Ole Brook takes down Columbia
Published 8:18 pm Wednesday, April 19, 2017
The Ole Brook Panthers finished the regular season on a high note Tuesday night with a road win at Columbia by a score of 8-3.
The win ends the regular season for Brookhaven with an overall record of 20-7 and with a perfect 9-0 record in district play.
Brookhaven jumped on the scoreboard early and took a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning before Columbia could get on the scoreboard. The Panthers tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning to stretch their lead and ended up winning the ball game 8-3.
The Columbia Wildcats end the regular season with a 9-15 overall record.
Senior Penn Wilson picked up the win on the mound for Brookhaven, pitching four innings and giving up one run (none earned) on no hits, three walks and seven strikeouts on the night. Seniors Tate Walley and Dalton Fortado came on in relief for Wilson. Walley pitched two shutout innings, giving up no runs and no hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Fortado pitched one inning, giving up two earned runs on two hits, two walks and one strikeout.
Wilson also had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a team-high four RBIs on the night. Sophomore Jacob Porter followed up going 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the game. Juniors Logan Emfinger and Tyler Mixon each had one RBI as well.
By winning their district, the Panthers earned a first round bye in the playoffs. They’ll face the winner of Long Beach and Picayune in the second round of the 5A state playoffs on April 28 at 7 p.m.