Romell Barnes, a pinch-runner for Vicksburg High, slides into third as Forest Hill’s Quincy Walker jumps up to catch the ball. (The Vicksburg Post/C. TODD SHERMAN)

[04/13/01] J.J. Brown hit his first home run of the season in the first inning as Vicksburg High knocked off No. 12 Forest Hill, 8-5, Thursday night at Bazinsky Field.

Mitchell Beauman (6-1), who beat No. 15 Brookhaven in his last start, picked up the win.

The Gators (21-6) have won eight of their last nine, the lone loss being by one run to No. 11 Northwest Rankin in eight innings last weekend.

Beauman struck out four, walked two and allowed just five hits as he went the distance again.

Brown, who also had a double, hit a two-run shot to right-center to give the Gators the early lead.

But the Rebels (17-7) came back and tied it at 3-3 in the third.

After that, things unraveled for Forest Hill, which beat Northwest Rankin, Pearl and Natchez last week and clinched its division championship.

“We had a good week last week, but we just didn’t play (Thursday),” Forest Hill coach Tommy Groves said. “After we tied it, we hit a batter, then made an error and just fell apart.”

Ryan Gray had an RBI single and Josh McBride drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for the Gators, who are at Natchez Friday.

Paul Gorney also had a double for VHS, which had seven hits and took advantage of four Forest Hill errors.

VHS coach Jamie Creel will host his alma mater, Clinton, Saturday at noon.