NATCHEZ &045; Even with the same pitcher on the hill that handcuffed his team last year, Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley had a good feeling.

It was the Green Wave’s defense that was his biggest worry coming into the season, but Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Brookhaven capped off a weekend of frustration for the Wave heading into the 2004 season.

Just three hits on Saturday and three on Friday from a team that’s perennially a good-hitting club can’t help but leave the second-year coach scratching his head.

&uot;We were trying to pull everything instead of hitting it back up the middle,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;We’re pressing a little bit too much right now instead of letting things happen naturally. Everybody is trying to do it themselves. We hit too many fly balls today, but that was because we were out in front.&uot;

That was the biggest thing Saturday with no one really stepping up to hit the ball until the very end. Brookhaven right-hander Brooks Hall went the distance and didn’t have to throw an enormous amount of pitches &045; he got six first-pitch outs &045; and held Cathedral hitless through 5 1/3 innings.

Hall was the one who gave the Green Wave problems at the plate about this time last season with his unassuming fastball and consistent breaking pitch, and he used that same formula Saturday.

&uot;He threw real well,&uot; Brookhaven head coach Randy Spring said. &uot;He threw his breaking ball for a strike, he didn’t walk many and he gave up two or three hits. He’s got good stuff. He’s not an overpowering guy, but when he hits his spots and throws strikes, he’s good.&uot;

The Green Wave had a number of flyouts in the first five innings before Michael Blain doubled for the team’s first hit with one out in the sixth. But in the seventh the Wave got a little more of a rally going when it put runners at first and second with one out.

Te Riley led off with a single but was forced out at second on a grounder off the bat of Wyler Murray. Preston Hicks then grounded into a fielder’s choice when John Holleman was forced out at second, but Murray advanced to third on the play.

Pinch-hitter Zach Calhoun struck out to end the inning.

&uot;Hitting is contagious,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;If one guy breaks out, everybody else will follow. We’re hoping somebody will break out. Wyler hit the ball hard, but it went right to the third baseman. If we could have gotten (that hit), it would have been two on with no outs. We could have gotten something going.&uot;

The Panthers were able to play solid defense behind Hall to hold on for the win after committing too many errors Friday night in a 21-3 loss to Vidalia. While Spring said he had to hold Hall for Saturday’s game, the Vikings teed off on Brookhaven’s pitching Friday while getting help in the form of five errors.

Three of those kept Vidalia’s 14-run fifth alive, but on Saturday the Panthers had just one error &045; a infield fly off the bat of Murray, who was later forced out at second on a tapper back to the mound by John Holleman.

&uot;We had not been able to get on the field much, but I’m not making excuses,&uot; Spring said. &uot;We were close early, but the wheels kind of came off after that. If we would have played better defense (Friday), it would have been a better game. We’re struggling with the bat right now, but if we can pitch and play defense, I think we’ll be able to be competitive.&uot;

Cathedral’s inconsistency at the plate overshadowed a well-pitched game from Riley, who finished the game with 15 strikeouts and retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced. Brookhaven got its runs in the first and third innings after Riley got off to a shaky start, but the senior left-hander settled down after the third inning.

Xavier Qualls scored the first run in the first after he singled and scored on a wild pitch. In the third Qualls reached on a walk and scored on a passed ball.

&uot;Te dominated the whole game,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;Other than (the two runs), Te was in control the whole game. I hate to see him take the loss after pitching the way he did. If Te makes it through the first inning, he’s going to be all right. That first inning gives him trouble. His curveball was on all day, and he’s got a lot of movement on his fastball. I was glad to see him go back and finish them off that last inning.&uot;