Cole Hodges provided a powerful pitching performance and HunterPosey furnished the game-winning hit Friday night. That proved tobe the margin of victory, lifting the Brookhaven Academy Cougars toa thrilling 3-2 decision over the visiting Presbyterian ChristianSchool Bobcats of Hattiesburg.

The Cougars raised their overall record to 3-6 and are 3-1 inthe District 4-AA race. The PCS Bobcats slipped to 7-3 and 4-1.

“Cole Hodges had a great game for us on the mound,” said BAfirst-year head coach Stephen Cooksey. Hodges struck out 9 battersand walked 1 batter, scattering 3 hits.

“Our kids battled and played hard,” said Cooksey. “This was abig win for us.”

In the bottom of the sixth, with the score tied 2-2,pinch-runner Cameron Achord zipped around third base and scored onPosey’s key connection of PCS relief pitcher Ben Griffith. Achordhad stolen second and third base.

Hodges (1-0), a junior notching his first win of the season,said, “Posey came up big for us in the sixth.”

In a pitching duel, Posey, Hodges, Trey Allred and Paul Davissingled for the Cougars. “Trey Allred has been hitting the ballfabulous,” said Cooksey. “He’s come up big.”

The Bobcats (7-3, 4-1) gave up 3 unearned runs and sufferedtheir first district loss. The are coached by Phil Smith, a formercoach at Alexander Junior High and Brookhaven High School in themid 1980s.

“Brookhaven Academy scratched and fought and won,” said Smith.”My hat’s off to Coach Cooksey and his team. “They will be a forcein our district.”

Smith said errors doomed his squad. “Our kids battled hard.There was nothing wrong with our offense. We swung the bats. We hada double-play ball and threw it away. They scored three unearnedruns on us.”

Burt (3-1), a freshman hurler with a bright future, struck out 4batters and walked 5. He hit 1 batter.

The Bobcats got a tripled from Travis Ard. Andrew Cornett andBurt singled.

Brookhaven Academy resumes play Tuesday, hosting SillimanInstitute of Clinton, La. The JV game starts at 4:30 p.m., followedby the varsity at 6:30. The Cougars visit Silliman Saturday foranother district test.