it is, both games fellour way, and we’ll sleep a little better tonight. I like the wayour guys battled, because our outlook was pretty bleak in bothgames.”

Brookhaven 19, W. Marion 3

In Brookhaven’s contest with West Marion, the Panthers totally hadtheir way, scoring 5 runs in the top of the first, and 10 in thethird, in what turned out to be a 5-inning, mercy-rule game.Brookhaven’s J.D. Britt whacked 2 homers, and Drew Jones hit agrand slam homer. Dillon Newell scattered 7 hits to get thewin.

In junior varsity action, Lawrence County edged Brookhaven by theexact same score of the varsity contest, 7-6.