DAILY LEADER / MARTY ALBRIGHT / Brookhaven Academy first-year head coach Becky Flowers (right) receives congratulations from her players after the win.

The Brookhaven Lady Cougars opened their 2014 fastpitch softball season with a bang Friday night with a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars at the Brookhaven Academy softball complex.

“This a great win to start off the season,” said BA first-year coach Beck Flowers. “I am very pleased with my girls efforts. We came out of the gates hitting the ball extremely well and did what we needed to do to get the win. Simpson has a young team, and we are a young team as well. Both teams did a great job overall.”

The Lady Cougars of Brookhaven Academy will return to action Monday as they prepare to travel down Interstate 55 to McComb to take on the Parklane Lady Pioneers. Junior Varsity action starts at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7:15 p.m.

Brookhaven Academy K.K. Jordan (33) slides into third base safely as Simpson Academy third baseman Annie Maddox prepares to make the play Friday night.

Brookhaven Acad. 9, Simpson Acad. 8 

Brookhaven Academy came out strong in the opening game of the season and quickly set the tone of the contest in the bottom of the first inning by grabbing a 5-0 lead over the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars.

Simpson bounced back and answered BA’s challenge in the top of the second inning and managed to cut into BA’s lead with a three-run jolt.

The Lady Cougars of Simpson Academy managed to keep Brookhaven Academy’s offense silent in the bottom of the second and third inning to make another big run in the top of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Simpson’s offense capitalized on a couple of BA’s defensive miscues to push across five runs to capture an 8-5 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Brookhaven Academy refused to go down quietly in their first softball game of the season. The Lady Cougars of BA managed to get the bats going again and made a great run to tie the game at 8-all, before capturing the victory on a pass ball at homeplate.

Alex Rae Smith tossed the victory for Brookhaven Academy with one strikeout, one walk and four hit batters.

Alex Rae Smith pitched the victory for Brookhaven Academy in their season and home opener Friday night.

Bailey Sartin suffered the loss for Simpson Academy with three strikeouts and one walk.

Olivia Thornton was the top hitter for BA with a double. Hitting safely were Anna K. Smith, K.K. Jordan, Anna Grace Covington, Cameron Watson and Morgan Walker.

The Lady Cougars of Simpson Academy were led at the plate by Alexis Sullivan, Gracie Knight, Annie Maddox, Allie Anderson and Allison Richardson with a single each.

 In junior varsity action, Brookhaven Academy defeated Simpson Academy 4-2.

Anna Grace Covington was the winning pitcher for BA with five strikeouts and six walks.

Covington also provided the offensive power to lead BA at the plate with a home run. Abeni Fuller contributed a pair of singles.