FULTON – Upset-minded Co-Lin hopes to continue its winning waystoday in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Division IIBaseball Tournament at Itawamba Community College. The Wolvestackle the Holmes Bulldogs in the 4 p.m., opening round game.

In other games today, Pearl River plays Northwest at 1 p.m. andHinds tackles Itawamba at 7 p.m. Win or lose Co-Lin (19-26) playsFriday. The winner plays the loser of Pearl River-Northwest at 4p.m. Friday. The loser plays the Itawamba-Hinds loser tomorrow at 1p.m., as the double-elimination tournament continues.

Co-Lin, coached by Keith Case, won five of its last sixregular-season games, beating Pearl River, Gulf Coast and Delgado(La.), all nationally-ranked teams. The Wolves made the best of amassive rebuilding campaign, overcoming key injuries.

Co-Lin leftfielder Casey Ginn escaped serious injury in an autoaccident Sunday night and missed practice Monday. “He’s luckynothing was broken,” said Case. “A car pulled out in the road infront of him and he totaled his car.”

Looking at the tournament, Case said every team has chance towin it. The winner advances to the Super Regional which sends thatwinner to the World Series in Millington, Tenn.

“Everybody is 0-0,” said Case. “With us playing well, we wouldhave preferred not to have had the seven-day layoff.”

Case said Holmes (28-12) played well in he state tournament, theBulldogs beating Gulf Coast by 12 runs and shutting out Meridianbefore being eliminated. “Holmes is real aggressive at the plateand they’ll be on fire today.”

Case expects his Wolves to face pitcher Mitch Sanders (7-1), aright-hander. Co-Lin will counter with freshman Tyler Perrett(5-6).

Itawamba (39-7) beat Gulf Coast 16-2 last weekend for the statetournament championship at Meridian. The Indians are 21-1 at homethis year.

“Itawamba is a real solid ball club,” said Case. “Itawamba,Pearl River and Northwest have some really good records.”

As a team, Co-Lin is batting .271. Ginn and catcher AaronOberschmidt are both batting .321 for the Wolves. Shortstop AaronGuillot and third baseman Brandon Hubbard are both batting .310.Third baseman Diego Nucete and right-fielder Jeffrey Waycaster arebatting .290 and .280 respectively.

Centerfielder Paris Dancy bats .260 and first baseman Ben Goza.248. Second baseman Cayce Wallace bats .229 and catcher ChaseColey .226.

Goza, a freshman from Brookhaven, leads the Wolves with 3homers. Dancy and Guillot have homered twice. Guillot and Waycasterhave 25 and 22 RBI respectively. Wallace leads the the team with 8doubles.

On the mound, Kendall Poole has compiled a 5-5 record. LanceDeville is 4-5. Calen Cline has 2 saves.