WESSON — Co-Lin head coach Keith Case finds himself and hisWolves in a familiar role as they prepare for the NJCAA Division IIWorld Series in Millington, Tenn. They are the underdogs inSaturday’s 3 p.m. game against Elgin (Ill.) Community College.

The Elgin Spartans (52-8) and Co-Lin Wolves (30-26-1) will playin the third game Saturday. The first game is set for 9 a.m.,featuring Madison (Wis.) Area Technical Wolfpack (43-19) versusChesapeake (Md.) Skipjacks (39-16).

At noon Saturday, the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Raiders (30-21) playthe Mesa (Ariz.) Thunderbirds. At 7:30 p.m., the Parkland Cobras(48-15) of Champaign, Ill. play the Brookdale (N.J.) Jersey Blues(42-4).

Win or lose, all eight teams play Sunday in thedouble-elimination format. First round losers play at 9 a.m. and 12noon. First round winners play at 3 p.m. and 7:30.

Championship finals are either Thursday or Friday night at7:30.

“We are definitely the underdogs but we like that role,” saidCase. “We’ve been the underdog all through the playoffs.”

Case watched his Wolves win the South Region 23 Tournament atPearl River in Poplarville 3 weeks ago by knocking off the No.1-ranked Wildcats. In the Southeast District Super Regional at St.Catharine, Ky., last week, Co-Lin beat Lenoir (N.C.), Itawamba(Miss.) and St. Catharine to land a berth in the World Series. TheWolves rallied for 3 runs in the top of the ninth inning to beatSt. Catharine 8-7 in the finals.

“Elgin is a defense and pitching team,” said Case. “They can hitwith power and they can run. They find a way to manufactureruns.”

Case said he was impressed by Elgin’s pitchers and their depth.”They have three predominant pitchers.”

Leading the Spartan staff is Robert Johnson (10-1), MikeHlavacek (10-0) and Dan Vogt (9-1). Hlavacek throws a fastball inthe 90-92 mile per hour range. Johnson and Vogt both can throw avariety of pitches, including the fastball, slider, curveball andchangeup.

Co-Lin will counter with solid pitching. During the postseason,Case saw 6 of the 8 games completed by his starting pitchers.

Case said sophomore right-hander Ryan Belanger (6-7) of Houma,La., would get the starting nod against Elgin. Belanger holds thecareer season record for strikeouts with 121 to his credit. He hasa 0.47 ERA in the postseason.

On Sunday, Co-Lin freshman right-hander Derek Thompson (8-4)will get the starting assignment. Thompson owns a 2.65 ERA in theplayoffs. Sophomore Lance Deville (4-4) and freshman Scotty Smith(7-4) also work in the starting rotation.