Co-Lin sweeps Delgado
Published 5:00 am Thursday, May 1, 2003
WESSON – Some last-inning heroics by the Co-Lin Wolves preserveda 4-3 Wednesday victory in the nightcap and gave them a sweep ofthe nationally-ranked Delgado (La.) Community College Dolphins.Co-Lin won the opener 5-4 on Sullivan Field and the two victoriesextended the Wolves’ winning streak to five games over threenationally-ranked opponents.
Co-Lin (19-26), catching fire at the end of the season, advancesto the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament which begins next Thursday, May8, at Itawamba Community College in Fulton. The Wolves will playHolmes at 4 p.m., in the opening round.
“It was good to sweep them,” said Co-Lin head coach Keith Case.”Our guys are playing well right now. This gives us some moremomentum going into the regional.”
Co-Lin 4, Delgado 3
On a sweat-soaked afternoon, Co-Lin starting pitcher KendallPoole developed severe cramps in his left (glove) arm duringwarmups in the top of the seventh. The muscle spasms forced him toleave the game and Calen Cline replaced him on the mound.
Cline issued consecutive bases on balls and Coach Case calledfor Lance Deville to preserve the win. A sacrifice bunt by RandyRoth advanced the tying and winning runs. Robert Spencer receivedan intentional walk to load the bases with 1 out.
Delgado’s Trent Hebert hit a blooper to short right field butCo-Lin second baseman Cayce Wallace backpedaled and made a divingcatch for the second out. Deville got Chase Dardar on a calledthird strike to preserve the victory.
Poole gave up 6 hits and 3 runs in the game. The right-handerfrom Brookhaven struck out 5 batters and walked 2.
“I couldn’t keep my hand open and I had a sharp pain in my arm,”explained Poole. “It’s never happened before.
“I was pitching pretty good and I had good defense behind me,”he pointed out. “We want to try and get hot before thetournament.”
The Wolves got a 3-run homer from shortstop Aaron Guillot in thethird inning. It gave the Wolves a 3-2 advantage.
“I had two strikes on me and I was just trying to keep it inplay,” said Guillot, a freshman from Thibodaux, La. “I got under itand the wind helped get it out.”
It was Guillot’s second homer of the season.
“Kendall started slow but he settled down and competed out theretoday,” said Case. “Aaron’s home run gave us a big lift.”
In the fifth inning, Co-Lin centerfielder Paris Dancy chased asolo home run by Gary Duhe into the left-center fence. Dancycrashed into the faded-green,11-year-old fence and knocked twoplanks loose. The homer tied the score at 3-3 and time was calledto reset the planks.
“I hit the fence pretty hard,” said Dancy, smiling and rubbinghis forearm. In the sixth inning he doubled to right-center.
Co-Lin took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by DiegoNucete. Guillot was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He went tothird on a wild pickoff throw by relief pitcher Tanna McCluer.
John Piper, a sophomore southpaw from St. Amant, La., had beatenthe Wolves 1-0 at New Orleans earlier in the season. He posted a2-1 win over Co-Lin last year.
Co-Lin 5, Delgado 4
Tyler Perrett, a freshman from Hazlehurst (Jackson Prep) gave up8 hits and Co-Lin won the opener. Perrett gave 4 runs, walked noneand fanned 6.
“Tyler pitched extremely well,” said Coach Case. “Our pitchinghas improved in recent games.”
Co-Lin scored 4 runs on 5 hits in the second inning to a take a5-1 lead. With 1 out, Wallace singled. Jeffrey Waycaster singledand Ben Goza followed with a single. Coley singled home 2 runs.Aaron Guillot produced a 2-RBI single.
Delgado rallied for 3 runs in the top of the sixth. Dardarslugged a 2-run homer. Rodrique followed with a 2-out, solohomer.
Jose Lado (5-4), a sophomore southpaw from Metairie, La., wasthe losing pitcher.
Two hits by Casey Ginn directed Co-Lin’s 8-hit attack. Guillotand Coley each had 2 RBI.