A long freight train rumbled past on the railroad tracks locatedoutside Moyer Field Friday night, engine roaring and horn blowing.Inside Moyer Field the Brookhaven Brakemen were making plenty ofnoise, sweeping the Rankin County Rednecks in a Cotton State Leagueshowdown.

Brookhaven (19-12) took over first place by half a game overRankin County (18-12) beating the Rednecks 4-1 and 3-2. Aseventh-inning, infield single by Ricky Carraway scored pinchrunner Arlandus Brown from third base with the winning run in thenightcap.

Brookhaven field manager Pete Young was pleased with his team’sperformance against the league leaders. “Our kids are taking somepride in trying to win this thing. Most importantly, they areworking hard to get better for next year.”

The new wooden bat league has experienced the usual growingpains but Young said his players have dedicated themselves. “Wehave enough good pitching. Now we are starting to swing the bats alot better. What is also pleasing is that some of our young guys,like Seth Lofton and Tyler Walker, have come through with goodhits.”

Lofton and Walker are both incoming freshmen at Co-Lin.

The Brakemen, sponsored by the Brookhaven Orthopedic Center,make their final home appearance of the season today. They host theClinton Bluff, starting at 2 p.m. on Moyer Field.

Brookhaven 4, Rankin 1

In the sweat-soaked opener, Walker delivered a 2-out,2-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to highlight a 3-runBrookhaven uprising. Singles by Lance Newman and Britt Hederman gotthe rally rolling.

The Brakemen were limited to 4 hits by Rankin pitcherJohn Gillian but the Rednecks committed 4 costlyerrors.

Doug Atkins was the winning pitcher in relief of ChrisKennedy. Chris Davis got the save.

Brookhaven 3, Rankin 2

Justin Entrekin pitched the victory in the nightcap. Thesenior from Freed-Hardeman University in Nashville, Tenn., pitcheda 4-hitter. He struck out 5 batters and walked 4.

“Entrekin has really come on and been a surprise forus,” said Young. “He has made some adjustments with his deliveryand pitched well for us.”

Young said he liked the competitive spirit exhibited byEntrekin and Chris Davis. “He and Davis are competitors. They comeat you hard.”

Josh Wooten, a sidearm specialist from Mississippi StateUniversity, was the losing pitcher. He struck out 2 batters, walked5 and gave up 6 hits, all singles.

In the bottom of the seventh, Walker led off and was hitby a pitch. Brown was inserted as pinch runner and moved to secondbase on a sacrifice bunt by Lofton.

Wooten tried to pick off Brown at second base but histhrow was low and Brown made it to third on a head-first slide.Carraway’s slow dribbler to the third baseman allowed Brown to racehome with the winning run.

“We are hitting the ball a lot better as a team,” saidBrookhaven shortstop Chris Dunn. “Now we are stringing those hitstogether.”

Dunn, Lofton, Hederman, Brandon Atkins and J.T.Hardcastle collected singles in the win. Brookhaven scored singleruns in the third and fourth innings, aided by errors.

Charlie Welch had 2 hits for the Rednecks.

BROOKHAVEN 4, RANKIN COUNTY 1

Rankin Co. 000 000 1 – 1 7 4

Brookhaven 100 003 x – 4 4 1

Kennedy, D. Atkins (5), Davis (7) and Newman. WP:Atkins. LP: Gillian. 2B: Crouse (R), Walker (B). Multiple hits:Bandy (R) 2, Beasley (R) 2.

BROOKHAVEN 3, RANKIN COUNTY 2

Rankin Co. 011 000 0 – 2 4 3

Brookhaven 001 100 1 – 3 6 1

Wooten and Beasley. Entrekin and Carraway. WP:Entrican. LP: Wooten. 2B: Welch(R).