Brookhaven won their first game of the day at Moyer Field Saturday when they shut down the Wesson Cobras to take a 13-1 victory.

The Panthers took the lead early in the game and never looked back. A nine-run third inning secured the victory as the Cobras had no answer for Brookhaven’s offensive strikes.

“I think we got started later on,” said Panthers senior Clint Stephens said. “But I think we got into the zone and that’s what we really needed to do. All we needed was base runners.”

Batting first to start the competition, the Cobras got their only run of the game. Junior Jim Guess brought in the run off of a single. Brookhaven got the outs to end the inning, keeping the ball down, producing two ground outs and one strike out.

With two outs, in Brookhaven’s half of the first, junior Corbin Falvey started the scoring with an RBI single. Sophomore Gatson Walker followed with an RBI single, before Wesson got the final out.

“I felt like I had to get up there and throw strikes and make plays behind me,” Panthers senior Trace Owens said.

Wesson picked up their final hit of the game in the top of the second, as Sophomore Kenner Bizot hit a single. The Cobras kept Brookhaven off the bases in the bottom half, getting three up and three down.

The Panthers took total control of the game in their half of the third, tallying up nine runs. Owens started the onslaught with an RBI single. Sophomore Byrion Robinson followed with an RBI single.

Brookhaven loaded the bases with one out and continued to pour on the runs. Sophomore Dylan Reeves brought in two runs on a double. Senior Logan Emfinger also brought in a run on a double.

The Panthers scored the final two runs of the game in their half of the fourth. Stephens nailed a two-run home run to give Brookhaven the 13-1 win.

“Wesson had the first blow and scored the first run,” said Panthers coach Matt White. “We came back and hit the baseball and ran the bases great and got a big win for us. Very few times in the last few years that we beat Wesson. It’s always big when we play them and was a big win for us.”

Owens got the win for the Panthers, going five innings, striking out three batters and gave up one run, unearned, on two hits.

Sophomore Aaron Mooney — in two innings, with two hits, two runs earned, and one strike out — took the loss for Wesson. Junior Colton Newman and freshman Lason Lewis pitched in relief.

Brookhaven, 6-4, will start 5A-6 regional play today as they host Wingfield for the first game of a three-game series. Games two and three will be at Wingfield Friday.

Wesson will travel to Foxworth as they take on 3A-8 regional foe West Marion in game one of a two game series. Game two will be at Wesson Friday.

Story by Dave Linton