Wolves split with Coast

Published 5:00 am Thursday, April 22, 2004

WESSON — The Co-Lin Wolves split a South Division baseballdoubleheader with the Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs Tuesdayat Sullivan Field. Co-Lin won the opener 4-0 behind the13-strikeout performance of pitcher Ryan Belanger.

Co-Lin dropped the finale to Gulf Coast 5-2.

The Wolves are 26-13 overall and 9-4 in the South Division. GulfCoast is 31-10 and 8-6.

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“I thought both of our pitchers threw extremely well,” saidCo-Lin head coach Keith Case. “Tyler Perrett was throwing well inthe first couple of innings,” of the nightcap.

“Ryan Belanger picked it up a notch for us yesterday,” saidCase. “He struck out 13 batters.”

Case was ejected from the second game in the top of the firstinning for disputing a call at third base. “There was no doubt theumpire missed the call.”

After playing a single game at Meridian today, the Wolves face abig weekend series at Southwest in Summit.

“That (split) keeps us one game ahead of them (Gulf Coast) asfar as the state tournament is concerned,” said Case. “We’ve gottwo big games at Southwest Saturday and they play Pearl River.”

Co-Lin 4, Gulf Coast 0

Belanger (6-1), a freshman from Houma, La., went the distancefor the three-hitter. Belanger fanned 13 batters and walkednone.

Co-Lin led 1-0 after the first inning and added three more runsin the bottom of the fifth for the 4-0 lead as Patrick Williamshomered.

Credited with the loss was Peter Wiggins (5-4) in four inningswith one run allowed on three hits, nine strikeouts and threewalks. Also seeing action were Michael Palmer and Nathan Smith inthe fifth inning followed by Scott Pickering in the sixth.

Leading the Wolves was rightfielder Jody Britt who singledtwice. Hitting safely were Jeffrey Waycaster, Keeyon Sanders, DiegoNucete and Cole Zumbro.

Gulf Coast got a double from Brett Wilson. Sal Aleman and MilesClark singled.

Gulf Coast 5, Co-Lin 2

The Bulldogs went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning. GulfCoast added three more runs in the fifth for a 4-0 lead. TheBulldogs led 5-0 in the seventh. Co-Lin rallied with two runs tocut the deficit to three runs.

Posting the win on the mound was Daniel Varnado with two runsallowed on seven hits, nine strikeouts and no walks.

Absorbing the loss was Tyler Perrett (6-1). In five inning,Perrett had three strikeouts, four walks, six hits and four runsallowed. Working the sixth was Matthew Fox who was followed by CassBrister in the seventh.

At the plate, Britt drilled a 2-run home run in the seventh anda single for the Wolves. Casey Ginn, Ben Sandifer, Zumbro, Nuceteand Sanders singled.

For Gulf Coast, Gunter O’Neal led with a 2-run homer in theseventh. Aleman and Miles doubled.

Co-Lin visits Meridian today for a nine-inning game, beginningat 5 p.m.