Wolves Dominate Bobcats in Region 23 Opener

DECATUR – The Co-Lin Baseball team began their hunt for a Region 23 Championship with their opening game against Jones on Monday, May 5. The No. 6 seed Wolves dominated the No. 3 seed Bobcats (ranked No. 8 nationally) en route to a 13-6 victory.

The Bobcats got on the board first as a two-out walk led to two run scoring base hits to take an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. However, the Wolves responded with their first of two, five-run innings in the top of the second as Brady White (Ethel) reached on an error to start the inning but was later forced out as Bradley Hanlon (Monroe, LA).

Gavin Bledsoe (Brandon) then drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs while Reise Thomas (Florence) then delivered a two-RBI double scoring Hanlon and Bledsoe to tie the game at 2-2. Avery Griffin (Brookhaven) then drew a walk to extend the inning as Tucker Jones (Brandon) stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run to give the Wolves a 5-2 lead.

The Wolves never relinquished that lead as they extended it with a solo run in the top of the third as White was hit-by-pitch with one out to get the offense started. White was then forced out as Evan Holifield (Stringer) reached on a fielder's choice. After Holifield took second on a passed ball, he then scored on an RBI-single by Hanlon making the lead, 6-2. The Bobcats then scored one run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead down to 6-3.

That score held until the Wolves had their second five-run inning of the game in the top of the seventh as Jones hit a leadoff double to get the offense going. Jones then scored on an RBI-single by Trey Davidson (Brandon) who advanced to second on a single by Lucas Harrington (Youngsville, LA). White then dropped a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error allowing Davidson to score and put two runners in scoring position with no outs while pushing the lead to 8-3. Later in the inning, Hanlon drew a walk to load the bases with one out while Bledsoe then followed with another walk scoring Harrington to push the lead to 9-3. Thomas then reached on an error while White scored on the play, but Hanlon was thrown out at home. Bledsoe then scored on a passed ball making the lead, 11-3, before a strikeout ended the inning. The Bobcats then scored one run in the bottom of the seventh making the score, 11-4.

The Wolves then added their final two runs in the top of the ninth as Holifield hit a leadoff double while Hanlon singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. After Hanlon stole second, Bledsoe hit a sacrifice fly scoring Holifield while Hanlon then scored on a sacrifice fly by Thomas increasing the lead to 13-4.

The Bobcats then loaded the bases with one out while a walk then allowed one run to score and a two-out, RBI-single made the score, 13-6. However, a flyout ended the game and sealed the victory for the Wolves.

The Wolves totaled nine hits as Tucker Jones and Bradley Hanlon led the way with two hits apiece while Avery Griffin, Trey Davidson, Lucas Harrington, Evan Holifield, and Reise Thomas had one hit each. Thomas led the Wolves in RBIs with four, Jones had three, Bledsoe had two while Davidson and Hanlon had one RBI each.

Cameron Patterson (Central, LA) got the start and improved to 5-2 overall while pitching six innings and four runs, all earned, on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Lucas Harrington pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless relief while allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Nash Sturdivant (Brandon) pitched 1.2 innings of relief allowing two earned runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts while Tanner Blackwell (Flora) pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless relief while allowing one hit with one strikeout.

Co-Lin improves to 33-23 overall and will face off against the No. 2 seed East Central on Wednesday, May 7. First pitch between the Wolves and the No. 7 Warriors is set for 6 p.m., at Clark/Gay Baseball Complex in Decatur.