Lady Blue Devils Continue Hot-Cold Streak
Arnisha Phillips slides into third base, narrowly avoiding the tag as Coach Shane Brown watches close. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Lady Blue Devil pitcher Haley Vance releases the ball in division play last Thursday against Hamilton. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Staff Report
The Water Valley Lady Blue Devils (5 – 17) schedule has been busy with a flurry of games during the last week.
The team recorded four wins in seven games, two wins over Oxford and two wins over Charleston. They went down in division play against Hamilton effectively nixing any chance of post season play.
“The season ends April 10,” Head Coach Shane Brown said. “I am proud of the team for sticking together,” Brown continued.
“We have faced a lot of tough competition, it will only make us better,” the coach reported, eyeing the final games of the season and future years. The team fields a sole senior.
March 25 Versus Oxford
The girls earned a hard-fought win against a tough Oxford team, 14 – 9, overcoming a nine-run deficit in the bottom of the last inning.
March 27 Versus Hamilton
Facing the division’s team leader, a win was a must for any hope of post season play. These hopes dwindled after a hard fought loss last Thursday in a performance Brown described as flat.
Hamilton earned the win, 13 – 5. Lady Devil KeKe Fondon went one-for-two with a single and two runs scored. She also recorded one walk.
Pitcher Haley Vance had a hot bat, going three-for-four with three singles and scoring one run. Anna True also went three-for-four in this game.
Vance recorded the loss, giving up seven hits and four strike-outs.
“We did out-hit them,” Brown noted, adding that six errors negated his teams’ hitting.
Houston Tournament
Versus Houston
Brown pointed to sleepy bats, describing the 15 -0 loss against Houston.
“Our hitting was really asleep,” the coach said. This game was completed in only three innings, with each Water Valley hitter only batting once.
Houston Tournament
Versus Saltillo
A last inning rally by the Lady Blue Devils could not overcome a double-digit deficit in this game. Saltillo finished the game defeating Water Valley 14 – 3.
“They (Saltillo) hit the ball really strong,” Brown added.
Charleston Doubleheader
First Game
The Water Valley team won the first game 17 – 7, with True hitting four-for-seven, Vance hitting five-for-seven, Chancie Joyner going three-for-seven and Mallory Washington going two-for-two. Other Blue Devils hitters included Avery Larson, Chestin Joyner, Hope Strickland and Kelsey Kimzey, each recording a single. Vance earned the win on the mound.
Charleston Doubleheader
Second Game
The Blue Devils earned a lopsided victory, 16 – 1. Kimzey earned the win.
Versus Oxford
Hope Strickland recorded the win in the second 3-2 victory over Oxford. Strickland gave up two hits, three runs, three walks and earned three strike-outs.
The biggest hitter of this contest was Ashley Phillips, who knocked a single, double and triple and scored
“They played consistently for six innings,’ Brown said of this performance. “Both the offense and defense played well.??
