The Ole Brook Lady Panthers deeply inhaled the fresh night air,listened to Coach Lisa Covington’s lecture between games and beatD’Iberville’s Lady Warriors 7-1 Tuesday night in the opening roundof the Class 4A state softball playoffs. D’Iberville had reboundedfrom a 17-5 loss in Game 1 to beat Ole Brook 9-7 in Game 2, forcinganother game in the best-of-three series.

Ole Brook (21-5) hosts Picayune Saturday in the second round,also a best-of-three series. Picayune (19-2) swept Wayne Countylast night, winning 10-0 and 11-0.

“I kept telling my girls that they (Warriors) were a better teamthan what they showed in the first game,” said Covington. “Theirdefense played a true short field and took some hits away from usuntil we found the gaps.

“We finally put some hits together in the last game and scoredthree runs in the fourth inning.”

The Lady Warriors (13-8), runners-up to St. Martin in theDivision 8 race, had only played 4 division games since HurricaneKatrina devastated the Gulf Coast Aug. 29. Their home field wasdestroyed by the storm surge.

Ole Brook 17, D’Iberville 5

“We had our worst game of the season,” said D’Iberville headcoach Vince Husley. He watched his girls commit a season-high 10errors.

Ole Brook pounded out 21 hits for winning pitcher Brittany Smithwho was the pitcher of record in the tripleheader. Powering thevictory was right-fielder Sabrina Delaughter who singled twice anddoubled. Left-centerfielder Terri Hodges and second baseman KatieStewart had 3 singles apiece.

Christi Martin and Ashley Sykes doubled and singled for OleBrook. Katie Smith, Kelly Vinson and Julie Brister singledtwice.

D’Iberville got a double from Ashley Allen. Caitlin Gilmore andJordan Adams singled twice.

D’Iberville 9, Ole Brook 7

BHS, the designated visiting team in Game 2, jumped out to a5-1, third-inning lead before the Warriors came to life. Asacrifice fly by Katie Stewart had plated the fifth run.

In the second inning, an RBI single by Sabrina Delaughter hadgiven Ole Brook a 2-1 lead. Kelly Vinson and Jana Wallace also hitRBI singles as BHS took a 4-1 lead.

D’Iberville loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth,launching a 5-run rally. Pinch-hitter Krista Hardy delivered an RBIsingle to left which cut the lead to 6-5. Amy Madden’s single drovein the tying run. Tiffany Brosh singled past third base and theWarriors led 7-6. Holly Lawrence drove in the eighth run and AshleyAllen’s RBI made it 9-6.

Ole Brook scored once in the top of the seventh off reliefpitcher Sarah Hornby. Christi Martin doubled to the left fieldfence. Brittany Smith slapped an opposite field single and it was9-7 with 1 out but the Panthers fell short.

Both teams had 17 hits. Sykes tripled and singled. Three hitswere provided by Brittany Smith and Katie Smith. Martin singled anddoubled.

Ole Brook 7, D’Iberville 1

Playing strong defense, the Panthers took control of the thirdgame and marched into the second round. They scored 3 runs in thefourth inning.

Ole Brook produced a 14-hit assault in the finale. BrittanyDobbs was the losing pitcher as her team produced just 1 run on 8hits.

At the plate, Brittany Smith collected 3 singles and a triple.Sykes had 2 singles and a triple. Hodges doubled and singled.

Brash, Adams and Amber Duron had 2 hits apiece for theWarriors.