NATCHEZ — Natchez native Luke Brumfield has gotten used to traveling since graduating from Adams County Christian School in 2008.

Brumfield made college stops in Wesson and Starkville before ending up at Mississippi Valley State as the Delta Devils’ shortstop this season.

But Brumfield’s suitcase is still getting plenty of work as the Delta Devils have played seven of 26 games this season away from home and are currently on a week-long road trip with stops in Knoxville, Tenn., and Champagne, Ill.

Brumfield said he has gotten used to the travel though, and he no longer has trouble balancing baseball, travel and his studies in criminal justice.

“School work just has to go with you on the bus,” Brumfield said. “It’s not too tough after playing junior college, because I’ve experienced it before, but as a freshman I’m sure it would be a lot tougher.”

Brumfield said playing so many games on the road has also prevented him from improving parts of his game that he believes are stagnant.

“I’ve gotten a little better at hitting, but my fielding has pretty much stayed the same,” he said.

“Our practice is pretty much done in the games. We’ve practiced probably three times since the season started. The rest is own your own in the (batting) cage when you find time.”

Brumfield stated his collegiate baseball career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College where he played two years.

“Co-Lin was a great experience,” he said. “We just kind of struggled the two years I was there, but coach (Keith) Case helped me a lot coming (to MVSU).”

Brumfield sat out a year from baseball and attended Mississippi State University for a semester before deciding he wanted to get back into baseball.

“I sat out a year, and I went back to (Case) last year looking for a place to play,” Brumfield said. “He called coach (Doug) Shanks and got me here.”

Brumfield said he had several suitors after his career at Co-Lin was over, but they were all too far from home.

Brumfield’s younger brother Tyler and cousin Jake are currently playing baseball for ACCS, and Luke said he keeps up with his alma mater as often as possible.

“I keep up with them all the time,” he said. “I’ve watched them twice (this season) on off days.”

Brumfield said he had a great time as a Rebel baseball player.

“My high school career was great,” he said. “We went to state twice and the playoffs the other two years.”

MVSU has struggled against non-conference foes this season, but the Delta Devils are 6-6 in Southwest Athletic Conference play and looking to finish the season strong, Brumfield said.

“(Our goal) is to just get more wins and hope we make the (conference) tournament and maybe go to a regional and win the conference championship,” Brumfield said. “We just have to work on finishing the game.”

Brumfield has started all 26 games for the Delta Devils this season. He is batting .228 with a .357 on-base percentage. He has stolen six bases, scored 11 runs and driven in seven runs.

The Delta Devils lost games to Tennessee Tuesday and Wednesday and will face Illinois in a three-game series starting today.