Lady Wolves Readying for National Tournament Run

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team wrapped up the Region 23 Tournament by hosting Jones on Sunday, May 11. The Bobcats beat the Wolves, 11-9.

The Lady Wolves struck first in the bottom of the first as Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) stepped up to the plate with one out and crushed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a solo home run, her team-leading tenth home run of the season, gave the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats responded with a solo leadoff home run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1. The Lady Wolves responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning as Abby Burnette (Brookhaven) led off being hit-by-pitch while Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) hit a bunt single to put two runners on with no outs. Later in the inning, Banes was hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out. After a strikeout to put two outs on the board, Avery Williams (Olive Branch) stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and smashed a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam, her sixth home run of the season gave the Lady Wolves a 5-1 lead.

The Bobcats responded with by scoring one run in the top of the third cutting the lead down to 5-2. However, the Lady Wolves answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning as Burnette walked, Hughey reached on an error, and Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Banes was then hit-by-pitch scoring Burnette while an RBI groundout by Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA) scored Hughey, then a sacrifice fly by Avery Williams scored Banes to push the lead to 8-2.

The Bobcats then scored one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to cut the lead down to 8-5 heading into the seventh inning. The Bobcats then took the lead with a six-run top of the seventh capped off by a grand slam making the score, 11-8. The Lady Wolves then started the bottom half of the seventh with a leadoff single by Emilie Williams (Summit), but a double play quickly put two outs on the board. Phillips then stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and crushed a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a solo home run, her team-leading tenth home run of the season, made the score, 11-9. The game was then ended on a groundout.

The Lady Wolves totaled eight hits as Carson Hughey led the way with two hits while Brelie Phillips, Olivia Banes, Avery Williams, Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA), Emeri Warren (Sebastopol), and Emilie Williams had one hit each. Avery Williams led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with five while Banes had two with Phillips and Taylor Efferson having one RBI each.

Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN) got the start and fell to 20-1 overall while pitching five innings and allowing seven runs, all earned, on nine hits with five walks and eight strikeouts. Taylor Efferson pitched one inning of relief allowing two earned runs on three hits while Keegan McCorkle pitched one inning of relief allowing two earned runs on one hit with one walk.

Co-Lin is now 43-5 overall and have earned the No. 5 seed in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The Lady Wolves will face off against the No. 12 seed Rock Valley on Monday, May 19 at 3 p.m., at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. Tickets will be available at the venue only and will be $12 per adult per day for a daily pass or $35 per adult for a tournament pass while children 12 and under are free. The games will also be broadcast on the NJCAA Network with day pass costing $12 while a tournament pass will cost $35 while viewers can only be a championship game broadcast pass for $5. The games will be broadcast live and available for on-demand viewing through the NJCAA Network website: https://njcaa.prestosports.com/network/landing/index