While the Lady Wolves softball teams was sitting at number two in preseason national polls going into its 2024 season, Co-Lin’s baseball coaches thought they had laid a foundation last year for a great season.
At the end of February, the softball nine, with a 7-1 record, looked like it could repeat its success last year -- the first national championship for any Co-Lin athletic team. For baseball Wolves, with an 8-10 record, the verdict was uncertain.
So far, the Lady Wolves have breezed through the season with a lone 6-4 loss to Parkland College, two victories over Southeast Arkansas (31-1, 17-0) and Dillard University (8-0, 9-0), and three wins at the expense of Baton Rouge (7-2, 5-2 and 9-4). In recent weeks, the baseball team has sputtered with three-game two game-losing streaks that included losses to Jones (6-1), East central (11-1), Delgado (3-2), Hinds (7-5) and Southwest (8-4). The baseball Wolves also picked up wins against Mineral Area College (8-5), Pensacola State (6-2), Delgado (8-5, 6-4), Coastal Alabama (7-1), Nunez Community College (6-4), Rend Lake (8-3) and Baton Rouge (7-3). Other losses came at the hands of Pensacola State (6-3), Delgado (22-9), Nunez (6-4), Rend Lake (3-2) and Baton Rouge (10-9)
The baseball roster features 33 players, including 18 sophomores (16 returners and two transfers) and 15 freshmen. Returning sophomores include Connor Pittman (Waynesboro), Brayden Evans (Florence), Brentley Berry (Magee), Isaac McClenty (Ridgeland), Coby Gallott (Ocean Springs), Braden Freeman (Terry), Jayden Duncan (Foxworth), Craig Bass (Brookhaven), Sam Thomas (Madison), Riley Easterling (Brookhaven), Christian Cameron (Brandon), Jordan McKenzie (Franklinton), Andin Bolen (Lucedale), Hagan Coumbe (Utica), Hayden Babineaux (Churchpoint, LA), and Ryland Hemphill (Florence) while the two transfer sophomores are Spencer Wilson (McComb) and Jon David Weed (Terry) who came to Co-Lin from Hinds and Meridian respectively. Chamblee said he is excited about what this group of sophomores brings to the field.
The freshmen class includes Judson Griffin (Brookhaven), Tucker Jones (Brandon), Tyler Ferguson (Bossier City, LA), Sam Cook (Shubuta), Dee Morgan (Tallulah, LA), Wade Barr (Collins) Brayden Cooley (Flora), Ben Stringer (Brandon), Caleb Flynn (Laurel), Brayden Bankston (Terry), Reise Thomas (Florence), Dylan Wesson (Brandon), Easton Boyte (Brookhaven), Lucas Harrington (Youngsville, LA), and Sawyer Dunn (Magee).
"I think that a big difference in this season will be the fact that we are returning a ton of experience from last season," says second-year Head Coach Adam Chamblee. "Last season we had a ton of freshmen players in the field, and we were sophomore heavy on the mound which saw us falter late at times when we had a lead or were trying to stay in games throughout last season. This year we have experience throughout our team in every phase of the game which I hope will help us to keep our foot on the gas throughout each game."
He singles out sophomores pitchers Pittman, Bolen, Gallott and Duncan; Evans, a catcher; Cameron and Mckenzie at first and third bases, middle infielders Berry and Babineaux, and Thomas and Coumbe, Easterling and Hemphill, who are battling for positions. He likes freshmen Jones and Wesson in the outfield, Bankston at shortstop and Ferguson, Morgan and Harrington on the mound.
The 2024 softball 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). 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).
“All our sophomores coming back with the championship winning experience gives us a leg up and boost in confidence heading into the season,” says Head Coach Meleah Howard. “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.
"Our freshmen are right there in the mix with our sophomores and have been displaying their talents as well. Ainsworth can swing the bat well; Banes is very versatile and super athletic; Hughey who is a super fast, athletic outfielder; Warren can swing the bat well; and McCorkle, Richarde, Rouse, and Fimiano will help our pitching staff. Being able to secure a player like Efferson, 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 wants to win the conference outright, and the Region 23 Championship, “but we ultimately want to get back to the national tournament again this season. I have told our team that if we can get back there and I firmly believe that we can win it again."