NATCHEZ &045; Adams County didn’t look like the same team it has in the past, and it showed in the result &045; Brookhaven Academy 11, Adams County 5.

Add that to a 9-8 loss to Wesson earlier in the day at the Trinity Tournament and it wasn’t a good day for the Rebels.

&uot;It’s been a long day. I think this is the first time we’ve lost in summer ball in five years, probably,&uot; Adams County head coach Ron Rushing said. &uot;We just got beat by two teams that played better than us.&uot;

In the Rebels’ game against Brookhaven, the Cougars set the tone for the game with its first three batters. Corey Dickerson led off with a single and stole second. Ryan Vanderslice was hit by a pitch and Paul Davis hit a three-run home run to put the Cougars out to an early 3-0 lead.

Adams County pitcher Corey Walker was struck on his throwing arm by Dickerson’s single and left the game after the first inning. Luke Brumfield moved from shortstop to pitcher to fill after Walker’s departure.

Brookhaven scored again in the third, when Jeremy Winborne walked and moved up to second on T-Boy Lynch’s single up the middle. Kolby Byrd smacked a single to center right, scoring Winborne and Lynch to make the score 5-0.

The Cougars had their greatest success in the fourth. After Seth Davis grounded out to start the inning, the next eight batters for Brookhaven reached base. Dickerson was hit by a pitch, Vanderslice walked and Davis was also hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Winborne was hit by a pitch to score Dickerson, bringing up Lynch, who singled to left field, scoring Vanderslice and Davis. Lunch stole second before Steven Covington tripled to score Winborne and Lynch and put the Cougars up 11-0.

Adams County mounted a comeback in the fourth. Clay Floyd was hit by a pitch and went to third on a throwing error. Cole Bradford singled

and stole second. David Alton New knocked in Floyd and Bradford with a single to right field.

Matt Barnes was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for Josh Calcote, who singled to knock in New. The throw to third sailed high, allowing Barnes to score and Calcote to move up to second. Brumfield singled to left field, scoring Calcote and making it an 11-5 game, but Brian Sanderson flew out to end the game.

&uot;They have a very good team,&uot; Rushing said of Brookhaven. &uot;They swung the bat well, stayed aggressive and got some good pitching and defense.&uot;

Dickerson, the Cougars’ pitcher, threw a complete game and allowed only four hits.

&uot;I knew he threw well against AC in the playoffs too,&uot; Brookhaven Academy head coach Stephen Cooksey said.

Cooksey attributed the lopsided loss more to the players who weren’t at the game for the Rebels, including Timmy Foster, at a tournament with the traveling team he plays for out of Jackson.

&uot;I know they didn’t have some of their players here tonight,&uot; Cooksey said. &uot;But we’re playing well, we have all of our kids out here this summer and they’re putting the effort to get better. I feel like we have a good team here.&uot;

Adams County used four pitchers, including little-used David Alton New and Cole Bradford, both generally starters in the field for the Rebels.

The Rebels also suffered from some growing pains, as some of the younger members of the team learn about high school baseball, Rushing said.

&uot;We have young guys making mistakes that they have to learn from,&uot; Rushing said. &uot;We’re putting these guys in situations that will help us next year.&uot;

Against Wesson, the Rebels made a late comeback after trailing by as many as five runs late in the game.

Adams County scored six runs in the sixth but fell one run short. In the sixth, Bradford led off with a single and went to third on New’s double. Both of them scored on Perry’s single. Perry scored on Barnes’ single and Brian Sanderson hit a home run to score himself and Barnes.

Wesson came back in the bottom of the inning with two runs to secure the win.