Water Valley’s rally falls short

NETTLETON — The Lady Blue Devils’ rally was too little, too late on Thursday evening at James Malone Field.

After falling behind early, the Water Valley softball team was unable recover in time before eventually losing to the Nettleton Lady Tigers 6-1 in Game 1 of the second round of the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs. (more…) (May 6, 2011, Page 8A)

Lady Devils sweep Riverside to advance in 3A

The Water Valley Lady Blue Devils, winners of eight of their last nine games, continued their winning ways by sweeping the Riverside Lady Bulldogs over the weekend in the first round of the MHSAA Class 3A fastpitch softball playoffs. (more…) (May 2, 2011, Page 2B)

Lady Blue Devils riding momentum into playoffs

The Lady Blue Devils appear to have found the perfect time to hit their stride.

With the first round of the Class 3A playoffs beginning on Friday, Water Valley’s softball squad (12-10 overall) heads into its matchup with Riverside (13-8) having won six of its last seven games. (more…) (April 28, 2011, Page 7)

WVHS tabs Clouse as next softball coach

With an emphasis on the future, Water Valley has hired Hollandale-Simmons coach Casey Clouse to lead its softball program.

The hiring of Clouse was officially approved at the Water Valley Schoolboard meeting on April 4. She will replace Kendra Bensch, who announced earlier this season that she will be relocating with her family during the summer. (April 18, 2011, Page 3B)

Vance, Epps lead WVHS to doubleheader sweep

Led by the hitting of Haley Vance and the pitching of Tyler Epps, the Water Valley Lady Blue Devils were able to secure wins over South Pontotoc and Byhalia on Friday night. (more…) (April 11, 2011, Page 4B)

WVHS thwarts Lady Chargers’ rally

It wasn’t a clean game by any means but both Oxford and Water Valley were able to take positives away from Thursday’s 8-7 decision that went the way of the Lady Blue Devils.

For the visiting Lady Chargers, head coach Lauren Hill was proud of her team’s ability to piece together a five-run sixth inning to take a brief 7-5 lead. (more…) (March 25, 2011, Page 8A)

Lady Devils show fight in loss to NHS

An improved effort wasn’t enough to lift the Water Valley Lady Blue Devils past the defending Class 3A state champion Nettleton Lady Tigers on Tuesday night. Water Valley dropped its season opener 10-2 to the Lady Tigers, the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season en route to the title. (more…) (March 2, 2011, Page 7)

Area coaches ready for softball season

There is a lot of reason to be excited about the upcoming high school softball season if you’re one of the three area coaches from Lafayette, Oxford and Water Valley.

The Lady Commodores, led by Cay Papagolos, return a bevy of talented players from a team that advanced to the Class 4A playoffs last season. In Oxford coach Lauren Hill’s case, a new field and several newcomers have given her program a brand new start at turning things around, while in Kendra Bensch’s case, Water Valley has the best player in the area in Ashley Phillips as well as a talented nucleus that includes four seniors and three juniors overall. The 2011 season begins this weekend for the three teams, with Oxford hosting the second annual Charger Classic at its new softball field on campus and at FNC Park. (February 25, 2011, Page 7A)

Phillips signs on dotted line with MSU

A little over a year after making a verbal pledge to play softball at Mississippi State, Water Valley standout Ashley Phillips made things official Monday when she signed her name on the dotted line to play for coach Jay Miller and the Lady Bulldogs.

Phillips, the 2009 EAGLE Player of the Year, was joined by several members of her family, her teammates, friends and coaches in a signing ceremony held in the WVHS cafeteria Monday afternoon. It was last fall that Phillips decided that MSU was the place for her to play and despite the opportunity to see other schools, Phillips stuck to her original decision. There hasn’t been any stress leading up to signing the National Letter of Intent, Phillips said, but the excitement level did build as Monday arrived and the ceremony got closer. (November 16, 2010, Page 2B)

3-0 win not enough for Lady Commodores

Last season’s run to the Class 4A state tournament has lit a fire under the Lafayette Lady Commodores volleyball team.

That fact was never more evident than on Tuesday, when despite beating Water Valley 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-14) the Lady Commodores still wanted more. (September 1, 2010, Page 7)