WESSON – Copiah-Lincoln Community College head softball coach Allen Kent wishes the 2014 season had lasted longer, as the Lady Wolves were squeezed out of the MACJC postseason in a tie breaker, but the red-hot finish (8-1 to close the season) has the veteran leader fired up about his 2015 team.

The 2014 team finished 26-16 (15-6 at home) and posted a 17-11 record in the ultra-competitive MACJC South Division. Kent will have to replace some true stalwarts of the last two seasons in the Lady Wolves lineup. What Kent believes he has in 2015 is a quick and athletic team that can put pressure on the defense when they reach the base paths.

Laigast and Johnston veteran anchors in infield

Sophomore Brooke Laigast returns after being named MACJC Second Team All-State as a freshman in 2014. The graduate of Archbishop Hannah High School (La.) scored a team high 40 runs and hit a team leading 16 doubles. She also led the team with 22 walks. The leadoff batter for Co-Lin, Laigast committed only four errors in 136 total chances at shortstop. Laigast will more than likely slide over to second base as a sophomore. Also returning is sophomore Savannah Johnston, who saw action in the middle infield and at center field as a freshman. Johnston, a graduate of North Pike High School, tied for the team lead with three triples in 2014.

Freshmen expected to see significant time in the infield include Lauren Brashier (a pitcher who will also play first base), Kaitlyn Taylor (also a pitcher who can play shortstop), and Brittany Barbay. Lost to graduation were infielders Hannah Roberts (MACJC Second Team All-State) and Beth Fortenbery.

Wallace, Byrd, and Johnson all have outfield experience 

Sophomore Adrienne Wallace returns after playing every position but pitcher as a freshman. The Bogue Chitto graduate will most likely begin 2015 as an outfielder, but can also play in the middle of the infield, and put on the gear to catch as well. Wallace only made two errors in 69 fielding opportunities in 2014. Kristen Byrd and Julian Johnson, two sophomores who are both graduates of Lawrence County High School, also return experience in the outfield in 2015. Byrd, one of the speediest players on the team, was also used as a courtesy runner in 2014.

Freshmen expected to see playing time in the outfield in 2015 include Mattie Avants, McKenzie Brock, Greta Carely and Carmen Perry. Lost to graduation were outfielders Missy Romero and Kayla Craft.

Welch, Sheffield, and McKenzie are most seasoned pitchers and catcher 

Sophomore catcher Breanna McKenzie returns after leading Co-Lin in nearly every batting category in 2014. The North Pike product finished with a team high in hits (52), RBI (31), and homeruns (2). McKenzie will catch and serve as a designated hitter. Co-Lin has added another hard-hitting catcher in freshman Jessica Crum. Crum, a graduate of Dutchtown High School (La.) will also see time as a designated hitter. Lawrence County product Sam Lee rounds out the catching staff.

Sophomore Rheagan Welch is the most experienced returnee at the position of pitcher. Welch, a Bogue Chitto graduate, posted a 3.33 ERA in 73.2 innings pitched in 2014. Welch got stronger as the season progressed and is expected to fill a big role for Co-Lin in 2015. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Payton Sheffield also brings experience to the circle. Sheffield will also likely see time at first base.

Brashier, Taylor, Kamry Creel, and Lucy Lewis are freshman pitchers who will all see substantial playing time in 2015. Lost to graduation were catcher Kacie Berry, pitcher Meghan Johnson, and pitcher Brooke Gonzalez (MACJC First Team All-State).

Lady Wolves at the next level 

Former Lady Wolf Missy Romero will suit up this season for Millsaps College in Jackson. Former Lady Wolf Josie Porter will be a senior this season at Belhaven University. Porter started in all 59 games as a junior for the Lady Blazers. Former Co-Lin teammates Karla Beth Hux and Kaitlin Moak will both be seniors this season at Mississippi College. The duo helped the Lady Choctaws a 34-14 record in 2014.

MACJC stronger than any league in America 

As far as NJCAA Division II softball goes, it gets no tougher than the South Division of the MACJC, where the winner in the division is usually among the highest ranked teams in the nation. Co-Lin, East Central, Gulf Coast, and Jones have all had their moment in the sun at the national tournament. A member of the North Division of the MACJC has not won the state championship since the schools dropped slow-pitch and moved to fast-pitch. The Region 23 tournament is even tougher than the state tournament, due to the addition of region foe LSU-Eunice. Eunice has won back-to-back NJCAA National Championships. To compete with the best in the nation, you must get timely hitting and quality pitching throughout the season. Pitching staff depth is also a must if you plan to be at the top of Region 23.

Kent builds foundation on family atmosphere 

Kent begins his 13th season leading the Lady Wolves with a 301-166 career record. His team is usually one of the closest-knit groups on campus. If you see one Lady Wolf, you are sure to see three more right behind her. The team bond is built over academics as well as athletics. The Lady Wolves were the No. 11 academic team of the year in 2014 with a 3.44 grade point average. The team finished No.2 in 2013, No. 5 in 2012, and No. 6 in 2011.

The Lady Wolves tradition is such that many of the girls grow up dreaming of playing at Co-Lin. That tradition continues when the girls leave Wesson. Many of the high school teams in the area are coached by former Lady Wolves. Of the seven signees so far in the 2015 signing class, four signees were coached by former Co-Lin players in high school.

Kent and his assistant Duane Burt strive to make sure their student-athletes are well rounded when they leave Wesson. They also want the girls to have fun. From Christmas parties to an annual scavenger hunt at the end of the fall semester, it’s easy to see why the Lady Wolves are so tight on and off the field.

CL Softball Menu

2015 SCHEDULE

Date       Opponent                             Location                   Time

Feb. 3        Itawamba                                          Fulton, MS                        2 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 6        MS Delta                                            Wesson, MS                    1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 12      MS Delta                                            Moorhead, MS               1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 17      Coahoma                                             Wesson, MS                    1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 20     Lincoln Land/Illinois Central      Ellisville, MS                 3 p.m.

Feb. 23      Baton Rouge                                     Baton Rouge, LA            3 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 27      MS Gulf Coast                                    Wesson, MS                   2 p.m. (DH)

March 3     Southwest MS                                    Summit, MS                   3 p.m. (DH)

March 6      Jones                                                    Wesson, MS                    2 p.m. (DH)

March 8       Meridian                                             Wesson, MS                   1 p.m. (DH)

March 16     Coahoma                                            Clarksdale, MS               1 p.m. (DH)

March 18      East Central                                     Decatur, MS                    3 p.m. (DH)

March 21       Pearl River                                      Wesson, MS                    12 p.m. (DH)

March 24       Hinds                                                Raymond, MS                  2 p.m. (DH)

March 27        Gulf Coast                                      Perkinston, MS               2 p.m. (DH)

March 30        Southwest                                     Wesson, MS                      3 p.m. (DH)

April 1             Jones                                                Ellisville, MS                     3 p.m. (DH)

April 2             East MS                                           Scooba, MS                       3 p.m. (DH)

April 8             Meridian                                         Meridian, MS                   3 p.m. (DH)

April 11           East Central                                   Wesson, MS                     12 p.m. (DH)

April 14          Pearl River                                     Poplarville, MS                3 p.m. (DH)

April 17          Hinds                                                 Wesson, MS                      2 p.m. (DH)

April 20         Holmes                                              Wesson, MS                    3 p.m. (DH)

April 24-25     MACJC State Playoffs                          TBD                                    TBD

May 1-2           MACJC State Tournament                   TBD                                   TBD

May 7-9           Region 23 Tournament                         TBD                                   TBD

May 12-16       NJCAA D2 National Tournament      Clinton, MS                   TBD

2015 ROSTER

No.     Name                Pos.     CL     High School/Hometown

00      Lucy Lewis                   P           FR        Denham Springs/Denham Springs, LA

1          Adrienne Wallace     UT        SO        Bogue Chitto/Bogue Chitto, MS

3         Lauren Brashier        P/UT   FR        Heidelberg Academy/Heidelberg, MS

4         McKenzie Brock        UT        FR        North Pike/Summit, MS

5         Sam Lee                         C           SO        Lawrence County/Monticello, MS

6        Kaitlyn Taylor          P/IF         FR        Copiah Academy/Crystal Springs, MS

7        Kristen Byrd               UT          SO        Lawrence County/Monticello, MS

8       Rheagan Welch           P             SO        Bogue Chitto/Bogue Chitto, MS

10     Brittany Barbay          IF            FR        Zachary/Zachary, LA

11    Savannah Johnston     IF            SO       North Pike/Summit, MS

13      Greta Carley                OF           FR        Columbia Academy/Columbia, MS

14      Brooke Laigast            IF             SO        Hannah/Covington, LA

15      Breanna McKenzie      C            SO         North Pike/Summit, MS

22     Mattie Avants               OF          FR        Bogue Chitto/Bogue Chitto, MS

23     Jessica Crum                 C            FR        Dutchtown/Dutchtown, LA

26     Kamry Creel                 P            FR         McComb/McComb, MS

28     Payton Sheffield         P             SO          Oak Grove/Hattiesburg, MS

33     Julian Johnson          OF           SO         Lawrence County/Monticello, MS

45     Carmen Perry             OF          FR           Columbia/Columbia, MS

Head Coach:  Allen Kent

Assistant Coach:  Duane Burt

Managers:  Braxton Foster, Colton Welch