WESSON — The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Lady Wolvesfastpitch softball team will host the MACJC State TournamentFriday-Sunday. The tourney is being played under double-eliminationrules.

Co-Lin, coached by Allen Kent and assistant Johnny Williams, isthe South Division champ and won the right to serve as tournamenthost.

The Lady Wolves finished regular season play with a 31-7record.

“I like our chances,” said Kent. “We have won 18 out of our last19 games. We are playing pretty well. This a strong bracket. We areevenly matched.”

Joining the Lady Wolves are South runner-up Gulf Coast, CentralDivision Champion East Central and runner-up Meridian, NorthDivision Champion Northeast and runner-up Northwest. Meridian isthe defending two-time state champion.

Sophomores playing for Co-Lin are pitcher Emily Horne ofPearland, Texas; infielder Amber Beeson of Sontag; infielder JackieStowe of Hazlehurst; catcher Megan Bateman of Brookhaven andutility player Holly Pyles of Crystal Springs.

Freshmen include catcher/infielder Lauren Smith of Brookhaven;infielder Brooke Caston of Gloster; infielder Allyson Wallace ofBrookhaven; utility player Kaylin Burke of Ruth; outfielder JessicaHart of Brookhaven; pitcher Erin Douglass of Katy, Texas;outfielder Candace Braxton of Bogue Chitto; infielder Kady King ofBrandon and outfielder Annie Selman of Crystal Springs.

Team statistician is sophomore Jessie Altman of Brookhaven.

The Lady Wolves have had tremendous pitching this season. Horneand Douglass were the regular starters. Stowe has seen limitedaction over the season. The team ERA is 1.41.

Horne (13-3) has faced 369 batters in 107 innings with 14 runsallowed. She has allowed 47 hits, struck out 143 batters, hit 13hit batters and walked 20 for an ERA of .52.

Douglass (13-4) has pitched 108.67 innings, facing 428 battersand allowing 102 hits and 52 runs scored. She has fanned 61batters, hit 1 batter and walked 38 for a 2.13 ERA.

Stowe is 2-0 in 12 innings pitched with a ERA of 2.92. Shestruck out 7 and walked 4 in facing 55 batters and allowing 6runs.

Douglass also excels at the plate, leading the Lady Wolves witha .473 batting average. She has doubled 12 times for 31 RBIs andholds an on base average of .543. Douglass has 53 hits, gotten onbase 70 times, stole 7 bases and scored 31 runs.

Stowe, who was elected into the Co-Lin Hall of Fame with a 4.0GPA, is the second Lady Wolf with the highest batting average. Sheis batting .431 in 109 at bats, has 47 hits, been on base 57 timesand scored 25 runs. Stowe has collected 5 doubles for 32 RBIS andhas walked 5 times. She has struck out 4 times and leads the teamwith 11 stolen bases.

Other hitters for the Lady Wolves include Selman .406, Bateman.383, King .376, Braxton .347, Smith .338, Horne .327, Burke .271,Wallace .267, Beeson .250 and Pyles .186.

Beeson has the team’s only home run of the season.

“This is our least number of home runs since I’ve been here butI’ll take wins any day over home runs,” stated Kent.

The team batting average this year is .351.

On base paths, Braxton is the fastest followed by Selman andHart.

Kent,42, is in his fourth year as head coach. This is the fourthstraight year the Lady Wolves have gone to state under Kent’sleadership.

“We are proud to able to host the tournament,” added Kent.”We’re bringing in teams to our community.” Most of the teamsarrive Thursday night.