Lady Devils Lose Second Straight Game To Commodores
In varsity action, shortstop Ashely Phillips got the tag on the foot of Lafayette’s Stormy Robison, but the umpire didn’t see it that way and Robison was called safe on the play. – Photo by Johnny Avant
First baseman Kelsey Neeley doubled in the last inning to help Water Valley beat Lafayette 5-4 in junior varsity action Saturday. – Photo by Johnny Avant
Junior Varsity Team Earns One-Run Victory
By Johnny Avant
Contributing Writer
WATER VALLEY – For the second consecutive Saturday, the Lady Devils of Water Valley and the Lady Commodores of Lafayette met on the softball diamond. The Lady Devil junior varsity came away with another one run win, improving their record to 5-1. Water Valley’s varsity squad lost their second straight game to Lafayette, leaving their record at 8-4.
In the first game of the day, Lafayette’s junior varsity jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and then added another run in the top of the third. Water Valley was unable to get anything going offensively until the bottom of the third when Tierra Turner and Erica Rice started the inning off with back to back singles. Shy Folson drove in Turner on a fielder’s choice and Tyler Epes singled to drive in Rice making it a 3-2 game.
The Lady Commodores added a run in the top of the fourth giving them a two run lead. Maronica Campbell led off the bottom of the fourth by drawing a walk. Lafayette retired the next two Water Valley batters, and the Lady Devils found themselves down two runs with two outs in the last inning.
However, first baseman, Kelsey Neeley came through in a big way and hit a double that scored Campbell. Neeley’s double was followed by singles from Turner and Rice that tied the game. Shy Folson drove in the winning run on Water Valley’s fourth consecutive hit, and just like they have done all season, a gritty Lady Devil JV team found a way to win.
In the varsity game, things started well but did not end well for the Lady Devils. Starting pitcher Haley Vance retired the Lady Commodores in order for the first three outs of the game. In the bottom of the first, Water Valley shortstop Ashely Phillips started the inning off with a single and stole her way to third base. After being hit by a pitch and stealing a base, third baseman Brianna Thompson ended up on second. However, what started as a promising inning ended quickly with two ground ball outs and the Lady Devils did not score.
The game remained scoreless until Lafayette’s offense got going in the top of the fourth and scored three runs. The Lady Commodores added three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and five in the seventh giving them a 13-0 lead.
Water Valley’s offense, which has been very good at times this season, had no answer for Lafayette’s pitching. The Lady Devils only managed three hits on Saturday, singles by Ashely Phillips and Mallory Washington, and a double by Shade Epes.
The Lady Devils hope to get back to their winning ways with two home games this week. Cleveland East Side comes to town on Tuesday, April 13, and the Bruce Lady Trojans will be in town on Friday, April 16. Both games start at 5 p.m. at the new Lady Devil field.
