WESSON — The Co-Lin Lady Wolves fastpitch softball team has thetalent to hit the ball and they will need today when the 2005 MACJCState/ Region 23 Fastpitch Softball Tournament kicks off at Decaturon the East Central Community College campus.

Co-Lin (27-4) is the No. 2 team out of the South Division andmeets host East Central (Central Division champ) at 3 p.m. thisafternoon.

The Lady Wolves bring in a .373 batting average into theplayoffs. They have collected 221 runs, hit 236 singles, 38doubles, 7 triples and 15 homers for 214 RBI.

Co-Lin sophomore infielder/outfielder Jessica Melton of BogueChitto leads the team with a .494 batting average in 24 gamesplayed and 81 at bats. Melton also has a 24-game hitting streakgoing.

“I’m happy with the way I have been batting,” said Melton of herhitting streak. “If you work at something long enough, you’ll besuccessful.”

The bat of her choice is the Rocket Tech Anderson.

When asked how she remains a consistent hitter for the LadyWolves, Melton replied, “Practice, practice, practice.”

Melton, a sophomore, has collected 29 singles, 7 doubles and 4triples for 24 RBIs and has scored 28 runs on the season. At theplate, she has walked seven times, struck out twice and was hitonce. She did not join the softball team until the basketballseason was over and 7 softball games had already been played.

“Melton’s had elbow problems.” said Co-Lin head softball coachAllen Kent. “She has battled through that. Basically, she has hitin every game she has played this year. As she goes (hits),generally goes the team. She has done it for us all year long. Shehas not been caught stealing. She has played good defense forus.”

“We split with EC earlier at their place before we got Jessicaback,” explained Kent. “He (Coach Scott Hill) has some players backfrom basketball.”

Melton and teammate Jackie Stowe lead the team with 13 stolenbases apiece. Stowe, a freshman infielder/outfielder/pitcher, bats.389 with 30 runs scored, 26 singles, 4 doubles, a triple and 4home runs for 30 RBI.

Following Melton with the second best batting average issophomore infielder Courtney Angel who is .458 at the plate in 48at bats in 19 games. Angel, who hails from Vicksburg, has scored 12runs, hit 15 singles, 6 doubles and a home run for 17 RBI. She hasalso struck out once, walked twice and was hit by five pitches.Angel missed several weeks near the end of the season due to a kneeinjury.

Angie Davis, a sophomore from Brookhaven, has the third bestbatting average at .390 in 30 games and 77 at-bats. Davis hasscored 20 runs, hit 27 singles, 2 doubles and a home run for 13RBI. She has struck out 11 times and walked six times.

The remainder of the Co-Lin lineup’s batting averages are MandyVinson .373, Brandi Bridges .358, Amber Beeson .348, Holly Pyles.347, Emily Horne and Kendra Lindsey .333, Beth Smith .328, MeganBateman .322, and Stacy Smith .318.

“I don’t want to lose a single playoff game,” added Melton. “Wewant to bring it (title) home and play to our potential.”

Kent was pleased with the way his team has been hitting the ballthis year and hopes it will continue in the tournament. “We havehit the ball really well.”