Howard Gets 100th Career Win As Lady Wolves Sweep

MERIDIAN – The Co-Lin Softball team took to the road to face off against Meridian on Tuesday, March 29. The Lady Wolves swept the Lady Eagles taking game one, 9-1, and game two, 11-0.

"It was a great night to be part of Co-Lin Softball!' exclaimed Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "To come out and sweep our sixth straight conference series is something special. We did what we preach and preach to our girls every day, which is to play Co-Lin softball no matter who the opponent is."

Game One

The Lady Wolves wasted little time taking an early lead as they scored two runs in the top of the first with Faith Kivett (Tallulah, La.) leading off by drawing a walk and then stole second. Maddie Weeks (Clinton) then drew a one-out walk while both Kivett and Weeks stole third and second respectively. Kivett then scored on an RBI-single by Madalyn Wilkinson (Madison) while Cera Blanchard (Metairie, La.) was hit-by-pitch to load the bases after Wilkinson stole second. Josie Meggs (Kosckiusko) was then hit-by-pitch scoring Weeks and giving the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves added three runs in the top of the second as Kivett hit a one-out single and then advanced all the way to third on an error during the play. Madi Miller (Brookhaven) then hit an RBI-single scoring Kivett and then advanced to third on a single by Weeks who also advanced to second on the play. Miller then scored on a passed ball as Weeks advanced to third on the same play and then Weeks scored on a sacrifice fly by Wilkinson making the score, 5-0.

The Lady Wolves added three more runs in the top of the third as Shelbi Maxwell (Wesson) hit a lead-off double and then later scored on a double by Bela Dekovic (Belle Chasse, La.) making the score, 6-0. Mary Ann Chrestman (Cleveland) followed with a single advancing Dekovic to third. Chrestman then stole second while both Dekovic and Chrestman later scored in the inning on a two-RBI single by Miller making the score, 8-0.

The lone run for the Lady Eagles came in the bottom of the fourth making the score, 8-1. However, the Lady Wolves responded with one run in the top of the sixth as Weeks drew a lead-off walk, stole second and third, and then scored on an RBI-groundout by Blanchard making the score, 9-1.

The Lady Eagles got a two-out single in the top of the seventh, but the game was ended on a dropped third strike play during the next at-bat, sealing the 9-1 win for the Lady Wolves.

Madi Miller led the Lady Wolves offense and was the only member of the team with a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 at the plate. Faith Kivett, Maddie Weeks, Madalyn Wilkinson, Cera Blanchard, Shelbi Maxwell, Bela Dekovic, and Mary Ansley Chrestman had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled nine hits during the game including one double each for Blanchard, Dekovic, and Maxwell. Miller also led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with three while Wilkinson had two RBIs, along with Blanchard, Meggs, and Dekovic having one RBI each.

Cera Blanchard got the start in the circle for the Lady Wolves and improved to 14-1 with another dominant complete game effort. In six innings pitched, Blanchard allowed one unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. The Southeastern Louisiana commit has yet to give up an earned run in conference play across 38.2 innings pitched over seven apperances.

Game Two

The Lady Wolves once again jumped out an early lead as they scored two runs in the top of the second inning as Cera Blanchard reached base on an error and Shelbi Mawell drew a walk to start the inning. Blanchard then scored on an RBI-single by Bela Dekovic while Maxwell scored on an RBI-single by Belle West (Byram) making the score, 2-0.

The big inning for the Lady Wolves came in the top of the third as they scored four runs started off with Madalyn Wilkinson taking one swing of the bat and driving a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a solo home run making the score, 3-0. Maxwell then drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored as Josie Meggs reached on an error and advanced to second on the same play increasing the Lady Wolves lead to 4-0. Dekovic then drew a walk while Belle West followed with a single to load the bases. Meggs then scored as Faith Kivett was hit-by-pitch while Dekovic later scored in the inning as Maddie Weeks drew a walk with the bases loaded giving the Lady Wolves a 6-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves then scored three runs in the top of the fourth as Blanchard hit a lead-off single and was replaced by Faith Ashley (Brandon) for a pinch run appearance. Ashley then stole second and advanced to third on a single by Maxwell. After Maxwell stole second, Ashley scored on an RBI-single by Meggs making the score while Maxwell then stole home making the score 8-0 as Meggs stole second on the same play. Meggs then later scored in the inning as Laurel Breland (Lake) reached on a fielder's choice giving the Lady Wolves a 9-0 lead.

The final two runs for the Lady Wolves came in the top of the fifth as Ashely drew a lead-off walk but was forced out as Maggie West (Waynesboro) reached on a fielder's choice. Maggie West later scored in the inning as Julianna Frazier (Bogue Chitto) took one swing of the bat and drove a 1-1 pitch over the center field fence for two-run home run (her first of the season) making the score, 11-0.

The Lady Eagles then drew a walk with one out, but back-to-back outs ended the bottom of the fifth giving the Lady Wolves an 11-0 win and sweep of the Lady Eagles.

Belle West led the Lady Wolves offense as the only member of the team with a multi-hit game going 2-for-2 at the plate. Maddie Weeks, Madalyn Wilkinson, Cera Blanchard, Shelbi Maxwell, Josie Meggs, Bela Dekovic, and Julianna Frazier had one hit apiece as the Lady Wolves totaled nine hits including one home run each for Frazier and Wilkinson. Frazier led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Faith Kivett, Laurel Breland, Weeks, Wilkinson, Meggs, Dekovic, and Belle West had one RBI each.

Belle West and Madalyn Wilkinson pitched in game two for the Lady Wolves as they went for a combined no-hitter for the second time this season. West got the start and improved to 12-0 with the win pitching four innings with three strikeouts and one walk while Wilkinson pitched one inning of relief with one walk.

"I thought Cera, Belle, and Madalyn did a great job in the circle keeping a good lineup from Meridian off balance throughout both games," added Howard. "Offensively, our speed gave them some trouble a couple of times, and we were also able to get some big swings when we needed them to drive in runs."

With the win in game one, Coach Meleah Howard earned her 100th career win at Co-Lin taking just 131 games to hit the career milestone while posting a win percentage of 76% during the span.

"100 wins just seems surreal to me. To know the conference that we play in and the caliber of teams we play against on a regular basis just speaks volumes about how tough every girl that has played here in my four seasons has been," said Howard of the career milestone. "Each and every one of those girls deserve all the credit in the world for all 100 wins."

"To be able to come to work at my home, a place that I love, with supportive administration along with a coaching staff that is so much fun to work with, and a group of young ladies that love this game as much as I do is a dream come true," added Howard. "I am so grateful to be here and give back to this school and this community! I also would not be here without the sacrifices from Marc, my kids, and our families who do everything they can to help during the season."

"Marc and the kids 'love mama's softball girls' just as much as I do and I love the opportunity to have these girls in their lives as well," said Howard.

Co-Lin is now 26-2 overall and 12-0 in conference play. The Lady Wolves will return to action hosting No. 6 Itawamba on Saturday, April 2. First pitch between the Lady Indians and the Lady Wolves is set for 1 p.m., in Wesson.