Lady Wolves Win Second National Championship

OXFORD, Ala. (CoLinAthletics.com) – The Co-Lin Softball team entered the final day of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament knowing they needed one win to take home their second national championship in the last three years as they faced off against MACCC foe Jones. The Bobcats and Lady Wolves needed two games to decide a winner as the Bobcats beat the Wolves, 7-3, to force a winner take all game where the Lady Wolves won, 6-4.

GAME ONE

The Lady Wolves got on the board first with a solo run in the bottom of the first as Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie) stepped up to the plate with one out on the board, took one swing of the bat, and crushed a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left centerfield for a solo home run, her 12th of the season, gave the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats then responded by tying the game with a run in the top of the second and then scored one run in the fourth, three in the fifth, and two in the sixth while holding the Lady Wolves scoreless to take a 7-1 lead.

The Lady Wolves added two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Brelie Phillips stepped up to the plate, took one swing, and smashed a 1-1 pitch over fence in centerfield for a leadoff solo home run, her 12th of the season, to cut the lead down to 7-2. Banes then followed with a double, took third on a flyout by Taylor Efferson (Holden, LA), and then scored on a groundout by Avery Williams (Olive Branch) cutting the lead down to 7-3. The Lady Wolves then got a leadoff single by Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) to start the bottom of the seventh while Noelle Laiche (Gonzales, LA) was then brought in as a pinch runner. However, two popouts followed by a foul out ended the game as the Bobcats sealed the 7-3 win.

The Lady Wolves totaled five hits as Olivia Banes led the way with two hits while Brelie Phillips, Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA), and Avery Williams had one hit each. Phillips, Banes, and Avery Williams had one RBI each.

Taylor Efferson fell to 18-3 overall as she got the start and pitched four innings allowing four runs, all earned, on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. Keegan McCorkle (Tyronza, AR) pitched three innings of relief allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.

GAME TWO

In the second game of the day, once again the Lady Wolves scored first as they plated one run in the bottom of the second. Avery Williams stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat, and demolished an 0-1 pitch nearly clearing the centerfield stands for a leadoff solo home run, her eighth of the season, gave the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Wolves then added a single run in the bottom of the third as Brelie Phillips hit a one-out double to get the offense going and then took third as Olivia Banes reached on an error. Taylor Efferson then drew a walk to load the bases while Phillips then scored on a sacrifice fly by Avery Williams making the lead, 2-0.

The Lady Wolves then added two runs in the bottom of the fifth as Banes drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to two bases to third on a wild pitch. Efferson then drew a walk to put runners on the corner while Emma Kate Fimiano (Petal) was brought in as a pinch runner. Later in the inning, Banes scored as Kynlee Madere reached on a fielder's choice making the lead, 3-0. After Fimiano was forced out as Emeri Warren reached on a fielder's choice while Madere then scored on an RBI-single by Morgan Chisolm (Madison) increasing the lead to 4-0.

The Bobcats then scored three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead down to 4-3, while the Lady Wolves responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half as Carson Hughey (Brookhaven) hit a leadoff single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Phillips. Hughey then took third as Banes reached on an infield single. After Banes stole second, Efferson delivered a one-out, two-RBI single scoring Hughey and Banes and increasing the lead to 6-3.

The Bobcats then started the top of the seventh with a strikeout and a lineout for two quick outs. However, then they hit a double followed by back-to-back singles to cut the lead down to 6-4 and put the tying run on first base. A popout to Abby Burnette (Brookhaven) ended the game secure the victory and national championship for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled eight hits as Morgan Chisolm and Carson Hughey led the way with two hits apiece while Brelie Phillips, Olivia Banes, Taylor Efferson, and Avery Williams had one hit each. Efferson and Avery Williams led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two each while Kynlee Madere and Chisolm had one RBI each.

In her final start in a Lady Wolves uniform, Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN) improved to 22-1 with the complete game win allowing four runs, all earned, on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Co-Lin finishes the season 48-6 overall including a record-breaking 27-1 in MACCC play and captured back-to-back MACCC regular season titles for the first time in school history in addition to winning the second national championship in the last three years.

About the MACCC

The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC)  is one of the premier community college conferences in the country and ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni on professional sports teams. 

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer and tennis.  

Women's competition is offered in the sports of basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. 

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