Co-Lin cools off Hibbing Cardinals
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, March 8, 2005
WESSON — Solid pitching, error-free defense and big home runswere Co-Lin’s warm welcome to the Hibbing (Minn.) Community CollegeCardinals Monday on Sullivan Field. Lance Deville and DerekThompson took care of the pitching while Justin Sykes and PatrickWilliams led the offensive attack as the Wolves swept Hibbing 10-0and 11-1.
“We were able to play error-free defense in both games and I wasproud of that,” said Co-Lin head coach Keith Case. “We wanted towin each inning that we played. We won eight innings on theday.”
The Cardinals arrived Friday from the frozen north whereHibbing’s right field has served as a dumping round for excess snowon the campus. A 30-foot high mound of ice and snow covers theoutfield.
“Friday was the first day for them to practice outside,” saidCase. “It’s been tough on them because they’ve been practicingindoors. They are a lot more athletic than they were two years agowhen they came down here. They had four good practices on ourfield.”
The Wolves (10-8) resume play Thursday at Mississippi Delta inMoorhead. The first game begins at 1 p.m.
Hibbing (0-2) has a twinbill set for Destin, Fla., beforeturning north. The Cardinals will play Pearl River and Southwestlater this week.
Co-Lin 10, Hibbing 0
Lance Deville, coming back from shoulder surgery, is 2-0 on theseason. He struck out 5 batters, walked 2 and scattered 4 hits.
“I thought Lance had his best outing,” said Case. “He did somegood things.
Leftfielder Justin Sykes hit two homers for Co-Lin. He finishedwith 6 RBIs. Sykes hit a grand slam in the fourth and 2-run shot inthe first inning off Cardinal pitcher Aaron Turner.
Shortstop Patrick Williams hit a walk-off, 2-run homer in thefifth which ended the game. Williams also tripled.
Adam Ogden collected 2 hits in the victory. Josh Logan andXavier Qualls singled for the Wolves.
Co-Lin 11, Hibbing 1
Third baseman Garrett Jones collected 3 hits for Co-Lin,including a double. Catcher Adam Ogden doubled.
Matthew Schexnayder singled twice for Co-Lin. Collecting singlesfor Co-Lin were Logan, Williams, Qualls, Cody Cunningham and BenSandifer.
The Cardinals got two hits from Mike Rahne.
Derek Thompson, a freshman from Magee, went 6 innings and gotthe win. He gave up 5 hits, 1 run, struck out 8 and walked 2.