The Brookhaven Brakemen clinched the first-ever Cotton StateLeague title, finishing one game ahead of the Rankin CountyRednecks. Brookhaven won the league with a 23-16 record and RankinCounty was runner-up at 22-16.

The Hub City Wheels of Hattiesburg finished third at 18-17 andthe Jackson Senators were fourth at 15-18. The Clinton Bluff wassixth at 16-21 and the Raymond Cannons last at 15-22.

Brookhaven field manager Pete Young was named Coach of the Year.Coaching the Cotton State All-Star Team, which is participating inthe State Semi-pro Tournament at Hinds Community College inRaymond, is Clinton assistant coach Patrick McCarthy. Representingthe Brakemen on the all-star team are catcher Lance Newman ofBrookhaven (Troy State), shortstop Chris Dunn of Mendenhall(Southern Miss), pitcher Joseph Paul of Natchez (Southern Miss) andoutfielder Cager Garner of Mississippi State.

Newman and Dunn were both members of the 2000 Copiah-LincolnCommunity College team which posted a 47-17 record and finishedfourth in the NJCAA Division II World Series at Millington,Tenn.

Doug Shanks, Cotton State founder and executive director, saidthe league has a bright future. He said two cities have expressedstrong interest in sponsoring new teams for the 2001 season.