Cola Phouangkeo

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6", Weight 143 lb.

• Born August 26, 2000 in Savannakhet Province Laos

Biographical Information

Cola Phouangkeo has been on the Laotian national team.

In Laos's first major tournament, the 2018 Asian Games, he played both games. In the opener against Thailand, he started at catcher and hit third. In the first, facing Siraphop Nadee, he grounded into a double play. In the third, he moved to the mound and pitcher Phithak Hopkhop took over for him at catcher. He struck out the first batter he faced, Phoomwut Wutthikorn, but then gave up a single to Suratit Faengsup and an inside-the-park homer to Naruephol Muangkasem. He retired Joe Daru, walked Chanatip Thongbai and gave up a RBI double to John Daru. Chayaphat Suanthong singled but Cola got Sanyalak Pipatpinyo to end the inning, with Laos down 10-0. In the 4th, he flew out against Adichat Wongvichit. In the bottom of the inning, he allowed a single to Sakai Phraechai, retired Akaradech Jitpong but Alexander Clark tripled in a run and scored on an error by the catcher to make it 12-0. Phouangkeo walked Paramutt Meepakdee but fanned both Joe Daru and Nirawit Bunnam. In the 5th, he moved back to catcher when Soua Xong came in to pitch.

In their second game, versus Sri Lanka, he was the starting hurler. He struck out Charith Krishna Hapuarachchige Don to open the game but then gave up singles to Amila Galbokka Hewage and Sandun Madushanka and a triple to Sameera Rathnayake. Iresh Kosala grounded in a run. Saliya Wijesinghe grounded back to the mound but Phouangkeo made a three-base throwing error. Akalanka Ranasinghe singled to make it 4-0 but the righty escaped further harm by getting Nelanka Karunarathna Uduwaka Hewage to hit into a force. In the 2nd, he retired Sahan Avishka then walked Hapuarachchige. He then moved to catcher and Xong relieved. He went 2 for 5 at the plate, getting both hits off Karunarathna and got the decision in his team's 15-10 loss.

In the preliminary round of the 2018 Asian Games, he tied Nadee for 5th in IP (3 1/3), tied Karunarathna for 3rd in hits allowed (10), was second in runs allowed (10, one behind Hopkhop), was 2nd in earned runs allowed (8, one behind Hopkhop) and tied Xong for 2nd in walks (3).