Blue Devils Score Two Game Sweep Against Independence

Walt McCullough slides in safe at third base in the first game against Independence. The Blue Devils won both games in the series. – Photo by Judy Robbins

Blue Devil Tank Hervey connects at the plate in the second game against Independence. Josh Johnson waits for the go-ahead at third base. – Photo by Judy Robbins

By Reid Bankston
Sports Reporter

  A different week and a vastly different result for the Water Valley Blue Devils, as Coach Doug Robbins squad played up to their potential in a two-game sweep at Independence.  The Blue Devils, who experienced one of those days in a 10-0 defeat at North Pontotoc last weekend, produced from both the mound and the plate, as Water Valley (2-1) trumped the Wildcats by a combined 14-4 score.

Game One

  After struggling in his season opener against the Vikings, game one at Independence was quite simply the Tank Hervey show.  The senior pitching ace showed the quality that many expect from him at the front end of the Blue Devil rotation, as Hervey (1-1) pitched six quality innings, the first four being of the no hit variety.  Hervey turned the ball over to Josh Johnson with a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning, and the junior didn’t disappoint, as he shut down any hopes of a Wildcat comeback, clinching Water Valley’s first win of the season by that same 3-1 margin.  From the plate, it was a balanced Blue Devil attack, as Hervey helped his own cause with a two run homerun that brought in football teammate D.C. Logan, while J.D. Fondon continue his good run with the bat with a double that brought in sophomore Walt McCullough to open the scoring in the second inning.  

Game Two

  The second game of the weekend produced the same result, but it came in a dramatically different fashion, as the Blue Devils just simply dominated Independence in all facets of the game.  Junior Shonqualye Jenkins (1-0) got the start on the mound for the Blue Devils, and like Hervey in game one, the Water Valley starter was steady and strong, giving up only two earned runs in four innings.   Although Jenkins did his part in turning game two into a pitching duel as well, the Blue Devil bats were having none of that.  Jenkins did plenty to help secure his own victory on the mound with a 4-4 performance at the plate, while McCullough and Fondon combined for seven RBI’s.  Hervey and third baseman Brandon Brooks benefited greatly from the hot Water Valley bats, as the duo touched home plate a combined six times.