The Brookhaven Panthers have continued to flourish during theearly portion of the 2006 campaign. After dropping a pair ofDivision 6-4A games to division-leading Lawrence County, Ole Brookhas fostered a 7-game winning streak in division play.

The Panthers completed a 3-game sweep of Florence Friday nightat Moyer Field; taking a twinbill from the visiting Eagles 3-1 and8-3. Brookhaven defeated Florence 7-1 Tuesday in Rankin County.

Ole Brook, the No. 2-ranked team in the Quality Home OxygenSouthwest MS Prep Super Seven Baseball Poll, improves to 11-2overall and 7-2 in the division. Florence fell to 5-8 and 1-8. ThePanthers are ranked No. 12 in the state by a Jackson newspaper.

Brookhaven 3, Florence 1

The Eagles would take an early 1-0 lead in the fourth. PitcherRyan Marbury reached first, as he was hit by a Panther pitch andmoved to second on an error. Two batters later,

designated hitter Austin Brunson’s single scored Marbury.

The Panther bats came to life in the sixth, scoring 3 runs thatwere aided by a pair of Eagle miscues. With 1 out, Garion Crockettreached on an error. Two batters later, Cole Newell doubledCrockett home. Leftfielder Josh Coone reached on an error. CatcherMitch Pappas singled to score Newell and Coone.

“We did a good job of not giving up,” said Panther head coachRandy Spring.

It was a pitcher’s duel between Marbury and Ole Brook’s BrandtHinton who came out on the winning end; with 10 strikeouts andallowing 3 hits in 7 innings of work. Marbury suffered the loss,giving up 7 hits with 3 strikeouts.

Brookhaven 8, Florence 3

Spring’s ballclub took a 4-0 lead in the third. Pappas, Hinton,Marlon Dixon and Zach Watson scored. Dixon (bunt) and Watson wouldeach have a single. Ole Brook took advantage of 2 Florence errorsin the inning.

The Panther increased their lead to 8-0 in the fifth. Crockett,Newell, Pappas and Hinton would cross home plate. Crockett openedthe inning with a golf ball slice to the centerfield wall. Newellalso doubled in the inning.

Florence got a pair of runs in the sixth. David Stewart singled.Griffin Nance reached on an error that moved Stewart to third.Stewart would later score on a Panther balk. Marbury’s doubleplated Nance.

Donald Garrett scored the Eagles’ final in the seventh. Hereached on an error, and then moved to second on a wild pitch andthird on passed ball. Jay Sandifer’s ground out to second allowedGarrett to score.

The Panthers got another solid pitching performance from Coone.He tossed a complete game (7 innings), allowing 2 runs, 4 hits;fanning 9 Florence batters in securing the win.

“Josh pitched well tonight,” added Spring. “Both team battledtonight.”

Lending support for the Panthers were Pappas and Hinton, whoeach scored a pair of runs. Zach Watson singled twice and had 4RBIs. Crockett had 2 singles and a double.

Hunter Thompson took the loss for Florence, coached by JimmyBooth. He gave up 4 runs, 2 hits with 2 strikeouts in 2 2/3 inningson the mound. Patrick Crell and Seth Evans also saw action on themound.