Mother Nature played an important role in Saturday’s Division6-4A matchup between host Brookhaven and the Lawrence CountyCougars at Moyer Field. Rain caused havoc on the baseball diamondin the morning hours and dried up during the sunny afternoon.Strong winds (10-20 m.p.h) were blowing all over Moyer Field duringthe 2-hour, 45-minute affair. The Cougars used a combination ofhitting and pitching to blow away the Panthers 17-7 in sixinnings.

Brookhaven and Lawrence County participate in the McCombCola-Coca Spring Break Classic, starting on Monday. The Panthersmeet Natchez Cathedral at 10 a.m., at McComb, followed by Brandonat Southwest Community College at 1 p.m. The Cougars play NatchezCathedral at 1 p.m., at McComb, then travel to SWCC for a scheduled5 p.m. first pitch against Natchez.

The Cougars (8-3, 4-1) wasted little time initiating their 1-0lead. Leadoff hitter David Gilbert tripled. Rightfielder KleinHarbour grounded out to short, scoring Gilbert.

Lawrence County, coached by Chris Clark, extended the lead to6-0 in their half of the second, sending 11 batters to the plate.Gilbert and first baseman Cory Rogers combined for 3 RBIs in theinning.

Brookhaven (3-6, 2-3) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of thesecond, to reduce the deficit to 6-5. Third baseman Ben Gozawalked. Two batters later, leftfielder Corey Smith singled. CatcherAdam Ogden reached on an error that allowed Goza to score.

Two batters later, centerfielder Darius Perkins tripled to scoreCorey Smith and Ogden. Shortstop Brooks Hall singled. First basemanKern Hoff’s single scored Perkins and Hall.

The Cougars added 4 runs to their lead in the top of the third,pushing their advantage to 10-5. Leftfielder Brent Fraysier reachedon an error and stole second. Two batters later, centerfielderMichael Thompson reached on a 2-base error; moving Fraysier tothird. Fraysier would later score on a throwing error byBrookhaven.

The uprising continued. Gilbert singled. Third baseman WillDawsey singled to score Thompson. Harbour singled. Two batterslater, catcher Zack Powell singled to score Gilbert and Dawsey.

Lawrence County continued to score, despite the windyconditions. The Cougars raised their lead to 13-5 in the top of thefourth. Harbour singled and had 2 RBI’s in the inning.

The fifth inning saw Clark’s ballclub add 3 runs to theirscoreboard total for 16-5 lead. Gilbert singled, scored and had 2RBIs in the inning. Gilbert led the Cougar offensive, going 4-for-4with 2 singles, a double, a triple, 5 runs scored and 4 RBIs.

The Panthers, coached by Randy Spring, produced 2 runs in thebottom of the fifth. Goza singled. Pinch hitter Josh Patrick walkedand reached second on a passed ball. Corey Smith singled to scoreGoza. Two batters later, Reggie Smith reached on a fielder’schoice; allowing Patrick to score. Brookhaven trailed 16-7 headinginto the sixth.

The Cougars added 1 run in the top of the inning, and held thePanthers at bay to evoke the 10-run rule.

“We have got to work harder to get better,” said Springfollowing the game.

Scotty Smith suffered the loss for Brookhaven. He allowed 5 runs(4 earned) on 3 hits, issued 1 base-on-balls with no strikeouts.Josh Townsend, Hall, Patrick, and Hoff came on in relief.

Drew Haley picked up the win for Lawrence County. He threw 6innings, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits, walked 2 and struckout 5 Panther batters. Haley helped his cause at the plate, with adouble and 3 runs scored.

“Our hitting and pitching came through for us today,” said Clarkafter the game. “No. 7 (Haley) threw good for us today.”

Perkins paced the Panthers with a single, a triple, a run scoredand 2 RBIs. Hall had 2 singles. Hoff had a double and 2 RBIs. Gozahad 2 singles.