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Brookhaven Academy softball has five seniors on its roster. The seniors are, from left, Kensy Covington, Annaston Poole, Emme Barrett, Bailey Parks, and Ann Elise Duncan.

Members of the Brookhaven Academy softball team pose with kindergartener Ledger Smith before he throws out the first pitch prior to the home opener for the Cougars on Monday against Copiah Academy.

Members of the Brookhaven Academy softball team pose with kindergartener Ledger Smith before he throws out the first pitch prior to the home opener for the Cougars on Monday against Copiah Academy.

Brookhaven Academy kindergartner Ledger Smith, who’s currently battling leukemia, is known as “Super Ledger” by his friends, family, and supporters as he gives a superhero-like effort in his fight with cancer.

Ledger Smith waves to the crowd before tossing out the first pitch on Monday ahead of the home opener at the Brookhaven Academy softball field.

Brookhaven Academy senior Annaston Poole catches a pitch from kindergartner Ledger Smith prior to the Brookhaven Academy and Copiah Academy softball game on Monday.

Players from Brookhaven Academy and Copiah Academy bow their heads in prayer prior to playing on Monday in an MAIS 5A softball matchup won 10-4 by the Cougars.

Brookhaven Academy senior pitcher Kensy Covington struck out six in earning the win on Monday against Copiah Academy.

Senior infielder Emme Barrett drew the start at third base on Monday for Brookhaven Academy in their 10-4 win over Copiah Academy.

Senior Annaston Poole hit her first home run of the season for Brookhaven Academy in a victory against Copiah Academy.

Senior Ann Elise Duncan started for Brookhaven Academy in left field on Monday against Copiah Academy. Duncan has committed to sign with Pearl River CC as a pitcher.

Brookhaven Academy senior leadoff batter Bailey Parks scored one run for Brookhaven Academy in the win against Copiah Academy. Parks has committed to sign with Copiah-Lincoln CC.

A large crowd braved the glaring sun and smothering humidity to see the first home game of the 2024 season for the Brookhaven Academy softball team on Monday.

With a 10-4 win over Copiah Academy, the Cougars moved their record to 3-0 on the season, as they’d beaten Laurel Christian (8-0) and Presbyterian Christian (9-5) over the weekend in tournament play.

BA and head coach Lisa Covington are coming off a 30-9-1 season last year where they dropped the MAIS 5A Championship Series in a three-game affair against their district rivals from Parklane Academy.

Wearing a new set of blue pinstripe uniforms, the team looked sharp as the varsity took the field following a junior varsity win earlier on the night.

The BA players all wore orange ribbons tied up in their ponytails, as that color represents support and awareness for leukemia.

In a pregame ceremony, BA kindergartener “Super” Ledger Smith was given a signed ball from the team and threw out the first pitcher. Ledger, the son of Reid and Caitlyn Smith, is currently receiving treatment for leukemia. 

Prior to Ledger firing the first pitch, Brookhaven Academy parent Bill Wallace read aloud all the good that’s come out of Ledger’s battle. One could hear the emotion in Wallace’s voice as he described band-aids donated to pediatric hospitals and dog food donated to animal shelters and all the other charity that has come from those inspired by Ledger and his fight.

Ledger’s ball crossed home plate and was caught by Brookhaven Academy senior Annaston Poole. One of five seniors on the BA roster, Poole then knelt down for a hug from the local superhero.

Poole, the reigning All-Area Offensive MVP, later looked like a hero herself when she slugged a two-run home run to put BA up 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth. She is the daughter of BA assistant coach Scott Poole.

Her younger sister, Swayze Poole, also had a big night at the plate, hitting a double in the second to put the Cougars ahead 3-0. Just before that big hit, BA had gotten a two RBI triple by Alayna Daigle to open the scoring.

CA answered with a four-run top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead. The go-ahead run came on a single by Emma Keyes, but that’s when the scoring would stop for the Colonels.

BA senior pitcher Kensy Covington struck out six, walked two and gave up four earned runs on nine hits. Copiah head coach Terry Bauer used three pitchers on the night.

Covington and Annaston Poole make up the senior class along with Ann Elise Duncan, Bailey Parks and Emme Barrett. Duncan, who plays in the outfield when not pitching, is a Pearl River CC commit. Parks, who started at second base and who’s also caught in her career, is pledged to next play at Copiah-Lincoln CC. Covington and Poole are still undecided about where they’ll play at the next level.

The Cougars are a deep team, with a pool of 13-14 players that are good enough to start. Joining the senior quintet in the starting lineup on Monday was freshman Swayze Poole at catcher, junior Morgan Chemin at first base, sophomore Mia Lee as the designated batter, junior Miriam Wallace in right field, and Daigle, a junior, in center field.

Duncan hit a double and drove in one run while Wallace had a two RBI performance at the plate.

The game wasn’t the cleanest for the Cougars as they had some baserunning mistakes that Covington addressed with the team afterwards. The good thing is they’ll get plenty more opportunities for game action this week to clean things up.

The Cougars play at Amite School Center on Tuesday, at Copiah Academy on Thursday and host Wayne Academy on Friday.

“It’s early and there are lots of things we need to work on, but it’s always nice to end the night with a win,” said Covington. “Our seniors are our team leaders; they’re willing to speak up and they’re also encouraging our younger players as we’ve got some good talent in those lower grades. It’s just about coming together and building our chemistry and cohesion, which I’ve really liked so far.”

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