Morgantown set to battle Wheeling Park in Region I baseball championship series
MORGANTOWN – The Morgantown High School baseball team will meet Wheeling Park in the Class AAAA Region I championship series this week, with the winner earning the right to represent Region I next weekend in the 2025 WVSSAC state baseball tournament in Charleston.
The two sides have met three times this season, with Wheeling Park taking two of the three contests. The Patriots won both regular-season matchups by one run before MHS took the OVAC 5A title game 4-2.
Wheeling Park will host Game 1 on Tuesday. Game 2 will move to Dale Miller Field at Mylan Park in Morgantown with a decisive Game 3 heading back to Wheeling, if needed.
'We've been working on fundamentals and making sure we are ready to do what we do best,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'In this series, you're going to see two talented baseball teams go head-to-head and battle. We had three close games against them already this season. They're a well-coached club who pitch well and are strong defensively. But I like our team as well and I think we're going into the week prepared and focused on the task at hand.'
In the three games the two sides played this season, the Patriots had success at the plate, earning more hits than MHS in all three contests. Particularly, the bottom half of the Wheeling Park lineup.
'They can hurt you all through their lineup,' Sherald said. 'They had a few guys have some very strong games against us and we've been able to see some tendencies. But for us we just need to worry about controlling what we can control and putting the blinders on to achieve our goal.'
One thing that may benefit the Mohigans this week is their pitching rotation of Vinnie Aloi, Maddox Boggs, and Lucas Shinn. The trio has combined for a record of 15-3 this season and each have an ERA under three runs while throwing more than 35 innings. Aloi and Boggs have each thrown 30 strikeouts as well. Closer Judd Messerly has three saves in as many attempts this season.
'I think that benefits us in a best-of-three,' Sherald said. 'I really like where those three are right now and hopefully they continue throwing strong and throwing strikes. We got some good innings for them against Bridgeport and Fairmont Senior this week in preparation and we will be ready to go come Tuesday evening.'
Morgantown and Wheeling Park begin the Region I championship series Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. in Wheeling. Game 2 will be at 5:30 p.m. in Morgantown on Wednesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dominion Post
12 hours ago
- Dominion Post
Messerly's relief effort sees Morgantown through to Class AAAA state title game with 7-5 semifinal victory over George Washington
CHARLESTON – The Morgantown High School baseball team earned its spot in the Class AAAA state championship game with a gritty 7-5 victory in the semifinals of the 2025 WVSSAC state baseball tournament on Friday night at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston. Senior relief pitcher Judd Messerly entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and a 6-5 lead as the Patriots had scored five runs in the frame. Messerly finished the game on the bump for the Mohigans, allowing only one hit in 3.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts in 45 pitches. His effort, combined with a five-run second inning, propelled the Mohigans into the Class AAAA state championship game to battle top-seeded Hurricane Saturday night. The Redskins defeated Hedgesville 5-3 in the other AAAA semifinal. 'We came into a tough environment tonight against a very talented team and showed a high level of maturity to pull that win out,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'I can't tell you how proud I am of their effort tonight. Our mission was to come down here, compete, have fun, and give ourselves a chance to win a championship. They've answered that call, so now it's time to go back and rest up and come out prepared to face another very talented team.' Offensively, senior Vinnie Aloi was the difference for MHS as he drove in four runs in the contest, including a bases-clearing double that capped a five-run second inning. His sacrifice fly in the first inning opened the scoring. Sammy Watson reached on an infield single, followed by a walk to Kai Henkins. After two strikeouts, a pitch hit Bowers to load the bases, and a walk to Koa Silvers forced in a run, doubling the lead. Just three pitches later, Jackson Bredeson was also hit by a pitch, bringing in another run. With the bases still loaded, Aloi stepped up and delivered a massive blow with his double off the left field wall that cleared the bases and brought all three runners home, extending the lead to 6-0. George Washington punched back in the fourth with a five-run inning of its own, including a three-run double by Corbin Dixon off the left field wall. Messerly then entered the game for MHS and stopped the bleeding, making way for his offense to add an insurance run in the top half of the sixth. 'I literally told them 'thank you' after that happened,' Messerly said. 'That was such a huge run and helped me settle down in that seventh inning when my nerves started to set in. My heart started beating pretty fast in that last inning.' Sherald says Messerly has earned the nickname 'The Fireman'. 'When everything's burning down around, we call on him to come in and put out the fire for us, and that's exactly what he did,' Sherald said. He competed for us. We've put him in every high-leverage situation that we've had this season, and he's gone out and just competed for us.' Morgantown and Hurricane will battle for the Class AAAA state championship in the nightcap of Championship Saturday, with first pitch being scheduled for 50 minutes after the conclusion of the Class AAA championship, slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. BOX SCORE Morgantown 7, George Washington 5 MHS 150 001 0 – 7 4 1 GWHS 000 500 0 – 5 6 1 Morgantown – Mazey 3100 Bowers 2211 Silvers 2101 Bredeson 2101 Aloi 2014 Boggs 4000 Watson 3020 Henkins 3100 Nipper 2000 2B: Aloi 3B: Bowers George Washington – Fala 2111 Dixon 4013 Smith 3000 Kelley 4000 Gordon 2000 Barton 4110 Nelson 3120 Ellis 2100 Stewart 2100 2B: Dixon 3B: Nelson (W) Messerly: 3.1ip 1h 0r 2bb 2k (L) Barton 1.2ip 2h 6er 5bb 3k
Dominion Post
2 days ago
- Dominion Post
Morgantown baseball set to battle George Washington in state tournament semifinals
CHARLESTON – For the second consecutive season, the Morgantown High School baseball team earned a spot in the state tournament as the Region I champions and will meet MSAC champion George Washington on Friday night at Go-Mart Ballpark in Charleston in the semifinals of the WVSSAC Class AAAA baseball tournament. The Mohigans, also winners of a conference title as the OVAC 5A champions, return to the state tournament for a second consecutive year after sweeping Region I postseason play. Morgantown went 4-0 in the playoffs, defeating its rival, University, and Wheeling Park in back-to-back series. The Mohigans (ranked No. 4 in the latest MetroNews Coaches Poll) have won 13 of their last 15 games. Offensively, WVU signee Weston Mazey leads the team with 33 runs scored. Mason Bowers paces the lineup with a .395 batting average and a team-best 40 hits. Vinnie Aloi leads Morgantown with 31 RBI, while freshman Jackson Bredeson follows closely with 29 RBI and a team-leading eight doubles. On the mound, Maddox Boggs (9-2, 1.35 ERA) and Vinnie Aloi (7-2, 2.22 ERA) have combined for 16 wins. Judd Messerly, a Potomac State signee, has posted a 1.34 ERA in 10 appearances and has three saves. 'Last year, there was a huge sense of excitement with it being the first time in a while that our program has been there,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'This year, there's the same excitement, but there's also a lot of purpose as far as taking care of business. We got a taste of it last year. We are going to go out and play as hard as we can and play our brand of baseball.' George Washington returns to Charleston following a runner-up finish in 2024 and enters the tournament as the Region III champions. The Patriots posted a 4-0 mark in the postseason with wins over South Charleston and St. Albans. WVU commit Slade Barton tossed a no-hitter in the 4-0 regional title victory over the Red Dragons. After a 3-4 start to the season, GW found its rhythm, winning 12 of its next 13 games. The Patriots are 4-2 this season against fellow state tournament qualifiers, including two victories over top-seeded Hurricane. In the Mountain State Athletic Conference title game, Chuck Kelly delivered an inside-the-park, walk-off home run in the seventh inning to secure a second win over the Redskins. 'George Washington has four very talented pitchers, but that's what you expect this time of year,' Sherald said. 'We know we will see the best from everyone, but it's all about what we can control and what we do out there. We must follow our game plan and maintain a no-nonsense approach. We will seek opportunities to capitalize on and position ourselves for success. We just plan to go out and play quality Mohigan baseball.' First pitch is scheduled to be thrown 50 minutes after the conclusion of the first Class AAAA semifinal between Hurricane and Hedgesville, which is set for 5:00 p.m.
Dominion Post
4 days ago
- Dominion Post
University's Brance McCune named OVAC 5A baseball Player of the Year
MORGANTOWN – University High School outfielder Brance McCune was announced as the recipient of the 2025 OVAC 5A Player of the Year award over the weekend after a strong senior campaign for the Hawks. McCune is the second University player to hold the honor in four years, as former third baseman Aaron Forbes did so in 2022. The University graduate and Bethany College signee was a crucial piece of the puzzle for UHS this season in all phases of the game. McCune averaged an outstanding .454 at the plate, tallying 44 hits in 97 at-bats. Ten of those hits came for extra bases (seven 2B and three 3B) with 18 RBI, 26 runs, and 17 walks, only striking out eight times all season. He held a .534 on-base percentage, stealing 14 bases. He was also errorless defensively in the outfield. For Brance, this season was all about having confidence in himself. 'Honestly, I was a little surprised when I first heard the news,' McCune said. 'I had confidence in myself this season and once I got settled in, just tried to go out there and make an impact for my team every chance I could. Having a good season and being recognized for the work you put in is the best part.' McCune earned at least one hit in 26 of the Hawks' 31 games this season with separate hitting streaks of nine and ten games. During his nine-game hitting streak between April 11 and April 28, seven of those games were multi-hit ones. His effort offensively during the second half of the schedule was key for the Hawks, as they saw themselves sitting 6-10 after a 4-0 loss to George Washington in the Mon County Classic. But UHS turned its season around, finishing 11-4 after the loss to GW. McCune earned 27 of his 44 hits, scored 17 runs, stole eight bases, and struck out only twice during the final 15 games. 'I think that weekend (Mon County Classic) we really showed ourselves what we could do,' he said. 'We realized we had to turn something around to make the most of the rest of the season and finish strong.' McCune is a four-year varsity player for UHS and credits his early years as an underclassman for shaping the work ethic he has as a senior. He made the trip to Charleston as the Hawks won the Region I championship in 2023. 'Sophomore year is definitely one of those that I point to as a year that changed my game,' he said. 'Being around that senior class and group of guys, they really pushed me to be a better player and set me up to learn how I could excel going forward while continuing to improve my game.' Brance says one thing he will take away from his time at UHS is the way he learned to be a good teammate and how a positive environment helps him become a better player. 'Being around a bunch of guys and making those bonds, that's something I'll take with me,' he said. 'I feel like that's something I'll be focusing on a lot at the next level.'
