Blue Devils ready to get physical

The intensity of summer football drills picked up for the Water Valley Blue Devils Wednesday evening. Coach Brad Embry prepared his team for their first action in shoulder pads today by sending them through a practice that lasted a little over three and a half hours on Wednesday. (July 29, 2010, Page 7)

Johnson’s passion propels him to Player of the Year award

When the 2011 baseball season gets underway next spring, it won’t be surprising if Water Valley Blue Devils head coach Doug Robbins has to make two lineup cards at the season opener. While standout shortstop/pitcher Josh Johnson will be in Senatobia playing for the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers, having his name in the lineup won’t be easy thing for Robbins to erase.

Johnson has been a regular in the Blue Devils’ starting nine since he was in middle school and the impact he’s made in the program, starting with the 2006 season, has been huge. (June 23, 2010, Page 1B)

Sumrall takes first game from Devils

PEARL — Doing the little things right was something Water Valley coach Doug Robbins stressed repeatedly to his Blue Devils before they started their MHSAA Class 3A state championship series with Sumrall Tuesday evening.
Water Valley gave a solid effort in the first game of the best-of-three series against the Bobcats at Trustmark Park, but in the end it was a couple of little things that proved to be the difference in Sumrall’s 12-2 win. (May 26, 2010, Page 6A)

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)

Complete game effort lifts WVHS to win

If there was ever a time for senior pitcher Shanquayle Jenkins to record his best outing of the season, it was in Saturday’s must-win Class 3A North Half playoff game against Booneville.

Jenkins logged a complete-game effort in Water Valley’s 8-1 win over the visiting Blue Devils, who will now host the deciding third game of the series tonight at 6 at Harold T. White Field. (May 17, 2010, Page 3B)

Clean sweep: WVHS headed to North Half

Two of the most complete games of the season have propelled the Water Valley Blue Devils back into the North Half title series.

The Blue Devils polished off the Corinth Warriors in two games in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs to set up a matchup with another set of Blue Devils — Booneville — for the right to advance on to Trustmark Park for the 3A title series next week. WVHS (20-6 overall) defeated the Warriors 5-3 on Friday and 11-6 on Saturday to capture their fifth straight win and seventh in the last eight games. (May 10, 2010, Page 3B)

Devils pounded Wildcats to reach second round

A good approach at the plate led to some early offense and an eventual win for the Water Valley Blue Devils in their Class 3A baseball playoff series with Independence Friday evening.

The Blue Devils advanced to the second round of the playoffs after defeating the Wildcats 10-4. WVHS scored the game’s first six runs and then tacked on its final four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. (May 3, 2010, Page 2B)

Robinson’s effort huge for ‘Dores

Lafayette’s depth and no-quit attitude really made a big difference in its 8-7 win over Water Valley Saturday afternoon.

Led by the stellar all-around play of Hunter Robinson and the solid relief pitching of Luke Stanley, the Commodores were able to flush a disappointing one-run loss to Lewisburg on Friday night by overcoming an early 3-1 deficit to knock of the Blue Devils. (April 12, 2010, Page 2B)

Blue Devils fall flat on final day of tournament

Water Valley’s second doubleheader in the Oxford Spring Break Tournament didn’t go as well as the first one as the Blue Devils lost to Grenada 6-5 and Center Hill 6-2. (March 19, 2010, Page 7A)

Blue Devils split pair with Grenada

Water Valley rallied from a disappointing 5-2 loss to Grenada to earn a doubleheader split with the Chargers Saturday. The Blue Devils won the second game 5-1 thanks to a five-run sixth inning and good relief pitching from Walt McCullough. (March 8, 2010, Page 8A)