Baughman elevated to Oxford’s head baseball coach
The search for a new head baseball coach at Oxford High came to a conclusion Tuesday as the school board approved the hiring of Charger assistant coach Chris Baughman to the position. Baughman, who has been an assistant for the past six seasons, said he was blessed with the opportunity to coach the Chargers. (May 26, 2010, Page 7A)
WVHS hoping for better results
The Water Valley Blue Devils open the Class 3A state baseball championship series with Sumrall today. It won’t be the first trip to Trustmark Park in Pearl or to the state finals for the Blue Devils, however. Water Valley advanced to the title series in 2006 before losing two of three games to Newton County.
Sports Editor John Davis takes a look back at that 2006 series in a Water Valley baseball flashback. (May 25, 2010, Page 8)
WVHS hunting for first state title
Two wins this week is all that separates the Water Valley Blue Devils from capturing the first baseball title in school history. After streaking through the first three rounds of the MHSAA’s Class 3A playoffs, the Blue Devils (22-7 overall) are back in action at Pearl’s Trustmark Park searching for that title like they were in 2006.
But in order for the Blue Devils to win this year’s 3A title, they will have to defeat Mississippi’s best team — Sumrall — and a program that has carved its name on the trophy the past two seasons. (May 24, 2010, Page 2B)
Blue Devils make adjustments for park, Sumrall Bobcats
Making the adjustment to playing in a larger ballpark and a wider, deeper outfield has been a point of emphasis for the Water Valley Blue Devils in practices leading up to their Class 3A state title series with Sumrall.
All of the MHSAA’s state championship games are played at Trustmark Park in Pearl. The home of the Class AA Mississippi Braves features a fence that is 402 feet deep in center field, 332 feet down the right field line and 330 down the line in left. All of the dimensions are bigger than almost every high school field in the state while the playing surface will arguably be the quickest any of the Blue Devils or Bobcats have played on. (May 24, 2010, Page 2B)
Blue Devils all want to be the main guy
Every team that goes on to win a championship of some kind always seems to have a turning point that helps define the season.
No matter the sport, there is always one game or one moment that plays an incredibly pivotal role in helping define that particular team.
In the case of the Water Valley Blue Devils baseball team, that defining moment came shortly after the team wrapped up its fourth game in the Oxford Spring Break Tournament. After winning their first two games, the Blue Devils struggled against Grenada in a loss and were thoroughly beaten by Center Hill in the finale. (May 21, 2010, Page 7a)
Stats, record speak volumes for Sumrall legacy in Mississippi record books
It doesn’t take a long time to figure out that the Sumrall Bobcats are a very, very good team. The gaudy team stats speak for themselves while back-to-back Class 3A titles, a 33-1 overall record this season and a 67-game winning streak that ended earlier this season only add to the Bobcats’ resume. (May 21, 2010, Page 7a)
Former Rebel forward Holloway will play for Gamecocks
Former Ole Miss men’s basketball forward Murphy Holloway held a press conference at his high school Wednesday to announce his intentions to transfer and eventually play for Darrin Horn’s South Carolina Gamecocks. (May 20, 2010, Page 6)
Robbins gets a haircut
SPORTS EDITOR BLOG — Apparently the Class 3A North Half champion Water Valley Blue Devils aren’t just good on the baseball diamond, they’re pretty good at giving haircuts as well. (more…) (May 19, 2010)
LHS teams fare well in 4A meet
Lafayette wrapped up successful seasons on the track Monday with two top five finishes for the Commodore and Lady Commodore teams in the MHSAA Class 4A meet held at Pearl High School.
Lafayette’s boys garnered 44 points to finish in third place out of 33 teams, while Lafayette’s girls scored 47.50 to finish fourth out of 27 teams in the field. (May 19, 2010, Page 7)
Blue Devils get offensive in decisive win
A season built on strong team unity and an aggressive, yet productive approach at the plate paid dividends in spades for the Water Valley Blue Devils in Monday night’s decisive Class 3A North Half title series with Booneville. (more…) (May 18, 2010, Page 8)
