Brabham leads Lady Wolves over Itawamba

Photo courtesy of Travis Webb, LSU-E Sports Information

EUNICE, Louisiana – Carlon Brabham's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning was enough to give the Co-Lin Lady Wolves a 4-3 win over the Itawamba Lady Indians in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region 23 Tournament (NJCAA). The Lady Wolves (31-9) will face Mississippi Gulf Coast Friday at 6 p.m. The double elimination tournament is being hosted by LSU-Eunice in Eunice, Louisiana.

After four losses to Itawamba, two in the regular season and two at the MACCC State Tournament, the Lady Wolves were due for a win. 

"This group just never lays down," said Co-Lin Head Coach Meleah Howard. "A lot of bad breaks that didn't go our way throughout the game could've easily shut us down, but we just kept swinging. Cera did a great job in the circle of keeping their hitters off balance. We got a couple of big swings from Molly and Carlon and a lot of grit from our defense. Now, we have to rest up and get ready to get back after it tomorrow."

With the game tied at 3-all after seven innings, Carlon Brabham (Amite, LA/Oak Forest Academy) led off the top of the eighth with a solo home run to left field to give the Lady Wolves a 4-3 lead. That would be enough for Co-Lin to get the win. 

Itawamba stranded the tying run at second base in the bottom half of the eighth inning, but Co-Lin starting pitcher Cera Blanchard (Metairie, LA/De La Salle High School) was able to force Connor Stevens to ground out and struck out Ka'Mya Hampton to strike out to end the game.

Co-Lin took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Abigail Carter (Mendenhall/Simpson Academy) and Blanchard drew walks to lead off the inning. Molly Johnson (Jackson/Northwest Rankin) hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Shelbi Maxwell's (Wesson/Wesson High School) two RBI single would give the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Indians took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a Katie Rutledge double, an error and a Brianna Posey RBI single.

Co-Lin scored the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. Brabham drew a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Julianna Johnson (Monticello/Lawrence County High School) advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Johnson's single to center to tie the game at 3-3.

Blanchard (14-3) tossed the complete game to pick up the win. She allowed three runs (one earned), scattered eight hits, struck out 12 and walked three. 

At the plate for Co-Lin, Madi Miller (Brookhaven/Brookhaven High School) had a pair of singles. Brabham homered for an RBI. Johnson (one RBI), Maxwell (two RBIs), Baileigh Jackson (Bogue Chitto/Bogue Chitto High School) and Molly Davis (Philadelphia/Leake Academy) had a single apiece.

For Itawamba, Rutledge, Katie Boatner and Madison Jenkins had a pair of hits. Hitting safely were McKenzie Patterson and Posey.

In other first round action, No. 1 seed Jones 5, No. 6 seed Northwest 0; No. 5 seed Mississippi Gulf Coast 7, No. 2 seed LSU-E 6.