WESSON – Co-Lin pitcher Tyler Copeland said he felt like hugging teammate Bryce Guess after the leftfielder made a leaping catch at the wall and snared an apparent, 6th-inning home run off the bat of Southwest’s Johnny McKenzie. Copeland authored an impressive 3-hit shutout as the Wolfpack prevailed 1-0 in Wednesday’s opener of the Seventh Annual Coca-Cola Classic/Powerade Challenge.

     Copeland, a 6-foot, 155-pound sophomore right-hander from Enterprise-Clarke,  won the pitching duel over Southwest’s Zach Rowell. Copeland (2-0) chalked  up 7 strikeouts and did not issue a base on balls. After allowing a first-inning single, Copeland retired 13 straight batters, including a second-inning double play.

     “My fastball and slider were my best pitches,” said Copeland, who raised  his record to 2-0. “It felt good  out there and it worked out well.”

     Copeland complimented his teammates, particularly Guess. “I had to give him a hug in the dugout.”

     Southwest’s Chris Gill had lashed a Copeland pitch to the left-center field wall for a standup double with 1 out in the sixth. McKenzie’s clout appeared to be headed for the towering pine trees located behind the left field fence. Guess recalled the play.

     “I thought it (ball) was gone,” said Guess. “When I saw it coming down, I just jumped and caught it.”

     Co-Lin scored its only run off Rowell in the bottom of the fourth inning. With 2 batters retired, Guess smashed a single to the left of the second base bag. Designated hitter Jonathan Santana followed with an RBI double to left-center and it was 1-0.

     “Tyler Copeland did a great job pitching for us today,” said Co-Lin coach Keith Case. “Bryce made a big league catch at the wall.”

     Rowell (2-1), suffered his first loss of the season. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore right-hander from McComb gave up 5 hits, including a pair to Co-Lin centerfielder Jarvis Wilbert. Rowell fanned 2 batters and issued 1 intentional walk in the sixth, escaping a bases-loaded jam.

     Southwest (8-10, 1-1) won the second game 7-5 to half the first twinbill. The South Division rivalry continues April 6, at Summit, on Good Friday.

     Co-Lin (13-4-1, 1-1), ranked No. 20 in the latest NJCAA poll, hosts Hinds Saturday for a South Division twinbill, starting at 2 p.m.