Lady Wolves Advance in Region 23 Tournament

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team continued play in the Region 23 Tournament facing off against Northwest on Monday, May 4. The No. 1 seed Lady Wolves beat the No. 5 seed Rangers, 5-3.

The Lady Wolves got on the board first with three runs in the bottom half of the first as Ayari VanBlaircom (Daphne, AL) and Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Emilie Williams (Summit) then reached on a fielder's choice as VanBlaircom was forced out on the play. Morgan Chisolm then delivered a two-RBI double scoring Phillips and Williams giving the Lady Wolves a 2-0 lead. Annie Poole then hit an RBI-single scoring Chisolm and increasing the lead to 3-0.

The Lady Wolves added one run in the bottom of the second as Noelle Laiche (Gonzales, LA) hit a one-out single to get the offense going. Later in the inning, Phillips hit an RBI-double scoring Laiche and extending the lead to 4-0.

The Rangers then scored two runs in the top of the third to cut the lead in half at 4-2. The Lady Wolves responded with a solo run in the bottom half as Chisolm drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. Later in the inning, Abby Burnette (Brookhaven) ripped a double, but Chisolm was thrown out at home trying to score on the play. Later in the inning, Burnette scored as Brooklyn Reine (Kentwood, LA) pushing the lead to 5-2.

The Rangers then hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead down to 5-3. The Lady Wolves then looked to add to the lead in the bottom half as Laiche drew a leadoff walk while VanBlaircom then singled. However, back-to-back lineouts followed by a fielder's choice ended the inning with no scoring done.

After the Rangers were retired in order in the top of the fifth, the Lady Wolves started the bottom half with a leadoff single by Poole followed a walk by Burnette. Once again, the Lady Wolves could not push a run across as a popout, strikeout, and groundout ended the inning.

The Rangers then got two runners on with two outs in the top of the sixth, but a flyout ended the inning with the Lady Wolves holding their lead. The Lady Wolves started the sixth with a leadoff walk by VanBlaircom but three straight strikeouts left her stranded at first.

The Rangers then went flyout, double, strikeout, and a lineout on a diving catch by Reine to end the game and secure the victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled nine hits as Brelie Phillips, Annie Poole, and Noelle Laiche had two hits each while Ayari VanBlaircom, Morgan Chisolm, and Abby Burnette had one hit each. Chisolm led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two while Phillips, Poole, and Brooklyn Reine had one RBI each.

Addison Lindley (Madison) improved to 21-3 overall with the complete game win allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits with six strikeouts.

Co-Lin improves to 46-5 overall and will face off against Southwest in the Region 23 Semifinal championship game on Tuesday, May 5. First pitch between the Lady Bears and the Lady Wolves is set for 4 p.m., at Lady Wolves Field in Wesson.