Lady Wolves Get Fifth Straight Sweep in Conference Play

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team returned to action playing host to Holmes on Saturday, March 26. The Lady Wolves swept the Lady Bulldogs taking game one, 8-0, and game two, 11-8.

"I would like to start by saying that we are praying for the entire Holmes community for everything that they are going through after the storms on Tuesday with all the damage on their campus," stated Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "I have been through the same thing at a previous school, and it is not fun, so I have a lot of respect for them and what they came and did today."

Game One

The Lady Wolves got off to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) hit a one-out double and then Maddie Weeks (Clinton) took one swing of the bat and drove a 3-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run, her fifth of the season.

The big inning for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the second as they scored six runs as Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) hit a lead-off single, Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) drew a walk, and Bela Dekovic (Belle Chasse, La.) reached safely on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Maxwell then scored on an error, while Meggs scored on a sacrifice fly by Belle West (Byram) making the score, 4-0. Madi Miller (Brookhaven) then singled advancing Dekovic to second while Weeks later drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Dekovic and Miller then scored on a two-RBI double by Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison), while Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) drew a walk loading the bases for the third time for the Lady Wolves. Weeks and Wilkinson then scored on a two-RBI single by Maxwell making the score, 8-0.

The Lady Wolves then allowed the Lady Bulldogs just four baserunners over the final three innings securing the 8-0 win.

Shelbi Maxwell led the Lady Wolves offense going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Madi Miller and Faith Kivett had two hits each. Maddie Weeks, Madalyn Wilkinson, Cera Blanchard, and Josie Meggs had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits including one double each for Kivett and Wilkinson and one home run for Weeks. Maxwell, Weeks, and Wilkinson led the Lady Wolves with two RBIs each while Belle West had one RBI.

Cera Blanchard got the start in the circle and improved to 12-1 overall with the complete game shutout win (her fifth straight shutout to start conference play). Blanchard allowed just four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings pitched.

Game Two

The second game of the doubleheader got off to a rocky start for the Lady Wolves as the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring five runs in the top of the first innings. However, the Lady Wolves responded with two runs in the bottom of the first as Faith Kivett drew a one-out walk and then Madalyn Wilkinson took one swing of the bat and drove a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a two-out, two-run home run, her second of the season, making the score 8-2.

The Lady Bulldogs pushed their lead to 8-2 with three runs in the third inning, while holding the Lady Wolves to just two baserunners in the second and third innings. The big inning for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the fourth as they took the lead from the Lady Bulldogs with eight runs.

Josie Meggs hit a one-out single to start the offense while Bela Dekovic, Belle West, and Madi Miller drew three straight walks to score Meggs and making the score, 8-3. Kivett then cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple scoring Dekovic, West, and Miller while cutting the lead down to 8-6. Maddie Weeks then drew a walk while Wilkinson followed with a walk to load the bases with one out for the Lady Wolves. Cera Blanchard then tied the game at 8-8 with a two-RBI double scoring Kivett and Weeks while Meggs then got her second hit of the inning and gave the Lady Wolves a 10-8 lead with a two-RBI triple scoring Wilkinson and Blanchard.

The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the sixth as Wilkinson hit a one-out single, advanced to third on a double by Blanchard, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelbi Maxwell making the score 11-8.

The Lady Bulldogs got a one-out single in the top of the seventh, but a groundout followed by a fly out ended the inning and sealed the 11-8 win and sweep of the Lady Bulldogs for the Lady Wolves.

Cera Blanchard led the Lady Wolves offense going 3-for-4 at the plate while Madalyn Wilkinson and Josie Meggs had two hits each. Faith Kivett and Maddie Weeks had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled nine hits including two doubles for Blanchard, one triple each for Kivett and Meggs, and one home run for Wilkinson. Kivett led the Lady Wolves with three RBIs while Wilkinson, Blanchard, and Meggs had two RBIs each, with Miller and Maxwell adding one RBI apiece.

Belle West got the start for the Lady Wolves and picked up a no-decision. West pitched 2.1 innings allowing eight runs, three earned, on five hits with five strikeouts, and two walks. Blanchard pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief and picked up the win to improve to 13-1 on the season. Blanchard allowed three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"How about the effort from our group in this series," added Howard. "In game one, we got off to a really hot start and put up a lot of offense early and Cera did a great job against a tough Holmes team."

"In game two, Holmes came out and punched us in the mouth and we needed it," stated Howard. "We needed to know how we would respond to something like that, and we responded extremely well."

Co-Lin is now 24-2 overall and 10-0 in conference play. The Lady Wolves will return to action on the road in a conference play doubleheader against Meridian. First pitch between the Lady Eagles and the Lady Wolves is set for 3 p.m., at Tommy McDonald Field in Meridian on Tuesday, March 29.

"I am unbelievably proud of the entire team effort our girls showed today," said Howard. "To start our conference at 10-0 is a huge accomplishment and now we turn our attention to Meridian and get ready for the games on Tuesday."