Lady Blue Devils Start Division Play With Tuesday, Thursday Games
Water Valley Blue Devil girl’s fast-pitch softball catcher Taylor Coffey waits on the throw as an Independence base runner slides in safe. The team began division play Tuesday against Hatley. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Editor
The Water Valley Lady Blue Devils fast pitch softball team were set to begin division play against Hatley at presstime Tuesday afternoon after a sluggish four game start.
The Blue Devils were able to win their season-opening, but dropped the next three.
“We don’t use young as an excuse,” Head Coach Shane Brown is quick to point out, although starters include a single senior, a lone junior, two sophomores and six freshmen and an eighth grader.
Coming off 13-7 record last year and their first competition in the playoffs, Brown is optomistic about the season which includes two one-run defeats.
March 1
“We should have won Saturday’s game,” Brown said about the 10-9 loss to Independence that came down to the final inning of play.
Sophmore Chestin Joyner struck out 12 batters from the mound, while giving up seven-earned runs. She also gave up six walks and eight hits in the game.
The Blue Devils were out hit 8 – 7 on the day. Kelsey Kimzey led the Blue Devils going two-for-two at the plate with a pair of singles, scoring two runs and driving one in.
Ashley Phillips was able lay out a double and drive in three runs, while finishing one-for-three at the plate.
Hope Strickland, Taylor Coffey, Anna True, and Haley Vance also each connected with singles during the game.
February 28
The second loss for the season came in another barn-burner against New Albany.
“We lost in the bottom of the last inning after an error was committed,” Brown said of the close game. New Albany was able to overcome the Blue Devils, 6 – 5.
February 21
“They hit the ball,” Brown described in the team’s first loss of the season after South Pontotoc were able to put 16 points on the scoreboard. The Lady Devils put eight of their on runs on the board, losing 16 – 8.
February 18
The Lady Devils won their season-opener against Calhoun City in the low-scoring 3-1 match.
“We played good defense,” Brown said of the contest, adding that the hitting was tad slow.
