PEARL – Freshman pitcher Katherine Shell tossed a 3-hitter and the Brookhaven Lady Panthers roared to a 12-1 triumph over Pearl’s Lady Pirates in Class 5A region softball. Shell struck out 3 batters and walked 4.

     Brookhaven (13-10, 4-2) begins Class 5A state playoff action Friday at West Point, at 4 p.m. The best-of-three series moves back to Brookhaven on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.

     Coach Chad Walker’s Lady Panthers collected 11 hits against Pearl, led by shortstop Taylor Murray who tripled and doubled. Shelby Case collected 3 singles.

     Two hits by Katie Grace Culpepper supported the attack. Alycen Speaks and Christen Benson singled as BHS took a 3-0, second-inning lead and plated 5 more runs in the fourth.

     Hannah Emmons (7K, 8BB) was the losing pitcher. Her team committed 3 errors.

     The Lady Pirates got singled from Alexis Bulman, Tiara Jenkins and Emmons.

Junior Varsity Results

     Mary Parker Jackson (1K, 0BB) pitched Brookhaven’s 7-5 win over Pearl in the JV game.

     Singles by Madison Case, Madeline Gonzales, Jada Henderson, Judyn Fuller, Tia Bussey and Jackson sparked the BHS offense.

     Pearl got a double and a single from Jessica McClendon. Kaitlyn Jackson singled twice. Haley Odom singled.