Co-Lin splits with Jones County

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, March 17, 2011

WESSON – Southpaw Ryan Kennedy pitched Co-Lin to a 5-2 win overJones County Junior College in Wednesday’s South Division nightcap,with relief help from Cody Wall, as the Wolfpack and Bobcats begandivision play.

In the opener, Southern Miss signee Andrew Pierce pitched theBobcats to an 8-1 victory against Co-Lin on a sun-kissed afternoon.Pierce (3-1) struck out 7 batters, walked none and allowed 4hits.

Co-Lin (12-6, 1-1) and archrival Southwest renew the Sixth AnnualCoca-Cola Classic Challenge Saturday on Sullivan Field. The FamilyDay twinbill starts at 1 p.m. Brandon Jones and Raymond Winter areexpected to start on the mound for Co-Lin.

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Jones County (14-7, 1-1) returns home to its sparkling, new$2.8-million Community Bank Park at Ellisville to host Pearl Riverfor a Saturday twinbill.

“We are excited about Saturday and we are looking forward toplaying Southwest,” said Co-Lin coach Keith Case. “It should be agreat day.”

Jones 8, Co-Lin 1

Tyler Reeves delivered a 2-out, pinch-hit, solo homer off Pierce inthe bottom of the seventh to end Co-Lin’s scoring drought. Thehomer cleared the left field fence. Reeves was the third of 4pinch-hitters in the final frame.

Offensively, the Bobcats finished with 10 hits. Outfielder DarionHamilton tripled and doubled. His 2-run double down the right fieldline gave JCJC a 5-0, fifth-inning lead.

“Andrew Pierce is a good one,” said Coach Case. “He had a chance togo to LSU and Ole Miss after his freshman year but decided to stickwith Jones and stay eligible for the draft.”

Ben McDowell started for Co-Lin and absorbed the loss.

Co-Lin 5, Jones 2

“I thought Ryan came out and gave us a chance,” said Coach Case.”He was sharp and competed before he ran out of gas in thefifth.”

Kennedy lasted 4.1 innings. He gave up 1 run on 3 hits, walked 6and hit 1 batter.

“Cody Wall kept the ball down in the zone and got a lot of groundballs,” Case added. “We had two double plays to help himout.”

Wall allowed 2 hits and recorded the save.

In the nightcap, the Pack capitalized on walks. Jesse Shows led offand battled in the third, forcing JCJC pitcher Blake McIlwain tothrow 12 pitches before drawing a walk. Kolby Byrd and WillieBuckley produced RBI singles and a third Co-Lin run scored on awild pitch as Dehendret Collins slid home.

The Wolves added their final run in the fifth. Bud Britt singledand Byrd doubled into the right field corner. Buckley’s sacrificefly to right scored Britt.

Edmund and Cheatham both singled twice in the win.

Nick Ray doubled and Vito Perna singled twice for theBobcats.

McIlwain started and took the loss for JCJC. He went 2 2/3 innings,gave up four runs on four hits, walked two and struck out one.Chase Stewart went 1 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and one run.Josh Palmer pitched 1 1/3 innings, gave up one hit and a walk.Jaron Bailey got the final out for the Bobcats.