It doesn’t take long to get used to the Copiah-Lincoln and Southwest Mississippi Community College baseball rivalry.
This year the rivalry will be the Coca-Cola Baseball Challenge and is in its fourth year as a sponsored series. Coca-Cola’s marketing director James Brumfield said it was an easy decision to pick up the match.
“Any way we can help athletes and the community college system we want to be a part of it,” he said.
This year the sponsors will pass the $10,000 mark for total donations to the two colleges.
As for the on-the-field rivalry, both teams are in similar spots. Both have had ups and downs with a young group.
Southwest is currently 11-15 and 1-5 in the MACJC South Division, while Co-Lin entered last week 7-12 overall.
The two face off on Tuesday in Wesson, with first pitch at 4 p.m.
Co-Lin and Southwest had scrimmaged in the fall and that’s when Southwest freshman Eric Boyd was introduced to what the rivalry means and he still has the scars to remember it by.
“It was a back door pick to third base,” Boyd said. “I don’t remember where my glove was but I grabbed the ball and the guy comes into the bag. Steps on my hand and the cleat went through the skin.
“I had six stitches and they called him safe. Now it’s kind of funny.”
Now Boyd sees most of his playing time either pitching or at designated hitter so he won’t have to worry about any plays at the bag.
The rivalry should continue to showcase good games. Last year, Southwest blew a 10-2 lead only to come back to win 15-14 in the second game to tie the series at 1-1.
Co-Lin won both games at Southwest later in the season to take the the challenge for the second straight year.
“Both teams have had similar seasons,” Southwest head coach Lee Kuyrkendall said. “We’ve had flashes of brilliance and tough breaks as well. We’re both anxious to play in it and all four games should be nail-biters.”
