The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.
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Blue Devil Coaches and players, Top Row L-R: Coach Craig Coheley, Carson Jones, Lance Martin II, Jace Morgan, Caleb Merdan, Tucker Teakell, Hunter Hancock, John Jones, Jermaine Chasenah, Coach Ethan Spurlock. Bottom Row L-R: Jase Hancock, Hesston Waqua, Jackson Sain, Creed Shortt, Henry Jones, Gauge Sansome, Cash Thomas, Maverick Cooke
The Blue Devils win the Semi-final matchup in the Jake Lefler Memorial Tournament at Velma in dramatic fashion on Friday April 12th. After a fierce back and forth contest between the two teams went into extra innings, Senior Jace Morgan hit a line drive to center field and scored both Maverick Cooke and John Fremin to win the game in the bottom of the 10th.
Earlier in the day, the Blue Devils faced off against the Wilson Eagles beating them 5-3. The Eagles took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning after scoring 2 runs, but the Blue Devils quickly answered with 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning and never trailed again in the game. Gage Sansome earned the win for Walters. The Sophomore threw 2 innings, giving up only 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Lance Martin II came in relief and earned the save for the Blue Devils. The Junior pitcher went 3 innings, giving up 2 hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out 8 batters.
Offensively against Wilson, John Jones led the Blue Devils with 2 hits, both triples, in 3 at-bats. Cash Thomas, Jace Morgan, and Tucker Teakell each had 1 hit in the game. Thomas had 2 stolen bases while Morgan, Martin, Teakell and Creed Shortt each had a stolen base.
In the semi-final matchup against Velma-Alma, Cash Thomas led the Blue Devils offense with 3 hits on 5 at bats and Maverick Cooke also had a hot bat and went 2 for 4 in the game. Gage Sansome, John Jones, Jase Hancock, Tucker Teakell and Jace Morgan each collected a hit in the win. Creed Shortt earned the win for the Blue Devils. The Sophomore pitcher finished the game with 4 2/3 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Lance Martin II started the game for the Blue Devils and through 3 and 2/3 innings, he gave up 1 hit, 1 run, 2 walks and recorded 8 strikeouts. Caleb Merdan was the first to relieve Martin and the Sophomore pitcher faced 9 batters in 1 2/3 innings giving up only 2 hits, allowing no runs, no walks and struck out one.
Walters would finish the tournament as Runners-Up after losing the Championship game to the Davis Wolves. The Blue Devils improve to 20-4 on the season.
~Phil Jackson