BROOKHAVEN — Parklane defeated Brookhaven Academy 3-1 in another close game of softball Tuesday night to even the series at 1-1 this season. It is just the third loss for the Cougars this year. 

Brookhaven Academy out hit the Pioneers but could not find a way to string hits together and scratch out some runs. The last inning was a great example of BA’s run scoring woes as Bailey Parks was left stranded after a lead off double. 

Senior Annaston Poole seemed unphased by the loss as did the rest of the team. Poole said she plans to go to Co-Lin to play softball after her senior year. She added this year she has felt she had to be a leader by playing hard and setting an example to younger players. 

One of those younger players is her younger sister Swayze who is in ninth grade and plays catcher. 

Players were already looking forward to getting out and winning the next one. BA has won 19 games so far this season. 

“Everyone goes through adversity. You have to see how you can move on and you have to learn to move forward,”Poole said. “We play really well as a team and lift each other up. We are all good teammates. I think we keep God first and we will always keep our focus on Him.”

Poole said the team will need to get their hits together and do the little things right moving forward. She had three hits on the night leading the Cougars. Swayze Poole, Madalyn Lambert and Ann Elise Duncan picked up hits. 

Duncan pitched a great game throwing seven innings, giving up just six hits and three runs, two of them earned. She struck out 13 batters and threw 79 strikes out of her 112 pitches. 

“She means a lot. If she is on we all have her back. She is the one who keeps us going. We didn’t make any errors, they just got a few more hits tonight,” Poole said. 

It is likely Brookhaven Academy will face Parklane again. Poole said the last time they beat the Pioneers they were very happy. Tuesday night the Pioneers celebrated a well earned victory. 

“We really want to beat them. We have a lot of motivation,” Poole said. “They are close to home and we know everyone. It is always a competitive game.”