The Brookhaven Lady Panthers suffered a tough 12-3 loss to the Warren Central Lady Vikings Thursday in softball action at the Lady Panthers softball complex.

“The girls played hard,” said Brookhaven coach Chad Walker. “I was very pleased with their effort. We kept fighting throughout the while game, but we just came short at the end.”

Brookhaven celebrated Senior Night for their only senior: Alycen Speaks. Her parents and sister (Haley Speaks) came out to be with her as she was being recognized in front of the pitcher mound.

The Lady Panthers (6-17, 1-2) will return to action Monday as they head down Highway 550 toward Loyd Star to take on the Loyd Star Lady Hornets. Junior varsity action starts at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 6:30 p.m.

Warren Central 12, Brookhaven 3 

The Lady Vikings came out and quickly overpowered the Lady Panthers by grabbing a 9-0 lead in four innings of action.

Brookhaven bounced back to deny Warren Central’s bid of a shut out in the bottom of the fourth inning as their offense started to click, and Ole Brook pushed across three runs to cut into the Lady Vikings lead at 9-3.

Warren Central answered Ole Brook’s challenge in the top of the fifth inning, increasing their lead to 12-3 and threatening to end the contest on a mercy rule. But the Lady Panthers defense stood strong and denied them that chance.

Darby Gain was the winning pitcher for the Lady Vikings with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Rileigh Allen suffered the setback on the mound for the Lady Panthers with no strikeouts and nine walks.

Tia Bussey was the top hitter for Ole Brook at the plate with three singles. Katie Grace Culpepper contributed two singles. Kat Wallace ripped a double. Hitting safely were Alycen Speaks, Danielle Batteast and Jadeyn Fuller.

Lawren Boolos and Jordan Lee were the main sluggers for Warren Central’s offense with a pair of singles. Brooke Patterson, Grace Franco, Kasy Catezie and Gain hit safely.

In junior varsity action,  the Lady Vikings crushed the Lady Panthers 13-1.

Madison Thompson pitched for Brookhaven collecting one strikeout and had nine walks.

Thompson and Bussey led at the plate for Ole Brook with a single apiece.