Lady Wolves Celebrate Sophomore Day and Sweep Lady Bulldogs

WESSON – The Co-Lin Lady Wolves ended the 2022 regular season with a doubleheader against Lady Bulldogs while also celebrating Sophomore Day. The Lady Wolves swept the Lady Bulldogs taking game one, 8-2, and game two, 7-2.

"There was no better way for our sophomores to go out in their final regular season home games.," said Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "Today was how we are supposed to look. We are finally getting ourselves back in the flow of how we were playing a month ago and it couldn't be happening at a better time."

Game One

The Lady Wolves got off to an early lead in the first game of the day as they score one run in the bottom of the first after retiring the Lady Bulldogs in order in the top half of the inning. Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) hit a lead-off single, stole second, and then scored on an RBI-single by Maddie Weeks (Clinton) making the score, 1-0.

The Lady Wolves added two runs in the second inning as Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) drew a lead-off walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Josie Meggs (Kosciusko). Bela Dekovic (Belle Chasse, La.) then drew a walk and stole second. Maxwell then scored on an RBI-groundout by Mary Ansley Chrestman (Cleveland) while Dekovic scored on an RBI-single by Kivett making the score, 3-0.

The Lady Wolves then doubled their run total with three runs in the third inning as Weeks hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then scored on an RBI-single by Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) making the score, 4-0. Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) reached on an error, while Maxwell then hit a bunt single and advanced to third on a two-base error scoring both Wilkinson and Blanchard making the score, 6-0.

The Lady Bulldogs then scored one run each in the fourth and fifth innings cutting the Lady Wolves lead down to 6-2. However, the Lady Wolves responded with two runs in the sixth inning as Kivett hit a lead-off single and then scored on an RBI-triple by Madi Miller (Brookhaven) who then scored on a sacrifice fly by Weeks making the score 8-2.

The Lady Bulldogs were then retired in order in the top of the seventh securing the 8-2 win in game one for the Lady Wolves.

Faith Kivett led the Lady Wolves offense in game one going 3-for-4 at the plate while Maddie Weeks and Madalyn Wilkinson had two hits each. Madi Miller, Cera Blanchard, Shelbi Maxwell, and Josie Meggs had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled 11 hits including one triple for Miller. Weeks led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Kivett, Miller, Wilkinson, and Mary Ansley Chrestman had one RBI each.

Cera Blanchard got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and improved to 20-4 overall pitching six innings allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Alli Albritton pitched one inning of scoreless relief with one strikeout.

Game Two

The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with one run in the top of the first. However, the Lady Wolves responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Madi Miller hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and then advanced to third as Maddie Weeks reached on an error. After Weeks stole second, Cera Blanchard hit a two-RBI single scoring both Miller and Weeks giving the Lady Wolves a 2-1 lead.

The Lady Wolves increased their lead with three runs in the second inning as Josie Meggs hit a one-out single and then scored as Belle West crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run (her fourth of the season) making the score, 4-1. Kivett then followed with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then scored on an RBI-single by Wilkinson giving the Lady Wolves a 5-1 lead.

The Lady Bulldogs scored their final run in the fifth inning cutting the lead down to 5-2. However, the Lady Wolves responded by matching the Lady Bulldogs with one run in the bottom half of the inning as Maxwell hit a lead-off single, stole second and third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Laurel Breland (Lake) making the score, 6-2.

The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the bottom of the sixth as Kivett hit a ball down the left field line for an inside-the-park home run (her first home run of the season) increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 7-2. The Lady Bulldogs got a walk and a single in the top of the seventh with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning and sealed the 7-2 game two win and split over the Lady Bulldogs.

Faith Kivett once again led the Lady Wolves offense with another 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Madi Miller, Madalyn Wilkinson, Cera Blanchard, Shelbi Maxwell, Josie Meggs, and Belle West all had one hit each as the Lady Wolves totaled nine hits including one home run apiece for Kivett and West. West and Blanchard led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two each while Kivett, Wilkinson, and Laurel Breland had one RBI each.

Belle West got the start for the Lady Wolves and improved to 17-2 overall pitching six inning allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Madalyn Wilkinson pitched one inning of scoreless relief with one hit and one walk.

"We did a great job of scoring runs early to give our pitchers some run support," stated Howard. "Our pitchers did a great job of keeping a lineup with some talented hitters off balance. If we play the way we played today, we feel like we give ourselves the best chance to win and be successful moving through the post season."

Co-Lin finishes the 2022 regular season 37-7 overall and 23-5 in MACCC play. The Lady Wolves will now turn their focus to the postseason as they will be the number two seed in the MACCC State Tournament starting on Wednesday, May 4, at Gwen Magee Field at Community Bank Park on the campus of Jones College in Ellisville.

"This sophomore group has been unbelievable over the past two years. They have won 81% of their games over all and have only lost 5 home games total over the last two years. They have also only lost 9 total conference games in two years, which in this conference is a huge accomplishment," added Howard. "We are going to miss them and their impact so much. But we aren't done! They have some business to attend to over the next couple weeks to try to avenge what happened last year and I have no doubt they will do whatever they have to do and leave it all on the field."