WESSON — On a cold, windy Wednesday afternoon, the Co-Lin LadyWolves fastpitch softball team kicked off the 2007 season with apair of 1-run wins over the Hinds Community College Lady Eagles.Co-Lin came back to clip Hinds 4-3 in the opener and 9-8 in theextra-inning finale.

Before the first game began, Co-Lin president Dr. Howell Garnerpresented Coach Allen Kent, his sophomore players and his staffwith State/Region 23 Championship rings from last season.

Co-Lin travels to East Central Friday for a doubleheader.

Co-Lin 4, Hinds 3

The winning pitcher in the first game was Kayla Crochet with 9strikeouts, no walks and 4 hits allowed. The losing hurler wasLauren Johnson.

“Kayla threw well, despite the frigid conditions,” said CoachKent. “She really finished strong, striking out 7 of the final 11batters.”

According to Kent, Hinds made a some good defensive plays tokill a few Co-Lin rallies.

Hinds led Co-Lin 4-0 going into the bottom of the fifth. TheLady Wolves exploded for two runs and scored the tying andgame-winning runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Erin Douglass powered Co-Lin with a triple and a pair ofsingles. Kady King drilled 2 doubles. Crochet singled.

“I was proud we found a way to come back and win.” addedKent.

Co-Lin 9, Hinds 8

In the second game, freshman hurler Meleah Brown took over forDouglas in the sixth inning to help the Lady Wolves in the comebackwin. Douglas allowed 5 earned runs and 9 hits with 2 walks and 2strikeouts. Hinds led 6-4 when Brown took over on the mound.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Wolves came back with four runs tocut the deficit to 6-4. Catcher Lauren Smith led off with a singleand Brown reached base on an error. Kaylin Burke was hit by a pitchand loaded the bases. Annie Selman ripped a a 2 RBI double to cutthe deficit to two runs.

The Lady Eagles added one run in the top of the sixth with thehelp of two Co-Lin errors.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lauren Smith got her second hit ofthe game and Brown doubled to right center. Emily Langley smacked asingle to right to drive in two runs. With one out, Langley stolesecond and advance to third. King reached base on an error. Crochethit a sacrifice fly to center to score Langley and tie the game at7.

With the international tiebreaker runs in effect, Hindsscratched a run in the top of the eighth.

In the Co-Lin half of the inning, Ashley Sykes was thedesignated runner at second base to begin the inning. AllysonWallace sacrificed her to 3rd. Lauren Smith drilled her thirdsingle of the game to left field, tying the score at 8-8.

Following a passed ball and a walk by Brown, the stage was setagain for Langley. The Brookhaven Academy product stroked thegame-winning single to left, scoring Smith on a head-first slide athome plate.

“It wasn’t a pretty game,” said Kent. “The weather was miserableand the girls could have easily laid down after trailing 6-0 in thefifth. Meleah came in and did a great job shutting them down.

“I really appreciate the fan support we had in these extremeweather conditions,” added Kent. “Some said the wind-chill was inthe mid 20’s. I believe it!”