LONG BEACH – The Brookhaven Panthers battled through a tough offensive slugfest Friday night falling to the Long Beach Bearcats 10-7 in game two of the best of three series in the first round of the Class 5A state baseball playoffs.

In Saturday’s contest in Brookhaven, the Bearcats defeated the Panthers 23-3 in a five-inning contest.

The Ole Brook Panthers, coached by Randy Spring, wrapped up the season with a 8-15 record. The Panthers finished second in the Region 6-5A race with a 6-3 record.

Long Beach 10, Brookhaven 7 

In game two, the Bearcats jumped out to an early 9-1 in the first three innings of action, but the Ole Brook Panthers rallied back. They outscored Long Beach 6-0 to cut down the Bearcats lead to 9-7 in the top of the sixth inning.

Long Beach managed to add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to push their lead to 10-7. They held off Ole Brooks’ seventh inning rally to collect the win and force a decisive game three in Brookhaven Saturday.

Scotty Bateman suffered the setback on the mound for the Panthers with no strikeouts and one walk in two innings pitched. Dalton Fortado (0K, 1BB) and Reese Reynaud (1K, 0BB) pitched the remainder of the contest in relief.

The Bearcats used a four-man rotation against the Panthers as starter Justin Lcokey earned the victory with six strikeouts and four walks. Dylan Collins (0K, 1BB), Tyler Allen (0K, 2BB) and Taylor McGoey (1K, 1BB) pitched in relief to collect the save.

Darrian Wilson paced the Panthers offense with two singles. Garrett Smith provided a double. Hitting safely were Scotty Bateman, Clint Stephens, Connor Smith and Reese Reynaud.

Payton Bourdin directed the Bearcats offense with two doubles. Josh Borzik and Jeffery Decorte contributed two singles apiece. Bruce Mathes ripped a triple. Taylor McGoey and Clayton Maxwell hit safely.

Long Beach 23, Brookhaven 3 

In game three, the Bearcats came out and quickly overpowered the Panthers early as they jumped out to an early 15-2 lead into two innings of action.

The Bearcats continued to add up the score as they outscored the Panthers 8-1 in the final three inning of action to win in the fifth inning.

The Panthers used a five-man rotation in the loss as Tate Walley (0K, 3BB), Reese Reynaud (0K, 2BB), Dalton Fortado (3K, 7BB), Tyler Mixon (2K, 0BB) and Blaine Moak (0K, 0BB) all saw action on the mound for Brookhaven.

Allen was the winning pitcher for Long Beach with no strikeouts and one walk. Darren Cook (0K, 3BB) and Scotty Spears (0K, 0BB) pitched in relief.

Penn Wilson, Darrian Wilson and Scotty Bateman were the top sluggers at the plate for Brookhaven with two singles apiece. Blaine Moak also provided a single.

Decarte led the Bearcats offensive attack with two doubles and a single. Borzik, Tillman, Sawyer, Maxwell and Mathes provided a double each. Collins provided two singles. Spataro, Bourdin. McGoey, Lock and Dalton Koza had a single each.