The Brookhaven Academy Cougars were riding a 5-game win streak and hoped to make it six going into Monday night’s matchup with the Hartfield Hawks out of Flowood. Behind a stellar no-hit pitching performance from senior right-hander Newt Riley and some timely hitting, the Cougars roared to a 13 – 3 victory to the delight of the home crowd at Harold Williams Ballpark.

“Newt (Riley) did a solid job tonight. He established his three pitches early and held them in check to pick up the no-hitter against a good hitting ball club,” said BA head coach Casey Edwards. “At the plate, we have some guys that are starting to see the ball better and trust their hands. When we do that we can compete night in and night out.”

Landon Nettles got the scoring going in the first inning with a two-run homer to left-center field off Hartfield hurler Stephen Atkins. JP Jackson picked up a RBI on a squeeze play that scored Jacob Boyd from third in the second inning giving the Cougars a 3 – 0 cushion. Senior center fielder Steven Williams kept things going with a tape-measure home run in the 3rd to push the BA lead to 6 – 0.

Hartfield got on the board with one run in the top of the 4th but the Cougars answered with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach. Riley closed things out in the top of the fifth to secure the win under the 10-run rule.

Heath Hickman collected two hits for the Cougars to go along with the homeruns from Nettles and Williams. Bailey Warren, Parker Myrick and Zach Dickerson each hit safely for BA to add to the home team’s total.

Riley struck out 7 in his no-hit performance and issued just two bases on balls in his evening of work. Stephen Atkins absorbed the loss for Hartfield.

In junior varsity action,  the Cougars got back into the win column with a 10 – 7 victory over Hartfield. Lamar Lang led the Cougar attack with two hits on the night. John Coleman and William King both doubled for BA. Madison Smith and Austin Smith each singled to add to the BA total. Jake McDaniel and Jacob Tucker each hit safely for Hartfield.

Duncan Bane picked up the win for BA. Dylan Winborne got the save for the Cougars in relief of Bane. John Milam took the loss for the Hawks.

BA will be on the road Tuesday to face Amite School Center in Liberty for a District 5AA matchup. ASC will play at BA Friday night to complete the district series.