QUITMAN — A battle of Lady Panthers opened the South State 4Aslowpitch softball playoffs Tuesday afternoon in Lauderdale County,as long-time playoff rivals Brookhaven and Quitman squared off forthe right to advance to the second round.

The Lincoln County-based Lady Panthers opened the best-of-3series with a 4-2 win. The homestanding blue-and-gold Quitman LadyPanthers shut out Ole Brook 5-0 and 10-0 to capture the series2-1.

“We could not hit the ball in the second and third games,” saidBrookhaven head coach Lisa Covington who is in her 16th year atBHS, the last 14 as head coach.

Covington praised Quitman’s effort in the field. “They were avery good defensive ballclub.”

Quitman advances to Saturday’s second round, awaiting the EastCentral/Poplarville winner.

For the complete story and more local news, become a subscriberto The DAILY LEADER. Contact The DAILY LEADER at 601-833-6961 tosubscribe today!