A new era was ushered in earlier this month, as Senatobia head baseball coach Jordan Montgomery made his official debut against Water Valley on February 10.
Montgomery’s tenure at SHS started off on the right note, as the Warriors not only picked up a 7-6 victory against the Blue Devils, but also against Olive Branch on Valentine’s Day by a 9-7 margin.
Senatobia’s matchup with Water Valley provided quite the excitement, as the Warriors would rally with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and go on to win in walk-off fashion. The Blue Devils started off with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, before a sacrifice bunt from Travis Hale scored Brayden Coleman for the tying run.
However, Water Valley would go on to tack on four combined runs over the third and fourth innings with three RBI base hits, including a double from John McMinn. Trailing 5-1, Senatobia answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to Hale’s groundout.
Fortune followed the Warriors again in the fifth inning as well. After surrendering a run in the top half of the frame, Senatobia added a three-run output with a two-run single from Caleb Scruggs and Jabez Burdette scored on a steal of home plate, bringing SHS back within 6-5.
Brody Coppedge held Water Valley scoreless over the next two innings, keeping the Warriors within striking distance in the seventh. Tyler Mabry led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to center, and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Evans Sealy helped Mabry score from third, after advancing a pair of bases off a passed ball and a stolen base.
Water Valley got one out on the board but elected to intentionally walk Coleman and Ayden Ward. Those moves would prove to be costly for the Blue Devils, as Hale bunted into a fielder’s choice, allowing Sealy to score the winning run.
Coppedge picked up the win on the mound for Senatobia, thanks to his solid two innings of relief, which was highlighted by three strikeouts and no walks, hits or runs given up. Sealy started the game for the Warriors, striking out six batters against three walks, three earned runs and four base hits in three full frames.
Scruggs also tossed two innings of relief for SHS, issuing three strikeouts, two walks, two hits and three unearned runs.
Both teams combined for nine base hits in the contest, with McMinn collecting two of the Blue Devils’ six hits. Tyler Richardson was issued the loss for Water Valley, despite four strikeouts over the final two frames.
Allen Paysinger started for the Blue Devils, fanning six batters against four walks and an earned run.
Things were slightly less dramatic in the win at Olive Branch, though Senatobia and the Conquistadors traded several runs during the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Warriors opened the game with a 2-0 lead in the first, before allowing a single run in the home half of the third inning.
Senatobia tacked on an additional run in the top of the fourth, stretching the gap to 3-1, before Olive Branch rallied back with two runs in the home half of the same inning, tying the game.
SHS seemingly broke free with four runs in the top of the fifth, but the Conquistadors added three of their own in the bottom of the same inning, once again closing the gap to 7-6.
Senatobia got two runs back in the sixth and Olive Branch scraped across a run of its own in the home half of the inning. However, neither team scored in the seventh and Coppedge forced the Conquistadors into a double play to end the game.
Coppedge’s solid relief outing once again played a vital role in the win, as he earned the save with three full innings pitched and no earned runs allowed. Mabry picked up the win for the Warriors, pitching the fourth inning in relief of Coleman, who tossed six strikeouts in the start.
Senatobia finished with 10 hits in the game, compared to just three from Olive Branch. Nearly every player in the Warriors’ lineup accounted for at least one base hit, with Coppedge going 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Martavious Loveberry finishing 2-for-4.
