Diamond Wolves defeat Hinds twice
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, February 16, 2005
WESSON — On a beautiful afternoon for baseball, shortstopPatrick Williams hit 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventhinning to lift the Co-Lin Wolves over Hinds Community College 5-4Tuesday on Sullivan Field. Co-Lin also won the nightcap 4-1 ascenterfielder Xavier Qualls homered and collected 3 hits for theWolves.
Co-Lin evened its record at 2-2. Hinds fell to 2-3 with thesetbacks.
The Wolves host Mississippi Delta Thursday for a 7-inningtwinbill, starting at 1 p.m.
“I was very pleased to get the wins,” said Co-Lin head coachKeith Case. “Coaches Brian Nobile and Lance Newman did a good jobholding the team together. We played with a lot of energy in thesecond game.”
Co-Lin 5, Hinds 4
Co-Lin catcher Matthew Schexnayder led off the sixth with a solohomer. The Wolves trailed 4-2 before coming back.
In the bottom of the seventh,Qualls led off with a double to setthe stage for the Williams clout over the left field fence, justinside the foul pole.
Freshman right-hander Scotty Smith started on the mound forCo-Lin. He gave up 4 runs on 8 hits, struck out 1 and walked 1 in 4complete innings.
Will Buckles picked up the win in relief of Smith. He limitedthe Eagles to 1 hit, striking out 1 and walking none.
Tyler Williams absorbed the loss in relief of JustinVandevender.
“After dropping two at East Central, we were worried about themental part of our game,” said Coach Case. “We kept the ball inplay and got some key hits.”
Williams finished with 3 hits. Schexnayder had 2 hits. JustinSykes singled for Co-Lin.
The Wolves avoided a bases-loaded threat in the top of the thirdas they turned a key double play.
Co-Lin 4, Hinds 1
Sophomore Ryan Belanger handcuffed Hinds with a 6-hitter. Hegave up 1 run, walked 1 and fanned 7.
“Ryan had only given up three hits until the seventh,” saidCase. “He’s a big-game pitcher for us.”
The second game served as the first of a 3-game series sponsoredby Cellular South, known as the Backyard Brawl. A doubleheader atHinds in Raymond March 1, will settle the trophy chase.
Qualls homered in the first inning to give Co-Lin an early lead.The freshman from Brookhaven finished with 3 hits.
Jody Britt and Josh Logan both had 2 hits for Co-Lin. Collectingsingles for the Wolves were Sykes and Te Riley.
“Bridges is the No. 1 pitcher for Hinds,” said Case. “It wasgood to jump on him early because I knew it would be a closegame.”
Bridges, a right-hander from Terry, gave up 9 hits in 6 innings.He struck out 7 and walked 2.
Joey Tacket broke the shutout with a leadoff homer in theseventh.