McCOMB — A host of local teams were in action Monday at theMcComb Spring Break Baseball Classic at Rotary Field. After thehost McComb Tigers started the day with a 10-0 win over BogueChitto, Lawrence County beat Loyd Star 10-0 in Game Two. Shortlythereafter, Brookhaven rode the 4-hit pitching of Scottie Peavey toa 7-1 win over Lawrence County.

In Lawrence County’s win over Loyd Star, Cougar junior Scott Votawlimited the Hornets to 7 singles, and struck out 9, in a 6-inningrout-going performance.

“Scott threw the best he has this season,” said sixth-year LawrenceCounty coach Cory Keyes. “He gave up seven hits, but he wasoverpowering at times against a very good team that really kickedus around last season.”

LCHS grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the key blow beinga 2-out, 2-run single by Tucker Smith. In the second, the Cougarsupped that margin to 7-0. Jamie McCardle started the frame with asingle. Two outs later, Willie Buckley, Votaw, Dylan Lea, and KeithMartin had consecutive 2-out RBI hits.

Loyd Star starter T.J. Floyd shut the Cougars out over the third,fourth, and fifth innings, but Lawrence County ended the game viathe 10-run rule, with a 3-run rally in the sixth. Jackson Wall,Buckley, and Votaw all had hits in that inning. Southpaw LeeboBarfield relieved Floyd during the frame.

Floyd led Loyd Star with three hits. Barfield, Marquis Hayes, TylerCase, and Branden Canny also hit safely for Coach JonathanBreakfield’s Hornets, who fell to 6-3 on the season.

McCardle, Smith, Votaw, and Buckley each had 2 hits for LawrenceCounty. Wall, Martin, Lea, and Adam Watson each had 1.

Brook 7, Lawrence 1

In the next game, the Ole Brook Panthers avenged an early seasonloss to Lawrence County, handling the Cougars 7-1 behind the 4-hitpitching of Peavey. The hard-throwing righty struck out five.

“This was a very good game for us,” said Panther coach RandySpring. “Scottie threw really well. We defended well for the mostpart, and we made a lot of good contact at the plate.”

Brookhaven scored twice in the bottom of the first, takingadvantage of control problems by LCHS starter Jamie McCardle.McCardle pitched to 6 batters, allowing a Peavey single, andwalking or plunking 4 of the other 5. He was relieved by EthanFoster, who escaped the inning with just two Panther runs on theboard.

Ole Brook made it 3-0 in the second, on a Brandon Foster RBIsingle. Another run-scoring single by Foster in the fourth uppedthe Brookhaven lead to 4-0. The Panthers scored twice in the fifth,on 4 base hits. In the sixth, an Elliott McKee double and a GabeWilson sacrifice fly added the final Brookhaven run.

Lawrence County’s lone tally came in the fourth, when Buckley ledoff with a single, and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Foster led BHS with three hits and Peavy added two. McKee, BriceHuckaby, Chris Seals, J.B. Perkins, and E.J. Henderson each had onefor the Panthers, who improved to 8-2 with this win.

Buckley led Lawrence County with 2 hits. Martin and Tucker Smitheach had 1. Foster gave up 5 runs on 10 hits after relievingMcCardle. He struck out 3. The loss was the first of the season forthe Cougars, after 8 straight season-opening victories.

“Obviously, you’d love to win them all,” said Keyes, “but that’snot realistic. We had a decent day. We played two quality opponentsand got out of here with a win, and we really didn’t play a badgame in the loss. Give credit to Brookhaven. They played a prettyflawless game.”