Brookhaven opens slow-pitch season with sweep
Published 10:16 pm Friday, August 9, 2019
The Brookhaven High Lady Panthers opened their slow-pitch softball season Thursday with a sweep of the Warren Central Lady Vikings in Vicksburg. BHS won game one 6-5 in extra innings and blew out WC in game two for a 15-3 victory.
In game one both teams had 10 hits each and BHS committed seven errors versus four by Warren Central. The game was tied 5-5 after seven innings. Angel Wilkinson got the BHS half of the final frame started with a double and then moved to third when Warren Central committed an error on a Kaysha Register ground ball. Wilkinson scored the go-ahead run on a flyout by Lauren Coghlan.
Senior Meg Foster hit a double for BHS and fellow senior Lynsey Nations blasted a home run. Madi Miler, Kyja Willis and Register each had one hit apiece for coach Mandy Vinson. Foster, Nations and Layla Woodall had two hits each for the Lady Panthers.
Kyla Henderson pitched the win for the Lady Panthers.
In game two Warren Central went up 2-0 before BHS used an 11-run inning in the third to seal the win. The Lady Panthers outhit the Lady Vikings 15-4.
Miller had the hot bat as she drove in four RBIs on three hits. Register and Woodall also had three hits apiece. Foster and Willis had two hits each and Nations and Henderson each hit safely. Woodall hit two doubles and a home run while Miller added one double and Foster and Kyja Willis each hit a home run.
Woodall picked up the pitching win, as well.
Brookhaven only had one senior last season in Kat Wallace. The Lady Panthers made it to the Division II South State finals last season before being eliminated in two games by Wayne County. The senior trio of Nations, Foster, and Miller provide power in the middle of the lineup with Henderson providing another strong senior bat in the middle of the order. Lulu Cook and Register are also senior leaders for Vinson and her staff.
BHS will travel to Lake today to play in a tournament before traveling to Bogue Chitto on Tuesday. The Lady Panthers are in a new region this year with the MHSAA going to two classes from three divisions. Their district will include Hattiesburg, Lawrence County, North Pike, Quitman and South Pike.