Lady Wolves Earn Berth in MACCC Softball Tournament Championship

ELLISVILLE – The Co-Lin Softball team faced off against Jones on Friday, May 6 in the third day of action at the 2022 MACCC Softball Tournament. The No. 5 Lady Wolves beat the No. 4 Lady Bobcats, 7-6, earning a berth to play in the MACCC Softball Tournament Championship.

"I am so unbelievably proud of this group," stated Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "The fans just witnessed a heavyweight fight where we kept throwing punch after punch—timely hit after timely hit, defensive play after defensive play by our girls."

"Jones threw their fair share as well, but we kept fighting and got ourselves one step closer to our goal of winning a state championship and hosting the regional tournament next week," added Howard.

The Lady Wolves plated three runs in the top of the first as Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single by Madi Miller (Brookhaven) who then stole second. Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) then came up to bat with one out on the board and crushed a 2-1 pitch over the left centerfield fence for a three-run home run (her sixth of the season) giving the Lady Wolves a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Bobcats cut the lead down to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. However, the Lady Wolves responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth as Josie Meggs (Kosciusko) hit a leadoff single, advanced to second a passed ball, and then later scored as Mary Ansley Chrestman (Cleveland) reached base on an error. Chrestman then scored on an RBI-double by Kivett making the score, 5-2.

The Lady Wolves increased their lead to 6-2 in the top of the fifth as Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) hit a bunt single with two outs and then scored on an RBI-double by Meggs. The Lady Bobcats responded with another pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead down to 6-4.

The final run for the Lady Wolves came in the top of the sixth as Chrestman hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a single by Kivett, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Miller, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Maddie Weeks (Clinton) making the score, 7-4.

The Lady Bobcats once again scored two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on two-run home run while the Lady Wolves turned to Belle West (Byram) to finish out the game in relief of starter Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.). Despite the Lady Bobcats getting the tying run on second base, West produced three straight outs to end the scoring threat and maintain the 7-6 lead.

The Lady Wolves were then retired in order in the top of the seventh while West returned to the circle for a second inning of relief. West retired the Lady Bobcats in order going flyout, strikeout, and flyout to end the game and securing the 7-6 win for the Lady Wolves.

Faith Kivett, Josie Meggs, and Mary Ansley Chrestman had two hits each leading the Lady Wolves offense. Madi Miller, Maddie Weeks, Madalyn Wilkinson, and Shelbi Maxwell had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled 10 hits including one double each for Kivett and Meggs and one home run for Wilkinson. Wilkinson led the Lady Wolves with three RBIs while Kivett, Weeks, and Meggs had one RBI each.

Cera Blanchard improved to 23-4 overall with five innings pitched allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk while Belle West earned her first save of the season pitching two innings of scoreless and hitless relief with two strikeouts and one walk.

"We have been on our girls for the last several weeks about playing for each other, being a good teammate, and stepping up when your moment comes and Belle West has done that on several occasions for us throughout this tournament," said Howard. "In the first two games she comes up with big at-bats in pinch hit appearances and tonight she got the final six outs in an intense and tough environment. We are so proud of her and the rest of her teammates for doing what we had to do and needed to get done during theis game, but now we have to get home, get some rest and come back tomorrow just as hungry as we were today."

Co-Lin is now 40-7 overall and the Lady Wolves will return to action against a to be determined opponent in the MACCC Tournament Championship game. The first pitch in that contest is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 7, at Gwen Magee Field at Community Bank Park in Ellisville.