SPORTS EDITOR BLOG — Water Valley grabbed a 1-0 lead in its best-of-three series with Corinth in the second round of the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs Friday night thanks to a 5-3 win over the Warriors.The Blue Devils scored four of their five runs in the first two innings to gain an advantage on the Warriors and then a complete-game pitching performance from Josh Johnson and a solid defensive effort to hold off Corinth down the stretch.
The Blue Devils, who improved to 19-6 on the season with the win, never trailed in the game but they were challenged by the Warriors late in the game after they scored two runs in the sixth inning to get to within 4-3.
WVHS tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on a single from Walt McCullough in the top of the seventh, while Johnson retired the Warriors in order in the bottom half of the frame to earn the win. Johnson finished with seven strikeouts in his seven innings of work and only allowed six hits.
The Blue Devils can close out the series Saturday at WVHS. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The winner of the series will play Booneville or Mooreville in the 3A North Half series next weekend. (May 7, 2010)
