Senate Concurrent Resolution 546

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY "LADY COUGARS" SOFTBALL TEAM AND COACH LISA COVINGTON FOR WINNING THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (MAIS) 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, on October 6, 2022, the Brookhaven Academy "Lady Cougars" Softball Team stocked with young "Cougars" put their names in the annals of Brookhaven Academy lore with a dominating 11-1 win over Oak Forest Academy giving the school a second straight MAIS 5A State Championship. With only two seniors on the roster and new Head Coach Lisa Covington, the "Lady Cougars" came into the season with lots of unanswered questions; and

WHEREAS, the team was still coming together, when district play rolled around. They dropped a pair of division games to Columbia Academy and Oak Forest Academy, but still won District 4-5A on the last day of the regular season. Next was the 5A South State Tournament, an event that Brookhaven Academy hosted at the Hansel King Sports Complex. The Lady Cougars won three straight games in strong fashion before meeting up with Oak Forest in the Championship Game. Oak Forest Academy needed to beat Brookhaven Academy twice to win the title, while Covington's Cougars could finish the tournament with a single win over the Yellow Jackets from Amite, Louisiana. Oak Forest won a squeaker 7-6 in the opener and then took the tournament with a 4-0 win; and

WHEREAS, the MAIS 5A State Tournament looked to have a loaded field and started less than a week after the disappointment of 5A South State ended. Someone must have forgotten to tell these "Cougars" that they were supposed to be underdogs. They defeated Bayou 4-2, East Rankin 3-1 and Copiah Academy 3-1, putting themselves into the Championship Series against Oak Forest, the same Oak Forest team that held a 3-1 advantage over Brookhaven Academy in the four meetings between the schools earlier in the season. Coach Covington and her "Lady Cougars," a team that started with more freshman than seniors, absolutely destroyed Oak Forest. On October 5, Brookhaven Academy took game one at home in front of a huge crowd by a 10-4 final; and

WHEREAS, on October 6, Brookhaven Academy clinched the title by breaking open a close game with seven runs in the sixth inning. Sophomore Bailey Parks drove in two runs. Freshman Miriam Wallace drove in two runs. Sophomore Anniston Poole drove in two runs, and freshman Alayna Daigle drove in two runs. The bats woke up in a big way on the biggest stage of the season. Brookhaven Academy also got an RBI each from freshman Morgan Chemin and junior Ainslee Jergins. Sophomore Pitcher Kensy Covington battled through an injury for another winning appearance in the circle to finish off the title run. Covington threw 86 pitches in seven innings. She struck out three, walked none, and gave up one unearned run on eight hits; and

WHEREAS, the new head coach, Coach Lisa Rushing Covington, is a name that goes hand-in-hand with softball in the Brookhaven area. Covington coached softball from 1994 until 2010 at Brookhaven High School. She has won a lot of games as a head coach, none sweeter though than seeing her daughter, Kensy Covington, get the final out to defeat Oak Forest. As the team piled out of the dugout for the "dog pile," its head coach was one of the first ones there; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Brookhaven Academy "Lady Cougars" Softball Team and Coach Lisa Covington for winning their second consecutive Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) 5A State Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for future success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Lisa Covington for the team, forwarded to Brookhaven Academy Headmaster Jason Case and the Board of Trustees, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.