Mother Nature played havoc at Moyer Field Saturday morning; notin the form of heavy rains which seem to have caused numerousrainouts this season but an unpredictable, gusty wind which blewall over the ballpark.

The Northwest Rankin Cougars took advantage of the windyconditions to grind out a 15-4 victory over the BrookhavenPanthers. The Panthers, behind a strong pitching performance fromjunior righthander Reggie Smith, captured a 9-2 win over the WestLincoln Bears in the afternoon session.

Brookhaven also picked up a forfeit win over CrystalSprings.

Brookhaven travels to Lawrence County Tuesday for a Division6-4A test. West Lincoln host Bogue Chitto, on Thursday for aDivision 7-1A matchup.

NW Rankin 15, Brookhaven 4

The Panthers (9-14) tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of thefirst. Brooks Hall singled and advanced to second on a Cougarthrowing error. Ben Goza singled. Hall would later score from thirdon a passed ball.

The Cougars (19-7) scored in every inning. NW Rankin, coached byJeff McClaskey, used a 5-run fifth inning and 3 different pitchersto hold on for the win.

Brookhaven produced 3 runs in their half of the fifth. Hallsingled. Goza walked and stole second. Grant McDonnieal groundedout into a fielder’s choice, scoring Hall. Adam Ogden reached on anerror that allowed Goza to score. Josh Townsend singled. CoreySmith singled to score Ogden.

At the plate, Brookhaven was led by Hall with 2 singles and 2runs scored. Corey Smith had 2 singles and a RBI.

Tyler Brown picked up the win for NW Rankin. Alex McIntosh andBrett Bukvich came on in relief for the Cougars.

Matt Walker suffered the loss for the Panthers. He threw 4-plusinnings, allowing 12 runs (9 earned), on 9 hits. He issued 7 baseon balls and struck out 2. Josh Patrick came on in relief, allowing3 earned runs on 3 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 1.

Brookhaven 9, West Lincoln 2

The Panthers (10-14) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of thefirst, entertaining a 4-0 lead over the Bears. Darius Perkinswalked and stole second. Hall and Goza walked. Perkins scored on apassed ball. Kern Hoff doubled to score Hall and Goza. McDonniealreached on an error. Two batters later, Corey Smith’s sacrifice flyto left scored Hoff.

Brookhaven added 1 run in the second. Perkins singled andreached third on an error by West Lincoln. Hall singled to scorePerkins.

The Bears got on the scoreboard in their half of the third.Weston Young reached on an error. Landon Case singled. JeremyBranning singled to load the bases. Cody Wallace walked to scoreYoung.

West Lincoln, coached by Andrew Redd, closed the deficit to 5-2in the fifth. Young walked. Case grounded into a fielder’s choice,with the Panthers getting the out (Young) at second. Branningsingled, with Case moving to third on a passed ball. Wallace’sground out scored Case.

“For 5 innings, we played a pretty good ballgame,” said CoachAndrew Redd following the game.

The Panthers, coached by Randy Spring, capped off the scoringfor the evening in their half of the sixth. Hall walked and stolesecond. Goza singled to score Hall. Hoff singled. McDonniealsingled to score Goza and Hoff. Ogden reached first as he was hitby a pitch. Corey Smith walked. Two batters later, Townsend’ssacrifice fly to left scored McDonnieal.

Branning led West Lincoln with 3 singles. Case singled andscored a run.

Goza and Hoff came out of mild hitting slumps to lead thePanthers. Goza singled twice, scored 2 runs and had a RBI. Hoffdoubled, singled, scored twice and had 2 RBIs. Hall singled andscored twice.

Reggie Smith picked up the win for Brookhaven, throwing 6.2innings. He allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits. He walked 4 andstruck out 3. Hall came on to throw 4 pitches to get the finalout.

Cody Mitchell suffered the loss for the Bears. He threw 1inning, allowing 4 earned runs on 1 hit, with 3 walks and 1strikeout. Daniel Allen and Case came on in relief.