A battle of division softball champions took place Saturday onMartin Field at the Ole Brook Lady Panther softball complex. TheDivision 7-4A champion Picayune Lady Maroon Tide met the 2-timedefending 6-4A champion Brookhaven Lady Panthers in the secondround of the South State 4A slowpitch playoffs.

The Lady Tide dialed long distance three times in thedoubleheader, sweeping the best-of-3 series from the Lady Panthers11-8 and 13-3.

Picayune, the No. 1-ranked team in the state by a Jackson-areanewspaper, improves to 21-2 overall. The Lady Tide awaited thePetal/St. Martin winner Tuesday, at Picayune.

Ole Brook concluded its season at 21-7.

Picayune 11, Brookhaven 8

The Lady Tide (20-2) opened the first inning with a 2-0 lead, ona 2-run homer by senior first basemen Cassie Rabion, scoringBreonne Spikes.

Ole Brook (21-6) claimed a 2-2 deadlock in the second. KatieSmith reached on a fielder’s choice. Sabrina Delaughter singled.Julie Brister singled to score Smith. Kelly Vinson’s singled scoredDelaughter.

Picayune, coached by Kristi Mitchell, reclaimed the lead forgood at 7-2 in the third. Spikes hit a 2-run homer that also scoredCourtney Dickens.

The Lady Panther, coached by Lisa Covington, battled throughoutthe afternoon. Ole Brook cut the deficit to 11-8 in the fifth. A2-base error in the fifth by the Lady Tide plated 4 runs (1earned), scoring Ashley Sykes, Katie Smith, Katie Stewart andDelaughter.

Rabion homered and singled for Picayune. Dickens hit 3 singles.Spikes singled, doubled and homered. Bynum singled twice anddoubled.

Foe Ole Brook, Delaughter hit 3 singles. Vinson singledtwice.

Brittany Smith of Brookhaven and Sam Mitchell were the pitchersof record in both game. Mitchell authored the wins, while Smithsuffered both losses.

Picayune 13, Brookhaven 3

Ole Brook (21-7), the designated visiting team, jumped out to a1-0 lead in the top half of the first. Senior third baseman ChristiMartin reached on a fielder’s choice. Martin later scored on a LadyTide fielding miscue.

Picayune (21-2) sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring 7 runs inthe bottom of the first. Dickens, Spikes, Rabion, Kellye Bolar,Chanel Wills, Tara Dunn and Bynum crossed home plate.

The Lady Tide added 3 runs in the second, increasing the lead to9 runs, 10-1. With 2 outs, Rabion hits a solo homer. Bolar andWills scored on an Ole Brook error.

The Lady Panthers cut their deficit to 7 runs, 10-3 in the tophalf of the third. With 1 out, Martin reached on a fielder’schoice. Brittany Smith walked. Sykes’ single scored Martin. KatieSmith reached on a Picayune error that allowed Brittany Smith toscore.

Both teams displayed outstanding defensive prowess over the next3 innings, with each team thwarting several scoringopportunities.

Mitchell’s ballclub scored a run in the bottom of the third bySam Mitchell for an 11-3 tide advantage.

The Lady Tide scored twice, evoking the 10-run rule with no outsin the sixth. Mitchell and Dickens each singled. Spikes’ base hitscored Mitchell. Rabion was intentionally walked. Bolar’S base hitscored Dickens for the game-winner.

“We tell our kids that if we can get 18 or more hits in a game,that we will beat mostly anyone,” said Mitchell, following thetwinbill. “We faced a good ballclub in Brookhaven today.”

The Lady Tide collected 18 hits in each game.

Rabion homered and singled for Picayune. Spikes singled anddoubled. Dickens singled twice and doubled. Bolar singled twice.Wills had 2 singles. Bynum singled twice and doubled. Deawn Brelandsingled twice.

Ole Brook was led by Sykes with a double and 2 singles. TerriHodges hit 2 singles. Vinson singled twice.

Brittany Smith, Sykes, Katie Smith, Vinson, Jana Wallace andJodi saw their last action in a BHS slow-pitch softballuniform.

“We gave it all that we had today,” said a somber Sykesfollowing the game. “The seniors have a lot of memories to takewith them.”

Coach Covington agreed. “This is a special group of seniors.They have won district four of the last five years. I am proud ofall of them.

“We had an outstanding season,” added Covington. “These seniorswill truly be missed.”