BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Cinderella arrived in the big blue and silverCopiah-Lincoln Community College bus Tuesday night at 8:30. Wearyfrom a 13-hour journey of 635 miles, plus a 2-hour practice sessionin Jackson, Tenn., the team was ready for a good night’s sleepbefore another round of practice Wednesday afternoon.

Fresh from bringing home the NJCAA Region 23 Tournamentchampionship from Poplarville, the Wolves are bent on winning thisweek’s Super Regional at St. Catharine, located about 15 miles fromthis Bourbon Capital of Kentucky.

The winner of this week’s silver slipper will land a berth inthe Division II World Series which starts May 27 in Millington,Tenn. Co-Lin’s first challenge arrives Thursday morning at 11 a.m.CST, versus Lenoir (N.C.), Host St. Catharine plays Itawamba, theNorth Mississippi region champion, at 2 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament will feature three games onFriday. Since St. Catharine’s field doesn’t have lights, there willbe an early morning game Friday. Plans are to broadcast the gameson B-92.

Co-Lin head coach Keith Case would love to see his Wolves makeanother trip to the World Series. Their last appearance was 2000,when they finished fourth.

To put it mildly, the 2005 campaign started out like a nightmaremovie. Cinderella was cruelly abused by her evil stepmother andstepsisters. Co-Lin had enough serious injuries to open a new wingat KDMC.

The Wolves entered the regional at Poplarville with a 24-24record. Pearl River, ranked No. 1 in the nation, was the heavyfavorite. Co-Lin beat the host Wildcats twice on their home turf,setting off a happy celebration.

“We are the underdogs again but I don’t mind that label,” saidCase. “We plan on winning the super regional, too.”

For sure, Co-Lin realized some of its potential in the regional.They had lost enough close shaves during the regular season to havea sustained case of razor burn.

Case hopes his Wolves can maintain a victory run similar to theregional. They won their first two games, beating Hinds and PearlRiver, granting them the championship finals. They lost a 4-3decision to Pearl River on Sunday but rebounded to whip theWildcats 10-3 for the title.

“We need to win the first two games,” said Case. “That will workbest for our pitching staff.”

Case will start freshman Derek Thompson against Lenoir. He’lluse Co-Lin strikeout king Ryan Belanger in Game Two. Case plans touse Lance Deville in Game Three and Scotty Smith in Game Four.

Recognized for his team focus and discipline, Case runs a tightship. On Tuesday morning, before eating breakfast at Shoney’s onHigh St. in Jackson, he issued orders. “Tuck your shirts in andleave your caps on the bus.”

Case’s wife and children are along for the ride. They had theirshirts tucked in too.

Co-Lin went through a brisk, 2-hour afternoon practice sessionat Jackson (Tenn.) Community College’s Jack Martin Baseball Field.It was a beautiful, sun-kissed afternoon with the temperature inthe mid 70s.

Case pitched portions of batting practice. His players rotated,first using wooden bats and then switching to aluminum. Wooden batsare used because the “sweet spot” is smaller. Batters have to focuson smaller area of the barrel.

After practice, the players grabbed rakes and brooms to smooththe infield, pitching mound and batter’s box, plus sweep thedugout. The idea was to leave the field looking better than whenthe Wolves arrived.

Jack Martin Field also doesn’t have lights. Apparently, thenights are too cold in the spring for night baseball.

By contrast, many games in Mississippi are played at night toavoid the intense heat. Jackets are necessary gear in Kentucky.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com