Brookhaven and Quitman have met over the last several years inboys basketball and baseball during the postseason. Add girlsslowpitch softball to the list as the two schools from Lincoln andClarke County have developed a rivalry.

On Tuesday afternoon at the Hansel King Sportsplex, a battle ofLady Panthers took place on the softball diamond. Brookhavencompleted a doubleheader sweep of Quitman winning Game One 8-1 andcapturing the nightcap 15-3 in six innings in the opening round ofthe Class 4A state playoffs.

Brookhaven hosts Florence Saturday, starting the best-of-threeseries at 12 noon. Florence swept George County yesterday.

Brookhaven 8, Quitman 1

The Lincoln County-based Lady Panthers overcame 3 errors to pullthe 7-run victory over their Clarke County counterparts. Seniorpitcher Mandy Vinson picked up the win, fanning 2 Quitmanbatters.

Brookhaven (21-6) opened the scoring in the bottom of thesecond. Ashley Sykes singled. Britney Smith reached on a fielder’schoice, forcing Sykes out at second. Two batters later, AllysonWallace singled. Kensy Hoff singled to scored Smith.

Quitman, coached by Deon Odom and Minnie McGee, scored theironly run of the game in the top of the fourth. Candace Boatnerreached on an error. Two batters later, Shaquilla Mack reached onan error. Amanda Herring reached on an error that allowed Boatnerto score.

Brookhaven, coached by Lisa Covington, Dan Presley and JohnOgden, increased the lead to 4-1 in their half of the fourth.Jaronda Moore and Samantha Boutwell delivered back-to-back singles.Sykes tripled to score both runners. Britney Smith singled to scoreSykes.

Covington’s ballclub added a pair of runs in the fifth and sixthinnings. Megan Bateman and Chuvaquah Smith crossed homevplate inthe fifth while Britney Smith and Vinson scored in the sixth.

“They (Brookhaven) hit the ball and we didn’t,” said Quitmanhead coach Deon Odom. “They hit the ball extremely well.”

Powering Brookhaven’s offensive were Sykes with a single and atriple. Kayla Prince had 2 singles. Britney Smith provided 2singles.

Allison Herring suffered the loss for Quitman.

“We overcame three errors,” said Covington. “We played gooddefense.”

Brookhaven 15, Quitman 3

Brookhaven (22-6) captured the early 1-0 lead in the top of thefirst. Bateman singled. Chuvauqah Smith singled. Two batters later,Boutwell’s sacrifice fly scored Bateman.

Quitman (11-8-1) entertained a 3-1 advantage after 1 completeinning. Rebecca Riley’s single scored Gabby Morgan. Riley advancedto second on a fielding error that allowed Boatner to score. Twobatters later, Melissa Taylor singled to score Riley.

Brookhaven reclaimed the lead for good at 4-1 in the third.Bateman singled Chuvaquah Smith walked. Moore’s single scoredBateman. Boutwell singled to score Smith and Moore.

Vinson, who picked up the win, reached on a 2-base error in thefourth. Two batters later, Hoff’s single scored Vinson.

Brookhaven would erupt for 10 runs in their half of the sixth,sending 15 batters to the plate. Chuvaquah Smith highlighted theinning with a grand slam homer, scoring Prince, Courtney Fielderand Bateman. Also scoring for Brookhaven in the inning were Moore,Boutwell, Vinson (2), Wallace and Hoff.

“We hit the ball real well,” said Covington. “We are hitting ourpeak at the right time.”

Bateman and Fielder paced Brookhaven with 3 singles. ChuvaquahSmith singled and homered.

Allison Herring suffered the loss for Quitman. Collectingsingles were Morgan, Riley, Taylor, Amanda Herring and AllisonHerring.