Lady Wolves Ready to Defend National Title
WESSON – The 2023 season ended in historical fashion for the Co-Lin softball team as they earned not only the first national championship in program history, but also the first one in Co-Lin Athletics history. The Lady Wolves also won the NJCAA Region 23 Championship and rewrote several program records en route to the national title. The 2024 Lady Wolves start the upcoming season with history under the belt also by earning the highest preseason ranking in program history sitting at No. 2 in the NJCAA Division II Softball poll.
With a new season on the horizon, head coach Meleah Howard said she and the team are ready to get things going.
"I am really excited to see what we can accomplish this year after last year's historic season," stated Howard. "We have a ton of versatility headed into this season and have a lot of players that can play a variety of positions for us. I tell the girls all the time that if you're hitting and getting on base then we will be able to find a spot on the field for you. Additionally, our pitching staff is full of several talented arms that I am excited about seeing what they will do in the circle for us."
The 2024 roster features 21 players with nine returning sophomores and 12 incoming freshmen. Returning sophomores include Zykeria Cole (Magee), Laney Waguespack (Bayou Gauche), Leia Phillips (Philadelphia), Kat Case (Monticello), Cara Biswell (Brandon), Sarah Grace Smith (Crystal Springs), and Madison Moak, Bailee Goodson, and Abby Grace Richardson (all of Brookhaven).
"We knew when Cara and Abby Grace committed with us, we had high expectations for both, but they have exceeded those. Anytime you bring back the Pitcher and Catcher of the Tournament from a national championship run it makes you feel way more comfortable heading into the season," stated Howard. "Laney coming back gives our pitching staff another solid arm with experience and we are excited to see what she can do this season not only in the circle, but also potentially with her bat because she swings it very well and could potentially be another Belle West type player for us. All our sophomores coming back with the championship winning experience gives us a leg up and boost in confidence heading into the season. We have seen improvement from a lot of our sophomore group, and we expect big things from them. Players like Sarah Grace and Kat have shown a lot of offensive improvement throughout the fall while players like Zykeria, Leia, Madison, and Bailee have carried over their success from last season to this one."
Incoming freshmen include Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie), Avery Williams (Lewisburg), Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA), Kinley Ainsworth (Brandon), Emeri Warren (Sebastopol), Karley Rouse (D'Iberville), Emma Kate Fimiano (Petal), Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN), Keegan McCorkle (Tyronza, AR), Maddie Bruner (Brandon), Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) and Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA). Coach Howard said she is really excited about what this group brings to the team.
"Our freshmen are right there in the mix with our sophomores and have been displaying their talents as well. I'm excited to see who is going to step up and answer the challenges before them this season," added Howard. "Kinley Ainsworth can swing the bat well and she has quality at-bats. Olivia Banes is very versatile and super athletic which allowed us to play her in a lot of different positions this fall. We also have Carson Hughey who is a super fast, athletic outfielder who is a lefty hitter while Emeri Warren can also swing the bat well. Maddie Bruner and Emma Kate Fimiano are two players that give us more versatility too. Keegan McCorkle, Emily Richarde, Karley Rouse, and Emma Kate will help our pitching staff throughout the season also and will help us with giving good looks from the circle."
"Being able to secure a player like Taylor, who is a Division I transfer from Nicholls State, is huge for us and we are excited about her joining the team," added Howard. "She will add depth in both pitching and hitting for us this season."
Howard said she understands that winning the championship last year brings a big target for the Lady Wolves, but she thinks the team will be up to the challenge ahead of them.
"This fall helped to prepare our team to understand what the expectations are for our program and the work that is required to meet those. That is something the freshmen have learned quickly, and they have bought in, but now we as a team must have a grasp of what those expectations mean going into this season coming off a national championship," stated Howard. "We must understand that our opponents will bring it every game and have high expectations of our team, which does add a little bit of pressure going into the season, but we don't mind the pressure. I tell our team all the time that pressure is a privilege because that means you are expected to be great, so we should go out there and be great every time."
"I also have to make sure that we don't get complacent as a team just because we won the championship last year," added Howard. "I tell our sophomores that the target from last year has grown and that it took hard work to get to the top, now staying there will be even harder, but I really think this team can do it and I am excited to see what we will accomplish this season."
The Lady Wolves play a tough schedule this season featuring four nationally ranked teams in No. 2 Northwest Florida State (NJCAA Division I), No. 4 Parkland, No. 6 Pearl River, and No. 18 Jones including three teams that made their respective NJCAA national tournaments in Parkland, Northwest Florida State, and Jones with the latter two teams finishing as national runners-up in their divisions.
"This year we had to push back our home opener because of the upgrades to our facilities so we are traveling a little bit to get ready for those long road games in conference play," added Howard. "Splitting with Northwest Florida State was a big moment for us last year and I'm looking forward to that matchup again. We are starting with a tough opponent in Southeast Arkansas whose head coach is a former national champion at Chipola College, so I'm expecting a challenge to start of our season."
The Lady Wolves get their season started with a road game at Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff on Sunday, February 18. The Lady Wolves host Baton Rouge on Tuesday, February 27, for their home opener.
"Our goal this year is to win the conference outright, and the Region 23 Championship but we ultimately want to get back to the national tournament again this season," added Howard. "I have told our team that if we can get back there then I firmly believe that we can win it again."