BROOKHAVEN — It was a happy senior night at Brookhaven Academy as the Lady Cougars beat Bowling Green Academy 10-0 in five innings. However, it was a junior pitcher who stole the show. 

Anne Elise Duncan threw five strikeouts in three innings pitched and drove in three RBI on two hits to help her team to a win. She is playing with BA for the first time this year after moving from North Pike High School. 

Duncan said the team has welcomed her with open arms. She felt relaxed in the game and it helped her perform well. 

“The way things have been going and I’m new here, just being able to throw well has been good. Having a strong defense behind me relaxed me too,” Duncan said. “Having the support from everyone. They welcomed me and let me know I was worth something. They pushed me to be myself and to go out and do what I know how to do.” 

She has dreams of playing college softball. At this time, she does not have a plan on what she will study in college but said she will go wherever God leads her. 

Duncan was the final run scored in the ball game as she came down the third base line to score on a ground ball to the infield. Brookhaven Academy carries some momentum going into big district matchups over the next few days. 

BA will play against Oak Forest Thursday in one of their biggest tests of the season. At the same time, BA has a collective goal of hanging a third straight state title banner. 

“It gets exciting. I’m anxious to see how we will finish the season,” Duncan said. “We all work together and we want to reach the same goal. Our goal is a third straight state title but it would be my first. It motivates us and keeps you humble as a player. You start to take it pitch by pitch. You have to win each pitch and go all out. We can still grow. We can clean up our mistakes and focus on our fundamentals because they will get you further.”