All-State Lists Arrive and Football is Next

Guests today include:

• Chris Johnson, Connect-Bridgeport (8:00)
• Chris George, WKMZ (36:41)
• Dr. Javier Cardenas, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute / Director of Concussion and Brain Injury Center (1:17:50)

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Sports fans, it's time for the Friday Free for All.
Over the next two hours, we'll bring you all the
latest from across the region in high school and college sports.
Now Here are your hosts, Chris Johnson and Alex Wheederspield.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning, We're back. I'm back. We're not quite totally
back yet. Welcome in. This is the Friday Free for All,
brought to you by Dan Caviteo to Buick GMC. Good
to have you here with me, with us, it will
eventually be with US's got some good guests coming on
to join the show today, and it feels weird to say,

(00:41):
but we're gonna be dipping our toe into the water
of football for the first time. We're basically going to
put a rap on baseball season today. All the all
state lists are out. We'll talk a little legion ball
as well. But we're gonna put a rap on all
the all state lists today with our guests Chris Johnson
and Chris George. But we are going to take a
look at a couple of articles that have come out

(01:03):
so Bridgeport Tucker County. Both highlighted, both featured at wv
metronews dot com. Check it out over at the high
school sports section, Joe Bricado already wasting no time getting
to work on previewing the upcoming football season, which as
it stands now, of course, is still a little more
than two months away. But that time is going to
melt away. The summer always does. Mind you, that time

(01:25):
is going to melt away awfully quickly, and I'm looking
forward to it. I listen, I will say this a
million times. I will cherish all the time off that
I get, and I'm able to enjoy during this time
of year because there is just a level of craziness
and freneticness that from from basically mid to late August

(01:52):
through April is my life. And from from late April
or so through mid August, I really do enjoy it.
But I enjoy the time off. I enjoy the chance
to recharge. But I gotta tell you, I'm so excited
for football season, Excited for South Harrison, excited for football
season around the region. Excited to see if Bridgeport can

(02:15):
defend their title. News flash, I think they have a
pretty good shot at it. They look as dangerous as
last year, perhaps maybe a smidge less. We'll see. They've
got a reload but no program reloads better in the state,
at least not in Class TRIPLEA than the Bridgeport Indians.
And with our arch rival Fairmont Senior a little down potentially,

(02:38):
I mean not that down. They're probably still a playoff team,
but new coach, and that makes them more of a
wild card than anything else. We'll talk about that coming
up in a bit with Christus Johnson and George. We're
also gonna hear from doctor Hobvier Cardinis, who we've had
on the show before. I caught up with him earlier
this week. I don't know if you've heard about that.
Speaking of Fairmont Senior, speaking of Marion County, it's been

(03:01):
a rough week for Marion County, but one of the
things that they were able to do was get students fitted,
student athletes fitted for these new helmets. And I don't
know if you've heard about this, but these new Riddell
helmets that are going to potentially one track better data
and two long term, might have better outcomes dealing with concussions.

(03:23):
So that conversation coming up a little bit later in
the show. Let me set the stage here, let me
set the table for you. We're going to go through
all four classifications and all the locals that made the
All state list. Before we take our first break and
get Chris Johnson on here, who is on location I
believe today we'll double check with him on that. We'll
start in Class Single A, where Jackson Drennan from Tiger's

(03:46):
Valley senior pitcher made the squad, Parker Hopkins, a first
team or Trinity Trinity Christian junior catcher, Colton Hulbert, a
sophomore infielder from Gilmour County. Clay Hotels Ryan Parker, a
junior in field made the first team as well, and
Notre Dame represented twice on Class Single A dom Bombardier,

(04:08):
a senior utility player, and then on the second team
actually represented by a sophomore in Domenico Minaci. Elsewhere, Clay
Betel's Cooper Statler, Max Brown from Webster County, Isaac Snyder
from Webster County, and Bryson Sanders from Trinity Christian and
Brayln Menzer from Gilmour County round out the North central

(04:32):
West Virginia players who made the Class Single A All
State Baseball List. Double A also very well represented across
North central West Virginia. Leyton Wagaman from South Harrison made
the first team as a senior. Congrats to him. Tremendous
season for the young man. Cal Wolf from Philip Barber

(04:53):
also made the first team. Good work for him. Tyler
Sisson from Philip Barber made the first t as well.
On the second team. A couple of players representing north
central West Virginia as well, in Landon Carpenter from Philip Barber,
Luke Rukiski from Doddridge County and Brayden Neff from Tyler

(05:14):
Consolidated as well. Class Triple A. Lots of Bridgeport, lots
of Frankfurt, Lots of Fairmont Senior in this group as well.
Jacob Stavrakis makes the first team. Michael Romano from Bridgeport
also makes the first team. Carson Curry makes the first team.
Congratulations to all three of them. On the second team

(05:37):
for Bridgeport, Luke Rorigg made it. A couple of Bridgeport
players get honorable mention as well. Cooper Floyd gets second
team from RCB. Honestly could have argued for first team
with the season he had. Matt Masters from Fairmont's Senior
made the second team. Fairmont Senior also represented by Cameron
Peschel on the first team, so congrats to him. And

(06:00):
again you can check out these lists in full, including
Class Quadruple A, which just came out that is the
newest one to come out On Thursday at wv metronews
dot com in the high school Sports section, we're gonna
go over these much more in depth with Chris George
in particular, who is gonna go u essentially, uh essentially

(06:20):
list by list and talk about some of his favorite
performers of the year because he saw a lot of
these kids play over the course of the season. Deep breath,
I'm already I'm already a little out of breath. That
was that was there was our our attempt to start
wrapping up the baseball season, and uh boy, that was
that was a lot. I am looking forward to talking
some football though. We are, of course gonna be talking

(06:44):
uh and I think we're gonna wait until after July fourth,
so that'll be our I want to say, I'm doing
the math in my head. Is that our July ninth show? No,
my math is my math is wrong. July fourth is
a Friday, so we won't have a show more than
likely that Friday. We'll about that for now. But they're
starting in July, we will start going through and interviewing coaches.

(07:05):
That's that's that's when we typically do it. All that
being said, who out of breath, guys out of breath.
I gotta get us to break. But we are gonna
be slowly but surely integrating much more football into the
conversation over the course of this summer. After all, that's
what teams and coaches are doing right now. They are
integrating football into what these kids are doing. And we'll

(07:27):
talk all about that coming up. This is the Friday
free for All, brought to you by Dan Cavitzeta Buick
GMZ right GMC right here on one O three three
w k MZ And as a reminder, don't forget you
can always catch the show and podcast form, and we
hope that you'll do exactly that. The podcast of the
show always posted Friday mornings and you can go check

(07:47):
it out in case you ever miss an episode. We're
back after this with Chris Johnson, my regular co host
on the other side. He is he's on a little
mini vacation, but he's still nice enough to give us
a phone call, so we're gonna chat with him.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
Time for more high school sports talk on the Dan
cavatoyot W, a GMC Friday free for all.

Speaker 2 (08:08):
Chris Johnson now on the line with me, as we're
getting closer and closer to talking well, we're actually gonna
talk football today a little bit. But we're getting closer
and closer to, uh to getting into deep into our
our series where we interview coaches right now. Actually, uh,
you know, we're we're still in the early stages of
kind of planning that out. Who we're going to talk to,

(08:28):
who we want to talk to this year. I had
a ton of great coaches that we talked with last year.
But anyway, Chris, what's going on, man? How are you?

Speaker 3 (08:37):
Oh? Not much, greetings from the Big Apple. I'm here
this morning.

Speaker 2 (08:41):
Oh that's very cool, that's very cool. I did not
realize you had already left, So thank you for taking
some time out today to talk with me. But yeah, man,
if you can believe it, Joe Bricado, who I mean
just leaving no stone unturned, has already started churning out
high school football content allready, I believe. Let me go

(09:03):
check the date here. His first one, I'm pretty sure
was not even a full week after the North South game.
It would have been I think three days June seventeenth
or four days, I guess. The North South game I
believe was the thirteenth, the thirteenth of the fourteenth, and
Joe had his first preview fittingly the Bridgeport Indians out

(09:24):
on June seventeenth. So how about that.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
Pretty good place to start, I guess, you know, you know,
and reading his preview and like looking at some of
the quotes. I mean, you know, I was already fully
aware of this, but there's probably people in the state
that weren't. I mean, because I mean Bridgeport lost the
Loft graduation, you know, off that state champion team that
was undefeated, set you know, every record you could think of,

(09:49):
a lot coming back, especially I mean granted, I mean
you lose to West Brown, who's one of the best
linemen in the history of state. Letlone in the program. Uh,
you lose all staters like you know, Carter Zuliani and
I love Alex Moses, Donovan Williams on down the line.
But man, you talk about like, you know, you start

(10:12):
up front when you got guys like West coming back,
you know, you have Bryce and Louth are coming back
off an injury. Whoeveryone this time last year was going
to be the team's second best lineman. Uh, he's gonna
be back healthy this year. You know, you know Westonding,
you know another you know lineman they're going to count
on heavily. You know, they've got a lot of pieces

(10:34):
up back. And then you know you look at someone
like Gay Martin Gavin Williams, who we've talked about. I
think those are going to be Uh, two guys are
really keep an eye on as far as being a
guys to really help that offense. You keep plugging along.
I expect your big things that out of them. You know,

(10:58):
the questions is going to be with guy and is
like where exactly do you put him? I mean, I
know this in like some seven and sevens. He's getting
a few snaps at QB. But you know you've also
got Graham Vincent there. You know, Gavin was Timaul Stater
was a kicker and he's so valuable at that position.
But he's such athlete. He's going to have to get

(11:19):
on the football field on offense and defense for the
Indians this year. And not necessarily just because of like
a depth standpoint, just because he's that good of an athlete.
You got a way to get Gavin Williams on the
field as much as you can, and I have full
confidence that that that coaching staff is going to do that.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, and it's a it's a really strong coaching staff.
And of course Tyler Ferris back for another year, and
he was very praiseworthy of his whole staff, including had
some really high praise in one of the quotes that
made the piece of John Cole. Of course, I am
curious that when you think about this coaching staff in
the process that they go through in terms of when
they because Bridgeport, there is no rebuild in Bridgeport. It's

(12:01):
always about reloading for the Indians. And I'm kind of curious.
You know, obviously we know how good the pipeline is
in Bridgeport. I guess the question I have is how
do they go about with their analysis and their evaluation.

Speaker 1 (12:14):
And this might be a.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
Question for coach first when we get him on the
show here and I'm sure a couple of weeks we
had him on right around the fourth of July last year. Uh,
but I am curious when you when you had being
around this program as much as you are, what have
you observed about sort of their uh, I almost want
to say, their mentality, but also sort of the habits
and patterns that come about with the way that they
scout and evaluate the guys coming through these pipelines.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
I think every program in the state, you know, throughout
the ear in spring, talk about how you know kids
are in the white room, you know short. It's true
at a lot of places. I know in fact, at Bridgeport,
I mean, they started getting ready for this season in January,

(13:03):
and they take what they do in the weight room
as serious as any other school in this state. It
all starts right there because when they hit the ground
run in the summer, I mean, they're they're already in
I don't know what to write, they're already in. They
don't have to worry about they don't have to worry

(13:25):
about way because they've been weight training throughout the classes.
They're already in shapes. They can hit the ground run
and going over access uh you know, and you know
everyone's still on that that kind of level playing field too.
You can actually put the pads on and start hitting. Uh.
You know, that'll be you the next big thing that
coach Ferrison, that coaching staff was looking for this summer,

(13:48):
I'm sure. But as far as like taking the weight
room serious and being in shape, you don't have to
worry about that. I mean, that's what that's what is expected.
And you you get to talking to someone to play
and stuff. I mean they tell you. I mean they
work as hard from January to June as they do
from July, you know, through the middle of August for season.

(14:12):
And I know for a fact already been the case
this year.

Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah, it was. Actually there's a great quote in here,
and again folks, if you're if you haven't read it yet,
it's over at wv metronews dot com in the high
school sports section. Uh, there is a great quote in
here from Tyler Ferris. And the thing is like, because
we've talked to him in the past on this show,
when he says this, I believe this. But the exact quote,
the exact quote, is I enjoy almost January in weightlifting

(14:39):
and watching the kids get stronger and better as much
as I do winning a championship in December. It's fun
to watch them come in and work and get better
every day. Having talked with him, that's not that's not
that's not coach speak. That's legitimately. I think that's actually true.

Speaker 3 (14:54):
That's you know, that's true. Like Tyler Ferris will, I mean,
he'll tell you straight up how he feels. I mean,
he's he's very open and transparent with us. He doesn't
just say things for saying them. And one of the
many things I admire about him is like, I mean,
if you know, and he'll be the first to tell
you that the kids haven't been putting in the in

(15:16):
the work. If haven't, but thus far during his during
his you know, ten years head coach, you know that
part of it hasn't been a problem. How is it
always right where they want it to be? You know,
we probably I mean you're still talking high school kids,
but you know, I will put bridge Force offseason regiment

(15:36):
up against anybody's. And that's one of the many reasons
why we're talking about them as a state title. You're in,
you're out.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
Even with all they lost, are they the favorite once
again in Class triple? I mean they were so dominant
a year ago. They bring back basically the exact same.
I mean, it's Bridgeport is not just an institution at
this point, but it's almost machine like in everybody knows
exactly what they have to do. It's very, very difficult

(16:06):
to knock them off their spot. So even with everything
that they lost, including two Division one players as we
we talked about earlier with Wes Brown and and the
incomparable Carter Zuliani, are they still the favorite in class
Triple A?

Speaker 3 (16:19):
I think they are. But I'm on one of those
guys that you know, I mean Gerdad Shamps until someone
from them U now saying that, I mean, you no
no cakewalk. You know, Herbert Hoover who bridgeboard beat this
title game will be very very good again even though
you know they lost a great player in Hatfield, but
you know they've had a couple uh really talented players

(16:42):
then uh to be a part of that program. Uh,
you know, Prince Princeton's not going anywhere.

Speaker 2 (16:48):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (16:49):
You know, we you know last week about how we're
curious to see what desition is under the new uh
head coach with Fairmounts. But I mean if we could,
you know, fast forward to December, would you be shocked
if Fairmont was playing for a Triple A title.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
I mean that's a good that's that's a good point.
It's I do think year one is gonna be tougher,
But no, I still think you make a good point.

Speaker 3 (17:18):
Did you throw a spring valley into the mix? You know,
that was a perennial triple you know, favored and then
you know once and they moved down from Quad A
to Triple A this new uh format last year. I mean,
they're always going to be a player. You know. That's
just a handful of teams like you off the You

(17:39):
off the top of my head. But I mean, if
I if I had to pick a state champion, it
would be as out of that group of five right now.

Speaker 2 (17:48):
My my first instinct, and I haven't looked a lot
at the rest of Triple A yet, but my first
instinct is that just almost by default regression would say
that with how much Bridgeport lost, there probably still the favorite,
but it should be closer this year. They their average
margin of victory was seven touchdowns a year ago. I mean,
they were just in another another world entirely than than

(18:13):
everybody else in Triple A last year.

Speaker 3 (18:15):
I mean that that that team just did so many
things mond boggling last year. I mean you think about
that every game, all fourteen games ended with a running clock.
That's that's insane, Uh, yeah, I think you're probably right
that the field may be a little closer this year.
But again, if I had to pick one of that group, yeah,

(18:41):
I think I would go with brud Sport. And uh,
I'm feeling a lot of people would you know right now?

Speaker 2 (18:48):
And I will say, I have not gone back and
looked at this yet, but I think the margin of
victory in Triple A was actually larger. That was an
average margin of victory of forty nine. But you know
they had four games against what was it, four games against?
Five games against Quad A schools Bucking and Upsher, Morgantown,

(19:12):
Parkersburg South, and Preston County, So I mean you look
at some like, Okay, let's just take the playoffs for example.
You know they won those games by forty nine, twenty nine,
and forty two and sixty five. I forgot about the
RCB game, but those are those are some of the
best teams in the state, right, So you look at

(19:34):
what they did in the regular season. I actually I'd
have to go back and look, but I'm pretty sure
their numbers on just Triple A opponents, the average margin
of victory was actually a bit more than than forty nine.
So Yeah, it still feels like it's Bridgeports world. Before
we before we move on one thing, just because I
want to set the table for this because when we
talk with Tyler Ferris in a couple of weeks, I'm
curious about who you're thinking though. Who are the guys

(19:57):
that step up and fill some of these critical who
became the new name, who becomes the new Zuliani, who
becomes the new west Brown, who's poised to step up
and fill though? And they maybe they won't necessarily do it,
but poised at least right now to step into those
roles and really take advantage of the increase and opportunity.

Speaker 3 (20:17):
Well, you had one young man I mentioned a little
bit earlier. Gavin Williams's definitely gonna be somebody to you
to keep Nile one. It's gonna step up and have
a bigger role. Gabe Martin is the one. You know,
he's leading tackler last year is sophomore. He from everything
I've heard people have told me, I mean, he's gonna
be at the top of the list and be, you know,
the main carrier. And he's certainly a young man that

(20:40):
can pull I feel like people who have around Bridge
Porter are of how good Gabe is. I'm not so
short the whole state is because he had shared the
spotlight to so many of your great seniors, you know
last year. By the end of this football season, there's
not gonna be a high school ball fan in the
state not aware who gave Martin is right, So that

(21:03):
that's the and then those you know there's line but
I mean Bryce and Louder this time last year was
my pit for like a break because he had success, uh,
especially on the defensive line as a sophomore. And by all,
I mean he was poised to have a breakout year
and on the line on both sides of the ball.

(21:24):
I think he's just gonna have a monster year now
that he's back from injury. And then along with Noah
West you know who was the second team All State
or you know, the two guys in West Conley back
to kind of the anchor that line. H yeah, I
mean as as a couple of guys, and I'm sure
there's gonna be others that merged as well as as
we see them a little bit more, you know throughout
the summer.

Speaker 2 (21:45):
Uh for sure, there is a there is another one.
We're not gonna spend quite as much time on this.
There is another one out right now about Tucker County,
And of course the Mountain Lions coming off in an
outstanding season twelve and one and lost a tough one
to Wohama to end of the season, uh in the
in the semi finals. And and obviously, I mean, look,

(22:07):
Wuhama was on a just a completely different level at
times last year, and Tucker County continues to prove. I mean,
they are one of the most consistent programs in the state.
They went through a little fade a few years ago
and they roared back with a vengeance these past few seasons.
And quite literally the only thing that has eluded the

(22:27):
aj rap Era is winning a championship. That's how good
this program has been. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:34):
Uh yeah, I mean that that's the one piece of
the poets, right and pretty big piece of pie. Uh
But uh, I mean they're just right there on the edge, man.
And it's like that that community, and we talked about
all the winter basketball is like they're always right there.
In basketball too, is like, man, if there's a community

(22:57):
that would just go nuts if they're a foot or
girls basketball or boys basketball team could win the whole thing.
I mean, it's it's Tucker County and it's common. You know,
I wouldn't even want to begin to guess which sport
is going to happen in far but it's going to happen,
and I feel like sooner or later, and you know
the football team is going to be in the mix

(23:19):
for it. You again, you know this fault.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
They do usually find a way to bounce back. They've
had some certainly you know, you got to go back.
I think it was you got to go back like
nine years ago or eight years ago. But they they
did go through a little stretch. There's a there's a
lot of success at the start of the aj rap Era,
then there was a little lull and then they've roared
back pun very much intended as they are the Mountain Lions.
They have roared back to life. But this will be interesting.

(23:44):
So you're looking at Joe's article, I mean, they're going
to have a lot of continuity to replace or rebuild.
Is actually you can't really replace continuity. You have to
rebuild continuity. They're they're starting running back who carried the
ball two hundred and twenty five times, Jared real He's
gone the next this guy after real carried the ball
twenty five times. They graduated three offensive linemen. It looks

(24:08):
like that's a big deal and a lot of those guys,
of course, as we know, are playing both ways. So
I'll be very curious to see what what is next
for this Tucker County team. I thought, again, you know,
listen to Joe always does a great job with and
actually I think it was was it Joe who did
this one? Or was a Greg who did this one?
That was Joe again, So yeah, Joe's been on a
roll lately. Joe's Joe's been on a roll lately with

(24:31):
those But yeah, I mean that that is a lot
to replace.

Speaker 3 (24:35):
Yeah, and you mentioned a little bit of a law
the United program went through a few years ago. I mean,
I think a lot of that could be attributed to
just a st where they weren't getting the numbers. I
had nothing to do with coaching staff or you know,
a lot of support from the community. I just I
just think when you're a small community like that, you

(24:58):
want to have classes just aren't that big. And they
had a couple there in a row, and you know,
the numbers went back what two seasons ago now and
we've seen the results. I mean they've been You're right,
the area among the favorites in Class A and you know,
as long as they've got decent sized roster, you know

(25:21):
for Class A football. You know, Tucker County is five.

Speaker 2 (25:25):
Yeah, and it is looking like this is the last
line of the article, they're looking like they're around thirty
to thirty five as of now, and of course everything
is pretty much pressed. It's pretty good.

Speaker 3 (25:36):
Yeah. Yeah, that's really good for them, because again, by
the wall, they were struggling to get twenty, you know.
So and it's weird because like the muntains Burgs and
the Morgan Towns of the world, you know, it's hard
for their fans to fathom like how much difference like
ten or eleven players mass, you know, because when you're

(25:59):
dealing with hundred players, but the difference between twenty and
five at the Class A level is huge.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
I'm really glad we started with football because I'm not
gonna lie, like it kind of feels like we're doing
a little stretching here, like like working out old muscles
that we haven't we haven't done in a while, so
I kind of dug that I'm glad we started with football.
I'm glad. I'm glad we're talking about it at all
the the as much as I enjoy we think we
think we talked about this last week, I really do

(26:29):
enjoy all the time off. I'm thrilled to have another
two months without a football game or or a game
at all to do. It's actually a little bit more
than two months as it comes really close to the
end of August this year, and I'll really relish and
enjoy my time off from from the craziness of that schedule.
And I know you will too. But but this is

(26:50):
a good way to prime it, to get you pumped
for football season. This is the stuff that I love,
is getting getting amped up and kind of hyping it up.

Speaker 3 (26:59):
Yeah, you know you we can attest both of the
attest to this. I feel, uh, there's such a build
up and we're gonna be excited to talk about it. Man,
once that first week hits August, then it's just a blur.
I Mean, it goes by so frecking fast nowadays. And
I don't know if that's just a sign of you know,

(27:20):
us getting older ourselves, but it just seems like every
year the season just build up and then the season
hits and then bam, the next thing you know is
December son and and that's you know, that's a good
mess for for the athletes out there too, is like
main cherish this your your your time as a high
school football player because it, uh, it's a special it's

(27:46):
a special time. Uh you know, you know, during your
life to be a high school athlete and you know,
you know the whole the boys a fall and all
that stuff. I mean there's a lot of truth and
all that stuff, no matter if it's a can you
chest me song or you know, a TV show like
Friday Night Lights. I mean, I mean there's a lot

(28:07):
of truth to it.

Speaker 4 (28:08):
Man.

Speaker 3 (28:08):
It's it's a great time of year. And I guess
that just just cherish it because before you before you
know it, it's gonna be over with.

Speaker 2 (28:17):
Yeah. I actually watched the movie Friday Night Lights not
that long ago.

Speaker 3 (28:22):
Actually a whole very good movie. I mean the TV
show is like near perfection. Uh it's to me, that's
like in a whole other category. You know what people
do to do in that format. But uh, you know
the movie is a lot in step with the book,
which you know, both are fantastic pieces of work and

(28:44):
you mon, but yeah, I mean the TV show with
Kyle Chandler's coach. I mean, that's that's what to me,
that's one of the best TV shows of all time.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
And you know, so, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
name names, but a friend of mine who I I
believe you know as well. But he used to joke
with me about a very very talented running back in
north central West Virginia. This was this was quite some
time ago. This is over a decade ago now, But
he used to joke with me that he was the
real life he was the modern day West Virginia Booby

(29:15):
Miles and off the air. I'll let you guess what
he was talking about. But yeah, heck of a heck
of a movie. Real quick, Let's let's wrap on baseball.
The class triple A quad, A double, A single A
teams are all out and congratulations. A lot of a
lot of North central West Virginia names made the list.
I'm not gonna go over all of them entirely at

(29:37):
this moment, especially because we'll go over some of them
with Chris George. But I wanted to go over the
Bridgeport ones with you Jacob Stevracis Michael Romano both make
the first team, as does Carson Curry and then also
Campeshi for Fairmont Senior makes the first team. Four more
Indians made the second team. And there is a part
that just feels like, man Bridgeport loaded with talent, why

(30:02):
couldn't they just put this together at the very end?
Hard sport to win. They were obviously one game away
from getting to the state tournament, but a lot of
talent and just couldn't couldn't get across the finish line
this year.

Speaker 3 (30:16):
Yeah, well, I mean you look down that list and
you see the Frankfurt's got quite a few.

Speaker 2 (30:21):
Places, that is true.

Speaker 3 (30:24):
Yeah, there's a lot of good baseball players in class
trip away this year. Yeah. Yeah. The thing when it
comes to all state stuff too, is like, you know,
Broochboard is just one of those programs too. It is like, man,
they have state wide equal you know, people are you know,
I mean the schedule they play your year out a

(30:47):
lot of people in a lot of different parts to
see them or wear them, see their box scores from
you know, from teams nerverage area to the cover and
that goes a long way. Man, there's a handful of
schools that it really doesn't matter what sport you they're
just just like that Bridge sports one of them. Williamstown

(31:08):
has one, Wheeling Central's one, Martinsburg Cabell MI. Uh, these
kind of you except there's just there's just a certain
group of schools that the state's just always of no
matter what sport we're talking about. And I think I
played out a lot in baseball uh this year too. Yeah,

(31:30):
I believe it is three firmers, you know, one second
team or three honorable mentions, Uh Bridgeport. Uh, Luke Rory
is the second teamer and then guy of Oleo Cason
Bond And.

Speaker 2 (31:48):
Was it Carson Curry was the other second team or maybe.

Speaker 3 (31:51):
No, there was there was only one second team that
was Luke Bory three first Carson was the first team.
Gotcha ono and uh gotcha gotcha?

Speaker 2 (32:08):
Uh? And uh yes, I mean you're you're right on
by the way. Frankfort obviously had a had a huge
number of names on that list as well, which again
I think we just haven't like talked enough about how
good and how impressive Frankfort was in a lot of
ways because for them to do what they did coming
up a classification and again not a not a direct
direct rise, but they went from Double A in A

(32:30):
in A three class system to Triple A a four
class system. And uh uh again you're facing teams like
Bridgeport who were Triple A and in baseball the year
before that and held their own and then some against Bridgeport.
So kudos to Frankfurt and kudos to Fairmont Senior as well.
A lot of names on that list as well. Uh,
good for them. A little surprised their ace pitcher I

(32:50):
don't think made uh made the list. He might have
made the the honorable mention. Uh, but uh, again, it's
always tough. It is always tough to make these make
these lists, and especially you only have so many spots.

Speaker 3 (33:03):
Correct, you know, and uh Philip Barber South Harrison pretty
well wedded on Double A as well. Uh. I think
got teased last week. We kind of had a log
jam the catcher spot in Double A. There was like
four or five kids who played that position. We're like, well,
probably five and sixteen best players in the state, and

(33:25):
I think we found a spot for all of them.
We had to do some you know, you know, creative positioning,
but uh uh, you know, from Philip Barber standpoint, because
you know, Tyler's has been an outstanding player in the
past couple of years. I know he made for team
again along with uh uh standing out outfielder for Nate

(33:47):
Wolf and then Lane and Carpenter I believe was on
the second team, and then I know they had a
couple of honorable mentions and then the good uh pitcher
for South Harrison I know made first team. Uh l.

Speaker 2 (34:03):
Heck of a heck of a player. He oftentimes he
was his own run support sometimes, So yeah, Leyton Waguman,
heck of a heck of a player. Chris, I'm gonna
let you go and enjoy New York Man, And uh
what have you made? Have you made your list yet?
And the better question is, uh what what? What do
you What's at the very top of the list of
things you're gonna do.

Speaker 3 (34:23):
Well? After talking to you last week, I have definitely
been And not that I wasn't aware how good New
York bagels are, but I'm like, yeah, right, I need
to work in finding a way to get a New
York bagel, like right off the street someplace so that
and as long and in New York, just watch what

(34:46):
once New York style pizza, and I'll be I'll be
good to go because I know there was great everywhere,
but I just feel like I need to have one
slice in New York pizza while walking uh the hotel,
toy you wherever. So to my primary goals this week.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
Those slices are is they're pretty big, so make sure
you fold it like a true New York You gotta
fold it.

Speaker 3 (35:14):
Yeah, that's that's the only way to eat New York right.

Speaker 2 (35:17):
That's right, that's right New York pizza. And then Shore
pizza is very similar as well. If you ever go
out to the Jersey Shore and you get I mean,
I have never seen a bigger slice of pizza in
my life. It's even bigger than a New York slices
a short pizza. I mean, it is seriously the size
of my head. It's it's absolutely it's like basically almost
like I would say, two and a half normal slices
in one and you have no choice but to fold

(35:37):
that thing.

Speaker 3 (35:39):
Yeah. And then also, I have a miss from a mother.
She would like, if at all possible, to bring her
back at least like one little piece of New York
style cheesecake. Oh h, I'm like well, I like cheesecake,
so it'd be awesome if I could find a place
that sold all three women. I don't know, maybe I will.

Speaker 5 (36:00):
But.

Speaker 3 (36:02):
I have a feeling it's there's a three food that
I probably won't have to look too too far for.
Uh walking around you know Times Square and you know
the heart of New York City.

Speaker 2 (36:14):
So no, I think you'll I think you'll be okay. Well,
enjoy man, I I appreciate you doing this. Nonetheless, enjoy
your enjoy your time off.

Speaker 3 (36:22):
All right, man, I'll talk to you next week.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
Yeah, sounds good, Chris, And we're gonna take a break.
We'll talk with Chris George next and we're gonna dive
much deeper into this, uh in these high school baseball
all state lists, and we'll do that on the other
side of this break here on the Friday Free for All,
brought to you by Dan Cabatao to Buick GMC.

Speaker 1 (36:41):
Time for more high school sports talk on the Dan
cavatoryo Wick GMC Friday Free for All.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Well, Chris Johnson's in New York. Chris George is not.
I think Chris George is in West Virginia. Is is
in Randolph County, perhaps, and the mountains as opposed to
the the shores of the of the big city. Chris,
what's up man yet?

Speaker 5 (37:02):
Up in the mountains here in Elkins where it's rained
all week? And well we've had baseball play all throughout
the state this week, which is good. But uh, next
week's will be rather warm. Although this week was warm,
it's mud and a bunch of rainy, wet weather. So
it's been it's been an interesting umer to say the least.
And we'll see what happens from here on. Uh.

Speaker 2 (37:22):
Yeah, I imagine if they had had to get the
championship games in this past week the weather was unplayable.

Speaker 6 (37:30):
Yeah, that's why.

Speaker 5 (37:32):
You know, I've said it again, I'll say it a
million times. Turf in baseball has become a valuable, valuable friend.
And you know, in fact our stateum going forward in
legion baseball, turf is a requirement.

Speaker 6 (37:47):
Now you have to have it. You just can't. You
just can't.

Speaker 5 (37:50):
I mean, you know, it's it's hard. You know, I
love grass fields. I'm a traditionalist, you know, I love grass.
You know, I got to guess, but grass fields in
West Virginia's it's not it's not a friend.

Speaker 6 (38:00):
Baseball, especially when.

Speaker 5 (38:01):
It rains like this, it's hard, you know, and it's
a lot of extra money. Now these turf fields, you
start out, you know, you look at the price, seeing
upfront costs like, whoa, that's a lot of money. Well, yeah,
it's a lot of money. But then you look at
over the cost of seven years compared to what you
would spend on dirt and paint and jim ry and
labor and and all this other stuff drainings and stuff

(38:21):
like that. I mean, you're you're probably saving money over
seven year periods. So you're seeing a lot of fools
go to turf.

Speaker 6 (38:27):
Canall County just pass the bond.

Speaker 5 (38:29):
Here in the last year or two and all their
high schools in softball and baseball be turf in the
next year, And uh, here we go and you're seeing
it more all too. You're seeing more turf fields and
football than ever before. And even some of the small
vele schools are starting to get to turf. So, you know,
West Virginia is never friendly when it comes to the weather.

Speaker 6 (38:48):
We know that.

Speaker 5 (38:49):
And uh, unfortunately it's been hit or miss, and of
course Fairmont, where you're where you live, it's been really bad.
So Uh, not as bad here last weekend, but here
just a couple days he's had more rain.

Speaker 2 (39:01):
Yeah, it was a pretty it was a pretty unpleasant
week to say the least. I'll leave it at that,
But it wasn't great. Let's let's let's shift gears over
to the the all state teams. Got a chance to
talk a little bit about this with Chris Johnson, but
I really wanted to to really leave a lot of
this for you especially. We didn't even talk about anything
other than really what what Bridgeport did. But let's start

(39:24):
there with Class Triple A. Bridgeport had a number of honorees,
including Jacob Stavrakis and Michael Romano, as well as Carson
Curry on that first team Fairmont Senior I got Cameron
Pecal in the PESHI and the the Fairmont Senior UH
in the infield slot. They also had another player make

(39:44):
on the second team in Matt Masters. Cooper Floyd from
RCB gets in bunch of Bridgeport honorable mentions as well
Luke Roorrig on the second team. So very well populated
list among north central West Virginia. And again, with how
much talent bridge has, you're thinking of yourself, man it's
kind of shocking that they didn't get to the state tournament.
Of course, they ran into a very good Frankfurt team

(40:07):
as we now know, and they're all over this list,
so Class triple A very very Bridgeport and Frankfurt heavy.

Speaker 5 (40:13):
It feels like, yeah, it was and you know, and
I kind of thought going into the year, you see that,
you know, and and and that's exactly what panned out.

Speaker 6 (40:22):
Of course, Herkford went to the state tournament.

Speaker 5 (40:25):
They had some very good talent, and I got to
see all of these guys last summer, you know, Blake
j Jacob nothing just to kind of come to mind.
And Jackson hare was was a known product last year,
but what he turned out to be. He ended up
getting second team off State and then this kind of
went from there in Bridgeport. I mean, going into the season,
Michael Ormanda, we're first team off state catcher a year ago,

(40:46):
but had better numbers last offensively than he did this year,
you know, and and still made the first thing because
he's good, if not the best defensive catcher in the
area and one of the top defensive catchers in the state.
I'm not I'm not going to say he's the best
because there's very good catchers out there, so I don't
want to take anything from all those other fine young
man and the good catchers.

Speaker 6 (41:07):
But Michael Romano, second.

Speaker 5 (41:09):
Year in a row, first team All State, and you
take a look at it, Jacob Stravacas, what he did
on the Mountainish for bridge Tort was amazing. I think
the biggest thing was to strike out the wall ratio
walk less than I think eleven guys in the year.
That's pretty good, and that's something you look back.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
In his career.

Speaker 5 (41:24):
And he started as a sophomore pitching Fridgeport.

Speaker 6 (41:26):
He walked.

Speaker 5 (41:28):
He always struck out more and he walked, but his
books were a little bit higher in his sophomore in
junior year. But boy, his senior year, he really did
a good job commanding all his pitches and throwing strikes.
So Jacob Baccus and plus his work for Bridgeport, he
was by far the number one pitcher this year and
he definitely deserved the nod. He'll be going to Potomac
State to play for coach Doug Little in the fall.

(41:49):
And then of course we've talked about Romano one to
the Coast Guard to play bass spots at Division three
levels short and he'll he'll do good there plus have
a great career to Coosamine and he knows what he's
after that.

Speaker 6 (42:01):
Carson Curry, you know, here's.

Speaker 5 (42:02):
A young man that well last year was no more
for his pitching, and he was a really good pitcher
last year, in fact, so much so the Glimbale State
offered him as a as a junior to pitch for
Glimble State. Well, this year, it was Carson Curry's bat
that led the way. He led Bridgeport and hitting. His
pitching was just myth and he didn't pitch a ton
of endings this year. Just's only had like I think

(42:23):
two starts on the year and a co leaf appearances.

Speaker 6 (42:25):
But it was his bat that was a difference.

Speaker 5 (42:29):
He did miss a week and a half, almost two
weeks to the concussion year, but Curry at the end
of the year was by far their best hitter.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (42:37):
He's a team leader. I mean that's what Carson was.
He was the team leader on that team. He had
experienced ever since his freshman year. Well deserved for Carson Curry.
He's going to Glimbale State to play next year. And
I got about Luke Rory you know Luke, you know,
didn't make the first team. He scrolled down there he
made the second team, and everyone's wondering, well, how did

(42:57):
he make second team he's only a sophomore. Well, he
led his team in hitting all year to the very
end when Carson Curry took over the lead and Luke
Warri was steady bat in this lineup and the number
two spot in the batting order. He did it with
a shoulder injury. He wasn't healthy all year long.

Speaker 6 (43:14):
Started out the in.

Speaker 5 (43:15):
The outfield, he was a really good outfielder, but then
he had to shut it down because of his shoulder.
He reinjured a back during the McDonald's Classics when he
was slack in the first base, he played DH, which
is still a position d H position. So you know,
Luke hit his way. And a good thing about Luke kids,
he's only a sophomore. He'll be a junior next year,
so two more years left for and congratulations to him.

(43:38):
And you know that's the players.

Speaker 6 (43:41):
That stand out.

Speaker 5 (43:41):
I know there was something made some marvel mentioned, but
outside locally, I don't have a problem with this list.
Casto from Ripley, the captain, the WVU commit I mean
he had a heck of especially in state tournament, both
on the mound and it's short. You know, I don't
have a problem with any of these guys. Cam Pecial
from Faaramonuts senior, probably the guy that came out of nowhere.

(44:03):
I mean his brother. We all know about him. He's
pitching the Mera legs. But Cam, you.

Speaker 6 (44:08):
Know, more known as a kicker.

Speaker 5 (44:10):
You know, from the Pharamont senior football team. But we
knew he could play baseball. What about him coming up?
But he put it together this year and he's only
a junior. He'll be a senst year. Congratulations to Camp
Pechel and Matt Masters also got on there. I thought,
you know, overall, I thought both teams. I look at
the second team list here, Congratulations to Cooper Floyd RCB.

(44:32):
He led the Flying Eagles, had to play this year
and also home runs, so he did a great job there.
So all in all, a CA, I don't have a
lot of arguments with these guys. And really the even
the other classifications I looked at.

Speaker 6 (44:45):
I didn't really take.

Speaker 5 (44:46):
A look at claud A too, because we just knew
who was gonna make it. But I thought single A
and A was fair and I thought they did a
good job.

Speaker 6 (44:53):
I thought the Raiders did a good job getting these
guys put it.

Speaker 2 (44:56):
Yeah, and it's funny you mentioned about the catchers and
Chris said Johnson told me that they really had a
hard time with how many good catchers there were across
the state this year. Let's go over Double A real quick.
There was some pretty good representation across the North Central
region in Class Double A, and I should make sure

(45:19):
I have the list up here. Here we go South
Harrison's Layton Wagman. I don't think any surprise there senior
pitcher who made a first team and just a kudos
to him because he also occasionally would have to do
it with his bat as well. Cal Wolf. Great season
for Philip Barber. He made the team as a junior outfielder.
Second team for Class Double A also included Landon Carpenter

(45:41):
from Philip Barber and Luke Rokiski from Doddridge County. Brandon
Nef also from Tyler Consolidated, made it as well. And
there's a very lengthy list of honorable mentions as well
that span Philip Barber and Richie County and Doddridge County
and a bunch of locals as well. Seth Gaine of
South Harris and made that list as well. What do

(46:02):
you think of Double A? A lot of really really
good performers this season across class Double A.

Speaker 5 (46:08):
Of course, can't forget Tyler Sison. He made first team
lit Barber, the catcher who's going to be going to
Concord and the fall Cism just led him in almost
every category. It was one of the top hitters, led
the team and home run clean up hitter. Three year
starter to catcher position boy. He was one of the
better catcher to keep the throne runners out all year.
In one game this year against Bridge, forty two three

(46:29):
runners out trying to steal second base. So everyone talks
about his hat, his arm and his glove, you know,
and his receiving abilities has really set him apart. And
his pop time is really good ball at least from
from the catcher spot down down to whatever he's towing to.
And everybody you talked about well deserved. I'm not surprised

(46:50):
any of those filling near. A couple people unknown to
the PEP in the area. A young man that that
I know, I know his brothers, Evan the Swaying kids
from Ravenswood. Evan his older brother, Chang Chance Chance Swayin.
He was a graduate about three or four years ago.
Now Evan outstanding player for Ravenswood. I've got to see

(47:14):
him py legion ball for Parkersburg Post fifteen last couple
of years. The entire family, very good athletes who congratulations
to him, and of course potential well represented and why not.

Speaker 6 (47:25):
I mean, you know, I'll see these.

Speaker 5 (47:27):
Kids a summer play for winning Post one and they're
all deserving and you know Wyomi East, you know Wyami
East had a surprising year, and you know they were
well represented, and.

Speaker 6 (47:37):
They're a guy to keep an eye on.

Speaker 5 (47:39):
Here in this look as a sophomore and he's getting
a lot of Division one looks. He's pulled for the
Beckley Bash Post thirty two this summer. He's only going
to be a junior. That's Kayden Hines from James Monroe.
Remember that name, Aiden Hines, a kid. Just remember that
name because you're going a lot more about him going forward.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
That's a great poll, Chris, that's a really good pull.
Let's jump over to Class single A. I'm sorry I
was delayed. I was bringing up Class Single A trying
to smoothly transition and instead caused a long delay there.
In Class Single A Tiger's Valley, Jackson Drennan makes the
first team. Parker Hopkins of Trinity Christian, Colton Hulbert of

(48:24):
Gilmer County, just as sophomore, makes the squad. Parker Ryan
Parker of clay Bateella Junior makes the first team, and
then dom Bombardier, one of two members of the Notre
Dame Irish to make the team. He was a first
team utility player. Sophomore Dominico Minacci of Notre Dame and
infielder on the second team, makes the cut. Cooper Statler

(48:45):
from Clay Battel also made that team, as well as
Isaac Snyder of Webster County, Bryson Sanders of Trinity Christian
and Braylan Menser of Gilmour County all on that second team.
First of all, congratulations to Notre Dame getting two on
there this year. Clay Buttel also pretty nice season getting
a couple of players on there Gilmour County. As we know,

(49:07):
they've continued to be good Tiger's Valley. Obviously, there's some
disappointment with the way the season ended Chris, but you
can tell based on this list there's some real talent there.

Speaker 5 (49:16):
How many Bombader, the senior at Notre Dame, He's going
to beth play baseball. I've watched that kid pitch in
Legion baseball as a fifteen year against older kids, and
he threw strikes. He could just throw strikes. He bath let,
he could play all over the place. He plays infield,
he can play in the outfield, defeat catch. He got
that experience on the Legion level, was a fifteen year

(49:37):
old youngster pitching against eighteen and nineteen year olds.

Speaker 6 (49:40):
He just kind of creed it. He's a young man.

Speaker 5 (49:43):
It's not going to blow you away on the radar gun.
He just pounds the strike zone. And what he did
this year for that Underdame team is a ton because
there are only players on that team only had I
think eleven.

Speaker 6 (49:55):
Kids on the team.

Speaker 5 (49:56):
They're really shorthanded this year. So him and the Manachi
brothers really had a great year. Uh and in their
Daine finished with a winning record, and Webamba did for
that team this year really really carried them throughout the year.
So congratulations to him. Jackson Drennan from Taggart's Valley. He
was in Elkins transferr He went to Elkins his first
two years, transferred to Taggart's Valley for his junior senior year.

(50:20):
He's going to go to Potomac State next year to
play for the catbout. And Doug Little struggled into regionals,
really had a tough thing against East Tarredy walked five
and then then he and two thirds. And you know,
but overall the numbers really at the the game, pitching
numbers which were good, but his penning numbers were really
good this year. He led Tigart's Valley at the play.

(50:41):
But the guy stands out on here and and I
watched these two twins play in all sports for a
long time now. And that's the Hamilton twins. And Evan Hamilton,
uh the junior of course, his other Mason, Evan the captain.
Mason came back towards the end of the year, and
what a year he had. He led led that starting
team state championship and just an outstanding athlete. For those

(51:06):
that don't know Evan and Mason. Hamilton's mom is Sis
is a sister to former Welford junior university football player
Rick Dolly. Rick played for Kneeland back in well, let's
see now it's been back in the late eighties early
nineties period. So Rick played for don Neelan. That was

(51:27):
his early nineties I believe. But anyways, Rick's a good guy,
know him. He was very proud of his sister's kids
and he's been telling me about him they were young.
I got a chance to see him in football and
basketball's really made a depression as well to a lot
of people down in Charleston this past winter. Congratulations to
all those guys. All of them will deserve everyone you mentioned,

(51:48):
no kidding.

Speaker 2 (51:48):
And then let's wrap up with Class Quadruple A, where
a good representation again for Morgantown University as well as
Preston County even snuck a player in there as well.
Going down the list, Bryson McNew, a catcher from Preston County,
just a sophomore, makes the first team for Class Quadruple A.
Morgantown's Maddox Boggs and Vinnie Alloy both made the first team.

(52:10):
Weston Maze makes the second team, Mason Bowers makes the
first team as well, and then University with some good
representation as well. University's Brans Mchun made the team, and
I think I'm missing one more. I thought there was
one more university player, but I'm not seeing it at
the moment. Regardless. Good representation all around there in Quadruple

(52:31):
A and pretty competitive this year. And again just you're
seeing these catchers and that was really the hardest part.
As Chris mentioned, Johnson mentioned to me during our last
week's conversation about this that he said they were having
a really hard time with this in each classification.

Speaker 5 (52:51):
Corbyn Dixon is the best all around catcher in the state.
And that's my opinion, of course. And I had a
chance to see his nickname is Cornbreak. And there's a
story about Corbyn Dixon from George Washington High School plays
leading baseball for South Post ninety four in the summer
and the manager, Dave Potter nicknamed him Cornbread because he's

(53:13):
got this blonde, curly hair. It just looks like it
looks like an air corn.

Speaker 6 (53:17):
I guess I don't know that. That's what he explains
to me.

Speaker 5 (53:21):
Character. Man, This kid's a character. It's fun, teammates loving,
He's a guy that just kind of bounces off, even
people out of me who I'm just walking around their
dug out last summer getting to know him, and this
kid's great.

Speaker 6 (53:32):
The kid hits a ton.

Speaker 5 (53:33):
I mean, we had a chance to see him against
Bridger this year just went off. We're walking into mont
County Ball or Kendrick Family Ballpark, getting ready to do
the Bridgeport game against Jefferson. They were in the game
before against Morgantown and he had a home run. We're
just watching him hit. Great catcher defensively, not as good
as some defensively, but all around the kicking for power,

(53:57):
the kick can hit. Just a great Catcheran Dixon from
a w high school. And you mentioned the other catcher,
Brayson McDow. I mean, here's a young man that's grown
a lot.

Speaker 6 (54:07):
He was a freshman last year.

Speaker 5 (54:08):
Got some time for Preston McNew grew a ton from
freshman to sophomore year. He got like three inches taller,
got stronger.

Speaker 6 (54:17):
He had a great year.

Speaker 5 (54:18):
He still has some work to do as far as
the defensive side of things, but offensively he can hit
him on any of them. He really can. Great power
at Anny Alloy from Morgantown. Here's the old man lives
in Bridgeport. An interesting story lives in Bridgeport. Uh, he
went to Morgantown to freshman year and he stayed there
and he had a great career led Intown with home

(54:40):
runs and it was their clean up hitter and also
the heck of a job on the mound for the
Mohegans this year. Congratulations to them or to him, I
should say. And a couple other names on here. Of course,
Carl playing from Parkersburg South spent a steady player throughout
his career, and I got a and I think the
best best pictures in the state is Garrett Wagner from

(55:02):
Spring Valley. This kid's been this all around great player.
He's one of the better pictures. He hits a ton
as well. It's got to end with Weston Smith. I
mean the WU commit to Hurricane. He's the captain and
he's there for a reason, and he helped lead the
REGs to a state championship this year. And I look
at second team couple stand out here Raid noviated from

(55:25):
Jefferson and here's a kid that went from Jefferson to
Martinsburg back to Jefferson. Outstanding defensive third baseman, can hit
a little bit as well. Brice Hugh really came on
from University. He's really playing well for Morgantown Post two
this summer. He's a young man that really had a
good year. But the guy that stands out to me
on the second team two of them, Mason McGill, only

(55:46):
a sophomore this year, throws eighty eight miles an hour,
who knows what the future has for him. And Bryce
Agleton and his dad's one of the nicest guys I've met.
SAT's product. He also plays for South Charleston summer. Bryce
Egleton's the pitcher man. He's not going to while you
on the radar guns. He's just the pitcher and he's
got the body for it. And I think he's got
a bright future, you know, wherever he goes to college.

(56:09):
I'm not sure where he's verbal or signed the play,
but he's got a bright future because he's got that body.
He's like six' two six, three he's got the body
and he's probably eighty two eighty three tops. Down but
he's gonna go. Somewhere they're going to see. That you're, like,
oh we can get guy throwing eighty nine to ninety
two by the time he graduates out of.

Speaker 6 (56:27):
College and it's a great young, man so a.

Speaker 5 (56:29):
Lot of talent in the state this year for. Baseball you're
seeing it more and more every. Year boy in Fifth.

Speaker 6 (56:35):
And i'm gonna be honest with. Baseball i'm not being biased,
Here i'm being.

Speaker 5 (56:39):
Real baseball more kids to college out of the state
Of West virginia almost any. Sport more kids out of
baseball go to play. College baseball to the most sport
in high. School And i'm not taking anything away from
all the other sports because you, ME i love them,
all but baseball sends a ton of kids to play college,
somewhere either In West virginia or outside of the.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
STATE i uh, YEAH I AND i will also, say,
uh after all that good rap on the baseball season,
There chris that it's crazy to think we we powered
our way through.

Speaker 3 (57:10):
It.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
Uh championships are over all state lists are out and that's.
It that's all of. Them there's that that that that
we we we did it so uh.

Speaker 6 (57:19):
Good So i'm halfway.

Speaker 3 (57:20):
Through i'm halfway.

Speaker 5 (57:21):
Through unfortunately yone else has. Done BUT i still have
another season to go With. LEGION a lot of these
guys we talked about we see out in in the,
summer you, know head, here but, uh it was a good.

Speaker 6 (57:32):
YEAR i.

Speaker 5 (57:33):
THINK i think overall the thing was down in the.
State i'm not gonna say it was bad because you,
know the good players on this, list there's a lot
we didn't talk. ABOUT i could have spent another thirty
men talking about some of these other.

Speaker 6 (57:44):
Guys BUT i.

Speaker 5 (57:46):
Think pitching was up a little bit this year in.
SPOTS i don't think the amount of pitchers with velocity
was as good as it has, been but we got
multiple arms had good, years AND i think hitting wise
was down a little. Bit but you, know you're hearing
a little bit in the major leagues about the Base you,
Know i'm looking at you right.

Speaker 6 (58:06):
NOW i mean the.

Speaker 5 (58:07):
Scenes on something as. Well some balls are raised scenes
and it seems like the ball is not as lively
was in the. Past you're starting to hear now that
you use The rawlings, ball and the major leagues kind
of the same thing. There SO i think the balls
might make an. EXCUSE i think the ball had a
little bit to do with the home runs being way
down across this year across the.

Speaker 2 (58:26):
State i'll be on a totally well a semi unrelated,
NOTE i will be very curious to see And i'll
tell you what we're gonna. Do we're gonna take a
quick break after, this and then we'll come back and
talk legion. BALL i am very curious long, term and
it's going to take a long time to establish. This
but you mentioned about how baseball sends more than any

(58:47):
other sport essentially to. College i'll be very curious to
see how having a Premier division one program in the
in the state and as the state's flagshat flagsh campus
on the state's flagship, campus how that will continue to
impact baseball In West virginia at the youth and high school.
LEVEL i have to feel like that's going to make an.

(59:08):
Impact while football has fallen on obviously difficult, times basketball
has been up and, down baseball has been really. CONSISTENT
i feel like that's going to translate. Eventually, YEAH i
think it.

Speaker 5 (59:23):
Will the other thing about baseball is there's so many
Good division two baseball programs and that have a rich
history of being really good in the baseball that in
baseball BETWEEN d two AND d one is.

Speaker 6 (59:35):
Not that far.

Speaker 5 (59:35):
Apart it's really only strated by speed and a little
bit of. Velocity you can find, power you can find,
HITTERS d two level all across this country that are
just some of the guys AT d one. Level in,
fact that's why you're Seeing West Virginia Dipping transfer. Portal
and they've about like four or five kids that played
small college ball this year because they all can, produce
so baseball very. Deep West Virginia university being very good

(01:00:00):
really helps. Things Not arshall trying to get their program
taken a little bit will help as. Well but the
two level in The Mountain East conference in this, state
plus THE juco rank With Potomac state And GARRETT i
Know Garrett counties In, maryland but they're pretty much our.
Neighbors their program has really taken. Off so all in,
all baseball is really, strong and it's been that way
for a long time as we have some really good

(01:00:21):
coaches out there that good job developing these kids into
good selling baseball.

Speaker 2 (01:00:25):
Players here's what we're gonna, do. Folks we're gonna take
a very quick break on The friday free for. All
when we come, back we're going to talk a little legion.
Baseball chris is most certainly the guy to do that,
with and much like we did With Chris, johnson we're
gonna get our first taste of. Football it's crazy to
think we're just about a little less than two and
a half months away from the start of the. Season

(01:00:46):
we're gonna get our first taste of football and Get
chris's take on some of the articles That Joe ricado
put up AT Wv Metro news dot. Com couple are
really good preview stories that he has been, doing including
one on The Bridgeport, indians like we talked about in
the previous. Segment so we'll take a quick. Break we're
right back after this on The Friday free For all
brought to you By Dan cavateo De BUICK.

Speaker 1 (01:01:06):
Gmc now back to The Dan Cavatoyota WICK Gmc Friday
free For all on ONE o three three W.

Speaker 2 (01:01:15):
Kmz all, right and we are back in the. Studio
Friday free For all continuing, here brought to you by
our friends over At Dan cavateo To BUICK. Gmc Chris
george is with. Us we're gonna switch gears away from
as As chris alluded, to away from high school baseball
to his second, season which is of, Course legion, baseball
and he's gonna be a busy guy for the next

(01:01:36):
couple of months as we pour over, this and there
are some really good, players as you alluded, to who
are gonna obviously be spending some pretty critical, time whether
on the mound or at the plate this, summer prepping
for either a very important season of high school or
is you alluded to some guys who are getting ready
to go off and play at the college. Level so

(01:01:58):
what is the latest in the last week In legion?

Speaker 5 (01:02:01):
Ball, WELL i mean getting a lot of games there
around the.

Speaker 6 (01:02:05):
State we'll just look at.

Speaker 5 (01:02:07):
Locally some of the teams, locally start With Bridgeport post sixty.
Eight they're off to a five and two. Start they
defeated the team From, Tampa. Florida Former Major league pitcher
From Greecet High School seth, McClung who pitched in the
majors for multiple. Years he brings his teams up every
summer from academy down In florida and the teams around the.
State bridgeport got the wain last nine seventeen to, seven

(01:02:29):
but this fourteen it's, weird, man you, know you look
at it because they're huge rival all, Sports Fairmont Senior
bridgeport Right, well now they're kind of combining their efforts
a little.

Speaker 6 (01:02:38):
Here, yes some Good.

Speaker 5 (01:02:39):
Fairmont senior flavor on this. Team he got Cam pecial
on this. Team he Got Logan, camfield who's the outfielder.
Pitcher he Got Iman, vianna who was A fairmont senior
graduate from last year in twenty twenty res eligible as
a nineteen year.

Speaker 6 (01:02:52):
Old and he Got Matt.

Speaker 5 (01:02:53):
Masters you, know got a lot of flavor From fairmont
senior on this. Team and then he got a Good
bridgeport player is Add in Uh Uh Mark, beafour who
was a twenty twenty four graduate From bridge forty a year.
Ago he had an heck of the game last. Night
six RBI's four for four to play B a four
really playing. Well and and then all The bridgepoort players

(01:03:16):
saw this, year you, know The Carson curry who has
been who's been playing some and. Short he's also pitched
a little bit for him this. Year he's really playing.
Well Owen, sondrecker a guy we got to know in
high school. Baseball he's kind, of you, know showing out pretty.
Good and then of Course Michael ormano doing his. Thing
manos actually got to play a little bit of center
field here this summers to kind of show his. Versatility

(01:03:36):
he's got great, speed so you see.

Speaker 2 (01:03:39):
Him and then of course Is Michael romano going to
stay a catcher when he goes to.

Speaker 5 (01:03:43):
College, ah we'll, see, probably we'll get probably will. Be
BUT i think he has the he has the versatility
with his speed to be able to play another, position
AND i think that's what THEY i think some of
that might be that we'll. SEE i think he's probably
going to be a primarily going to be a. Catcher
And Vinnie alloy we talked about them in our last.
Segment The morgantown product lives in Bridge pards after, All

(01:04:06):
along is playing For post sixty eight this. Summer he's
had a good to, play So bridgeport off to a good.
Start they're five and. Two also Locally Clarksburg post thirteen
and that the record doesn't really stand out right. Now
they're in five. Man they've been competitive in a lot
of their. Games they did a great job over the

(01:04:27):
weekend In Tim Buckshields Morial tournament upset To beckley back
which was a huge win For clarksburg over the weekend
and Defeated beckley five to, four held on with a great.
Win jackson mcglowski The ROBERT. C bird product pitch the
heck of the game that. One congratulations To clarksburg and
they just kind of hung. Around there Was charleston the

(01:04:49):
next day lost twelve eight late in the. Game So
clark's playing some pretty good. Baseball they did get up
ended this week By parkersburg and ten AND i think
so three and. Five they're going to be. Off they're
going to To ohio And Chilla coffee to play in
a tournament this weekend is called A gym Jad Win
Memorial classic In Chili, coffee so they actually won that

(01:05:11):
tournament last. Year the Clarks cost their team will see
how they do this. Year And morgantown too are runners
up from a year. Ago off to a good start as.
Well they're currently five and one on the. Year they
just Defeated sport in a league game and there you
two matchup two nights, ago four to.

Speaker 6 (01:05:30):
Three picking up the win Was.

Speaker 5 (01:05:31):
Morgantown they're heading down To, Ashboro North carolina this week
to take on some teams From North carolina down. There
it's their annual trip they take down To Off county.
Area and that's Not Randoff, County West. Virginia it's Rand Off,
County North carolina after which is just south Of, greensboro
and they'll be down there playing some good quality. Teams
they do that trip every. Year they've got some good.

(01:05:53):
Wins they defeated a good Gar maryland team On, monday
and they split With, Napoleon ohio that's out of The toledo,
area and of course they got Over clarksburg and went
Over parkersburg as. Well So Morgantown post two off to
a good start five and, one but that's just some
of the local. Teams buchannan they've they've been kind of

(01:06:15):
up and down a little bit here to start the,
year As buchannon also played in The Tim Buck Memorial
classic over the. Weekend The post seven is currently doing
five on the, year but they have added a couple
of players to their. Team the roster Did june twenty.
Fifth Elkins post twenty nine played one game and then
closed it down for the rest of the summer due to

(01:06:35):
lack of. PLAYERS a couple just a part of their
team after that first, game so there's gonna be about
three or four players off At elkins team go To
buchanon because that's the next closest legion team and play,
for so.

Speaker 6 (01:06:47):
We'll keep an eye on.

Speaker 5 (01:06:48):
Them one of them Is, jacobsley a player From Taggart's
valley WHO i thought was a little bit robbed on the,
team probably should have been more of a second team
look was.

Speaker 6 (01:06:56):
Not he's gonna have. There but that's a Good buchanan.

Speaker 5 (01:06:59):
Team all those players from a high school, team The
West falk kids them from, basketball they were good baseball
players as, Well so.

Speaker 6 (01:07:05):
Keep an eye on.

Speaker 5 (01:07:06):
It outside of the, area you take a. Look parkersburg
is off to Start post. Fifteen it is the currently
eleven and three on the. Year The Beckley bash is
eight and two on the. Air they Swept charleston two
nights ago in a doubleheader An area three play And
South Charleston post ninety. Four another factor this year Is sison.

(01:07:27):
One and we'll go over to the Eastern panhandle quickly
BEFORE i wrap it up. Here Berkeley County post fourteen.
There so For Berkeley's post. Fourteen their based As. Martinsburg
they draw From, hedges they From, musselman they draw From
jefferson And walshchon high, schools and they're currently six and

(01:07:47):
two on the year down playing In Myrtle, beach this,
week they just defeated Soccer Sy South, carolina a junior
team from The Myrtle beach. Area they'll Play North Hory,
County South carolina. Tomorrow that's the big senior. Team, Yeah Tory.
Counties the county Represents, Conaway Myrtle. Beach that's gonna be
a very good competition For berkeley. Tomorrow we'll see how they.

(01:08:08):
Do and the other from The Panhandle North Berkeley post
sixty to nights with them.

Speaker 6 (01:08:13):
Here they're off.

Speaker 3 (01:08:14):
To a decent.

Speaker 6 (01:08:15):
Start they've played a really tough. Schedule they're two and
three on the.

Speaker 5 (01:08:18):
Year in their last, contest they were up in and
By Western Virginia post twenty, one three to two in
a very close. Game that's the Same winchester at tend
to Run berkeley back On. Tuesday so kind of look
At legion baseball right. Now we've got more tournaments coming
up throughout the. Summer we got a tournament come up
In morgantown at the end Of, june And i'll want

(01:08:38):
to rap here quickly and kind of remind people we'll
do this every time. Out our tournament for The senior
division Is july twenty fourth through twenty Dal Miller field
At Island park In.

Speaker 6 (01:08:48):
MORGANTOWN Wv messaged.

Speaker 5 (01:08:51):
Dot com and The Metro NEWS tv app will have
exclusive coverage of twenty twenty Five West Virginia america LEAs
the state tournament also be induced and ran By Video.
PRODUCTIONS i want to thank all those fine people for
being able to do that for us from here, on
As morgantown hosts The states this, year the winner is
still will head To, Hanover, maryland it's southside Of baltimore

(01:09:12):
for The Millic regionals and next year's state Term Well
Beam beckley and we'll talk more about that in the,
future BUT i want to Thank Metro NEWS tv And
Video productions for doing that for so stood pub a
good pub for these. Kids and thes's coming up later in.

Speaker 1 (01:09:25):
The month Of.

Speaker 2 (01:09:26):
July let's switch gears for a. Minute let's talk a
Little bridgeport football as and it's again crazy to, think
but it's closer than you. Think Joe bricato put, OUT
i thought a really good preview article at the, website
and AGAIN i encourage folks to check it OUT wv
Metro news dot. Com check out the high school sports
section of the website specifically and you can find that.

(01:09:46):
Piece BUT i talked a little bit about this With Chris,
johnson and my thought is is that when you look
at This bridgeport, team as much as they have to,
reload as much as they've got to pull, from it's
hard not to. THIN i think that they ARE i
don't want to say that the, favorites but, boy they're

(01:10:08):
gonna be right there. Again it feels like for a
shot at the state. Title they were so, good so
absurdly over the top good last season that even with
the amount of talent that they, LOST i still feel
like they're gonna. Be like the margin of victory might
go down a little, bit, Right BUT i don't know.
THAT i think they're in a really good position to

(01:10:29):
defend that.

Speaker 5 (01:10:29):
Title they could be as good this year as they
were last.

Speaker 6 (01:10:34):
YEAR i think health is the.

Speaker 5 (01:10:35):
Key you got to be, healthy and this team's got
to stay.

Speaker 6 (01:10:37):
Healthy this. Year they got.

Speaker 5 (01:10:39):
Parts the entire line is back side Of West. Brown,
now he's a good.

Speaker 6 (01:10:42):
One not about that he's one of the. Best it's
not the best line in the state of year, ago
but the.

Speaker 5 (01:10:47):
Entire line is. Back we're in a counting last, year
we're in a three Year widow For bridgeport and this
is year number two of three WHERE i think they
have it to be a very, very very Very i'm
in the program a triple and the.

Speaker 6 (01:11:03):
Schedule strength is a little.

Speaker 5 (01:11:04):
Tougher this. Year they got a team out Of Western
virginia AND i believe It's. CHARITY i think that's the
name of the. School with out look at the schedule
In Spring, valley that team at spring back is going
to be very very big Because Spring valley is a
team that knows how to play. Football it's a good
matchup For bridgeport coming up on the. Schedule, man they're
they can stay healthy and avoid the injuries and not.

Speaker 6 (01:11:26):
You, know not a you, know trim.

Speaker 5 (01:11:28):
Away at that depth they, have this is going to be.

Speaker 6 (01:11:30):
Another very Good.

Speaker 5 (01:11:31):
Bridgeport on other the coaches are are way way from
from saying, that BUT i THINK i can say it
just from.

Speaker 2 (01:11:37):
You can you can you can say?

Speaker 5 (01:11:39):
It. YEAH i think Uh Tyler fairs in this coaching
staff has built a monster. Here but it's not just those.
Guys everybody involved in the pee wee, program to the
middle school, program to the high school, program not to
miss the freshman IN. Jv this current group juniors on this.
Team the skilled group were freshmen t year years, ago

(01:12:00):
blowing everybody. Out they Blew martsburg off the. Field this
group of, seniors it's full of some very very good
line and a lot of these guys played last.

Speaker 6 (01:12:11):
Year and you're going to guys.

Speaker 5 (01:12:13):
Like Gavin williams where you could kick, well guess what
it's got educated when it comes around the football as.
Well he's going to be a good safety for the.
Team Gabe martin could be one of the leading rushers
in the. State who, knows we'll. See it all depends on.
Health and they have others in the backfield that will
get to.

Speaker 6 (01:12:30):
Carry Graham benson will step.

Speaker 5 (01:12:32):
In he'll he'll throw the football around a little.

Speaker 3 (01:12:34):
Bit.

Speaker 5 (01:12:35):
Uh they've got a ways to go to get where they'll.
Be AND i know that there still say that a
lot of work to do because one thing he lost
last year was a lot of good leadership on that senior.
Group guys that were leaders had been through the. Trenches
that's not easy to. REPLACE i know that they. RELOAD
i get all, that but that.

Speaker 6 (01:12:54):
Is not easy to.

Speaker 5 (01:12:55):
Replace the schedule is gonna be a little bit, harder you,
Know and LIKE i talked About but This bridgeport, TEAM
i don't know if they'll run run. Clock everyone did last.

Speaker 6 (01:13:03):
Year that's.

Speaker 5 (01:13:04):
Unprecedented BUT i think this team has a chance to
achieve their. Goals but they have got to stay healthy
and go out there and play at the level they
played last. Year, hey we know the talent they got.
Football it comes down to one, thing. Execution bridgeport keeps
it simple and they do it their. Way it's faster

(01:13:24):
than anybody that can defend. It that's the key to
this single. Wing it's, simple it's, fast it's faster than
anyone can scatter rep and that's why so good at
it AND i think.

Speaker 6 (01:13:34):
It's gonna be a big.

Speaker 5 (01:13:35):
Year i'm not going to make any predictions goloing. Predictions
i'm going to make is This bridgeport team's going to
be a factor once again like the fall of twenty.

Speaker 2 (01:13:42):
Five by the, way their margin of victory last year
with seven touchdowns per. Game so that's that's WHY i
feel LIKE i feel like if they if it's safe
to say that might go down a little, bit if
they exceed, that that will Be that'll be absolutely absolutely. Wild,
Chris BEFORE i let you, GO i know you're heading
out to see The pirate at some. Point they went
into extra. Innings last, NIGHT i actually got the job.

(01:14:04):
DONE i was surprised WHEN i saw the final. SCORE
i think ANYTIME i see The pirates score more than
four in a, Game i'm usually pretty. Surprised that should
be not only should that be decent though With, texas
but you get out there before the heat wave arrives this, Weekend.

Speaker 5 (01:14:23):
Yeah they got. Away they found a way to win
A detroit second game of doubleheader to four an extra.
Innings the first game was, miserable you, know just too.
MISERABLE i was at, work and of COURSE i wasn't watching,
it BUT i got some updates and once, Nothing i'm, like,
well got them at, WORK i have to watch this.
Fasca they did a good job in the second, game
battling back through some adversity through rain delay and gained

(01:14:44):
the way an extra. Innings, again it comes To pittsburgh.
Team you, know since the firing Of Derek, shelton they're playing.
Harder they seemed to be playing more. Together but at
the end of the, day it's just not enough because
they just don't have enough.

Speaker 6 (01:14:56):
Offense and.

Speaker 5 (01:15:00):
The only way that's kind of fixed is through trades
or free agency or more better program development of guys
coming up through the, system the guys that got, NOW
i think you expect some improvement from a few of these,
guys but they have not taken the steps yet that
they want that could happen To you can still see
a little bit of that next.

Speaker 3 (01:15:19):
Year.

Speaker 5 (01:15:19):
O'Neal cruise is nowhere near where he probably should. Be,
he's you, know still struggling in a lot of part
of his.

Speaker 6 (01:15:25):
Game, yeah they.

Speaker 5 (01:15:26):
Can hit the ball, hard but when you're back to
twenty to twenty and these strikeouts are still, high his
numbers against left handed pitching are really. Bad so there's improvement.
There but the best they have is something that a
lot of teams don't, have and that's starting. Pitching pitch
one of that has one of the best starting rotations in,
baseball but they have one of the worst offices in

(01:15:47):
baseball to go with. It that's kind of why they
are what they. Are BUT i, think and in my,
opinion you're going to have to find a. WAY i
don't need it doesn't mean you can do it the.
Deadline he might do it in the. Offseason have to
start thinking about trading from. Within your stock starting pitching
to try to acquire a couple of, bats because this
all needs at least two or three bats next year

(01:16:09):
to give them a legit chance compete for a playoff.
Spot because they have enough pitching in. PLACE i think
they can trade within their starting pitching to go out
and acquire a couple of big bats next. Year because
we know the owner is not going to go out
and buy anybody free. Agency he just isn't going to do.
It and it is what it. Is we can talk
about that toward blue in the. Face that's just his.
Thing and there's things they can do here if they

(01:16:30):
do it, right to try to acquire a couple big
time bats to try to balance this team out and
give at a chance here to try to make some
progress next. Year and just we're just asking for a
wild card. Spot that's all you need to. Do find
someiciency and figure out what you're doing going. Forward to
your position players in the minor, leagues how to develop

(01:16:52):
better position players going. Forward we know they can develop,
pitching we've seen, that but the position players are. Different
that comes from every thing from scouting to developing FROM
a TO. Z so, YEAH i see some THINGS i
don't Know Don kelly will. SEE i like him as a.
PERSON i think he's done a good job for what he's.
GOT i don't know if he's going to be the
long term. ANSWER i know he's From. Pittsburg a lot

(01:17:14):
of people out but we'll see going. Forward you, Know
i'm not going to say anyone deserves be fired except
some people in the front. Office but oh on all we'll.

Speaker 6 (01:17:22):
See but tell You i'm going.

Speaker 5 (01:17:24):
Up tonight to see him Play, texas and then again
a week From, Friday i'll see him against The mets as.
Well so a couple Of friday he's the only day
of the WEEK i can. Go so we'll see how
they go and Do texas this. Weekend but it should be,
fun very.

Speaker 2 (01:17:39):
Good, Chris, George thanks. Man we will talk with you next.
Week this is The Friday free For, all brought to
you By dan cavatoo to be AT. Gmc we're back
after this talking about the new helmets In Marion.

Speaker 1 (01:17:49):
County back to THE wkmz locker room for more high
school sports on The Dan cavatoyo w AT Gmc Friday
free For.

Speaker 2 (01:17:58):
All welcome back to The Friday free For all brought
to you By Dan Cavatiota BUICK. GMC i Am Alex
weweerspiel here with, you and thanks to our guests so,
Far chris Is johnson And. George Now i'm going to
take you back to a conversation THAT i had earlier
this week with Doctor hobber cartinists from The Rockefeller Neuroscience
institute and The Neuroperformance center at THE r AND. I,

(01:18:22):
SO i don't know if you saw this, story but
they are partnering With riddell to provide a hundred helmets
and they actually started fitting AS i understand, it they
started fitting the students for these helmets this. Week but
they are going to be fitting students for student athletes
In Marion, county one hundred of them in, total with
these new performance performance helmets that are going to really

(01:18:48):
do great work for potentially data tracking and potentially preventing
and doing better work preventing. Concussions and Doctor cardness kindly
explained how it all worked and sat down with me.
Today let's hear from. Him now we are joined by
Doctor Rabbier, cardinis the director of The Neuroperformance Innovation center
at The Rockefeller Neuroscience institute In. Morgantown, now for folks

(01:19:11):
who have been paying close, attention they'll probably remember a
couple of days ago that there was an announcement THAT
r AND i would be teaming up along with a
local helmet manufacturer to provide one hundred new helmets to
football players In Marion, county which is really. Exciting for
folks who have listened to the show, regularly know that

(01:19:34):
we've been pretty invested in this topic repeatedly on both
this show and the other the show we, do The
High School Football, Show High School sports show that we
do The friday free for all that this is an
important topic for a lot of different, reasons but mainly
because we are always interested in technological advances to keep
athletes potentially safe or. Safer and Doctor cartness is going

(01:19:57):
to break it all down for. Us good, morning good,
morning are You i'm? Good, thanks thanks for doing this as,
Always and so the basics, are we just laid them
all out, there one hundred, helmets new. Helmets can you
tell us a little bit about this arrangement and then
a little bit about the helmets?

Speaker 4 (01:20:13):
Themselves, absolutely so you, know the background, stems of course
from the tragedy we had In West virginia last year With,
coencratic AND i had a chance with his dad when
there was some discussion about legislation about some safety, elements

(01:20:33):
and so, naturally when we wanted to have an impact
on our, community specifically Our Marion county, community we wanted
to implement the safest technology currently available to any, athlete
any football, player and it is part of a more
comprehensive plan to prode safety technology, helmets specifically nitoring. Technology

(01:21:01):
so that's something called inside analytic injury prevention for our athletic,
diners meaning emergency action planning traumatic head, injury as well
as computerized cognitive base sline tests for our. Youth and
so as part of this comprehensive, plan we are providing

(01:21:24):
one hundred to the football programs In Marion.

Speaker 2 (01:21:28):
County let's talk a little bit about the helmets. Themselves
AND i HAD i had kind of connected the dots
there on the on The coencratic tragedy in my in
my own, Head so it's good to it's good to
hear that as. WELL i had actually really thought about
you guys when that went, down And i'd been wondering
about you, Know we've had so many conversations you AND
i in the past about youth football and youth sports in.

(01:21:51):
General it's not just, football where obviously head injuries are
are potential. Risk but how do these helmets work differently than,
say other helmets that might be in, use er what
is the hope that they might work differently than other
helmets that are currently in?

Speaker 4 (01:22:05):
Use as if we look at the design of helmets
to begin, with we have seen an incredible revolution in
helmet design that started with the NFL's investment in The
Head Health, challenge in which helmet manufacturers have been increasing

(01:22:25):
their helmet, technology the material sciences looking at the forces
distributed around the. Head And i've watched this happen year after,
year and what we are seeing instead of this linear
improvement in helmets, performance we have been seeing eight to
nine years of improvement per year that has been Out

(01:22:49):
and so right now what we have at the top
of the list are the Rel axiom. Helmets and these
are Del axiom helmets the highest performance ratings at multiple,
levels not JUST, nfl but also if you're looking At
Virginia Tech star, rating you see that these are incredibly.
Safe now they are not the only piece of the

(01:23:12):
technology that we're used just relying on that, helmet but
the insight technology is built into these helmets and some
Other redel products as, well is that this technology allows
us to monitor in real time the number of impacts
the given athlete is, receiving the magnitude of those, impacts

(01:23:35):
and the location of those, impacts and so we can
take that data and information and provide advice and rerundations
to the coaches as to which athletes are having these
impacts and how they might be able to adjust coaching and.

Speaker 6 (01:23:54):
Or play for their.

Speaker 4 (01:23:56):
Athletes and so we're able to provide this information on
a regular.

Speaker 2 (01:24:00):
Basis, Yeah and also the timing is kind of interesting
because circling back to THE, Nfl Aaron rodgers in, fact
was just what was complaining a little bit about his
helmet that he's worn for twenty years is no longer,
approved and THE ceo of the company that makes that
helmet actually did comment on, it and he basically, SAID

(01:24:20):
i don't know if people Real i'm paraphrasing, here but
he basically, SAID i THINK i have the exact. Quote
but THE ceo of the company that Made rogers's old,
helmet basically said Because rogers himself said he can't stand
the new, helmet but he, SAID i feel for players
Like Aaron. Rodgers he's worn the same helmet model basically
his entire. Career he's never been hurting. It i'm sure

(01:24:40):
it feels like an old friend when he puts it.
ON i completely understand from a player's perspective that potentially causing.
FRUSTRATION i also understand the desire of THE nfl and
FOR us as helmet manufacturers trying to develop new. Technology
and this is the key. Part technology is, evolving probably
quicker than most people, think and that ability to protect
athletes better comes a along with. That SO i imagine

(01:25:01):
there is probably a challenge here for older, athletes but
for younger, athletes this is going to wind up being
the only tech when it comes to helmets that they're
going to. KNOW i imagine.

Speaker 4 (01:25:10):
Absolutely so that the, parallels of course are are safety and,
vehicles motor, vehicles and so you, know way back when
we only had, seatbelt and then the air bag came
out and this was, revolutionary and then crumple zones and
stability control and then more airbags on the sides and
different distributions of forces so that these vehicles are safer

(01:25:32):
and safer and. Safer and, so you, know at one
point it was it was, worth you, know fixing up
an old. Car then you look at the safety proposition
and you're, like, well maybe it might be time to
invest in something. Newer and so what we are, doing
community is we are investing in the safest.

Speaker 2 (01:25:52):
Technology at what point do you think eventually will this
level of tech be wide? Space? Right OR i guess
maybe a better question is how fast is it moving throughout?
Communities because obviously this is this Is Marion, county this
is one, county this is one, community and what's the
what's the eventual plan for widespread?

Speaker 4 (01:26:13):
Adoption, yeah so our our plan is to serve our
community as we can and then you, know with the
success of our our implementation that our goal and our
hope is to to expand. It but again that that
requires us to do a good job to make sure
that we are are providing that service and that we

(01:26:34):
are successful in doing. So AND i can't emphasize that.
Enough we are we are there for the, community we
are there for the. Athletes we're not to be here
to impose our will and say you have to do,
that you have to do THIS uh and that everybody's
got to come up TO uh tomorrow intown to be
seen should there be an. Injury we really want to

(01:26:56):
make sure that we are providing this, service providing this,
education and providing these resources to benefit our.

Speaker 2 (01:27:02):
Community do you take data back when when these helmets
go into? Use do you take data back and then
use that later down the, line whether for establishing ways
to improve helmet tech or or anything along those.

Speaker 6 (01:27:18):
Lines the short answer is.

Speaker 4 (01:27:21):
Yes so first and, foremost when we have our reports
that we provide to the, codes that is simply for
them to utilize as a. Fit, however you, know coming
from a, university of course we want to better understand
what's happening, collectively and so at end of season we

(01:27:41):
will better understand how these kids are, Practicing where on their,
heads are they on the? Helmets are they are they?
Striking based on interventions, Utilize but coaches and, others do
we see decrease head? IMPACT a big part of that
is because you, know we have we have really focused

(01:28:03):
on concussion as the injury point for for head, impact
but really we're also trying to reduce that exposures that
there are are not long term consequences that can come with.

Speaker 2 (01:28:15):
Us that is Doctor Hobvier, cardinist director of The Neuroperformance
Innovation center at The Rockefeller Neuroscience. Institute thank, you Doctor,
cartness my. Pleasure that is Doctor Javier cardiness with The
Rockefeller Neuroscience. Institute we are going to wrap the show after.
This Dan Cavatota BUICK gmc brings to you The Friday
free For. All we're back in just a.

Speaker 1 (01:28:34):
Moment time for more high school sports talk on The
Dan cavatoyo W A Gmc Friday free For.

Speaker 2 (01:28:41):
All we are out of. TIME i gotta go ahead
and wrap this thing. Up but what a great season of. Baseball.
Again congratulations to not only all the state champs and
all those who made it into the state. Tournament congratulations
to the numerous, players particularly from north Central West virginia of,
course which is our, focus who whether graduating or not
or coming back next, season whether they're playing legion ball right. Now,

(01:29:04):
again congratulations to all of those kids who made any
of those all state. Lists that is fantastic work all
around and well deserved across the. Board congratulations, again win
or lose a lot of, effort a lot of hard
work put in over the course of this. Season special
thanks to all of my guests today Doctor Xavier cardinist

(01:29:27):
from The Rockefeller Neuroscience, institute very much appreciated talking with.
Him Chris george of, course who filled not one but
two segments worth of content for us. Today and then
my co Host Chris, johnson WHO i hopefully will enjoy some,
pizza some, bagels Some New york, deli whatever he can
get his hands on in The city That never. Sleeps

(01:29:47):
looking forward to having him back in, person looking forward
to diving headfirst into. Football we dipped our toe in
the water, Today we're going to dive head first the
rest of the. Way gotta, go, folks don't forget to
check out the. Podcast have you ever miss an? Episode
this is The Friday free For All rutsie By Dan cavato.

Speaker 3 (01:30:02):
To you AT.

Speaker 1 (01:30:02):
Gmc you've been listening to The dan cavatoyot of you
AT Gmc Friday free For. All be sure to tune
in Every friday as we review and preview local high school.
Sports this has been a special presentation OF Wvrc media

(01:30:25):
and ONE o three THREE wkmz