SPORTS EDITOR BLOG — The Water Valley Blue Devils are moving on in the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs.
Two big innings led to an early lead for the Blue Devils and ultimately propelled them to an 11-6 win over Corinth Saturday at WVHS. Saturday’s win over the Warriors was the fourth in a row in the playoffs for WVHS and it allowed the team to reach a North Half title series for the second straight season and third time in the past six seasons under coach Doug Robbins.
Water Valley (20-6 overall) will now play Booneville for the right to represent the North in the 3A state championship series later this month. Booneville, also nicknamed the Blue Devils, defeated Mooreville 11-3 on Saturday to eliminate the Troopers, who lost 14-4 to Booneville on Friday night in the series opener.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 7-0 lead in Saturday’s win before Corinth responded in the fourth to cut the deficit to one run. That was as close as the Warriors (22-10) could get to the Blue Devils, who finished the game strong by scoring their final four runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
Shanquayle Jenkins earned the victory on the mound for the Blue Devils, while Game 1 winner, Josh Johnson, came on to shut the door on the Warriors out of the bullpen.
Taylor King had a two-run home run for the Blue Devils in the six-run third inning, while Walt McCullough and Johnson each had three hits. (May 8, 2010)
