School's Out for the Tourney

On today's show discussing the High School Baseball Tournament:

• Chris George, Bridgeport play-by-play and baseball analyst (5:07)
• Chris Johnson, Connect-Bridgeport and co-host (37:27)
• Michael Minnich, WVNews.com & ESPN+ (1:05:29)

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 Wheeederspiel.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome in and good morning. Great to have you with
us here on the Friday Free for All. It is
finally here. The state high school baseball tournament is underway,
and well, the results weren't phenomenal, but save the best
for a last three games decided in just six innings,

(00:41):
and then Philip Barber and Logan went the distance. Philip
Barber near collapse at the end. They avoid it though,
get a late strikeout, get the job done, and avoid
a what would have been a disastrous loss to Logan,
who nearly came from behind to beat them, ultimately taking
it six to five. We're going to talk all about

(01:02):
Philip Barber, who now has a chance to play for
their first ever state title in high school baseball. Exciting
for them. Fairmont's senior going to be in action later today.
We're of course going to talk about weather permitting. Of course,
we're of course going to talk about the Polar Bears
and what they've got coming up against a Frankfurt team

(01:23):
that folks should be very familiar with in this region,
in this area after they just knocked out Bridgeport in
a best of three, winning two games in Bridgeport and
losing their lone home game in that series. But Frankfurt,
defending Class Double A champs from a year ago back
when Double A was out of three classifications, got the

(01:43):
job done. So it'll be Frankfort and Fairmont Senior going
to talk about that coming up with Chris George as
well Morgan down in action later today in Class Quadruple A.
All of this is weather permitting. Good morning, Deep breaths,
Welcome in Friday Free for All, brought to you by
Dan Keatatoto bu A GMC. Here's what's here's our lineup
for today. We're gonna go a trifecta tripod of guests.

(02:07):
Michael Minnick from wvnews dot Com is going to join us,
not exclusively baseball talk. We're actually gonna we're gonna expand
out on a little exercise that Chris Johnson and I
started last week. We were talking about sort of favorite
storylines of the year. We're gonna we're gonna expand that
out out a bit, and I'm gonna do this with
both Chris and Mike, and it's storylines kind of way

(02:30):
too early, storylines you're looking forward to in any sport
for the twenty five twenty six school year. Yes, I
know school's out for the summer, but before you know it,
and in fact, for some places, this has already begun.
But it's June, the flex days begin. Football is closer
than you think. I know, still two and a half

(02:50):
months to go, and we're gonna spend the next two
and a half months once once we make it through,
once we make it through the rest of the rest
of this tournament, we'll spend the next two and a
half months basically previewing fall sports, particularly football. But that's
coming up with Mike Minnick. He is going to be
our third and final guest today. Chris Johnson, my co host,

(03:12):
is going to join us closer to the top of
the next hour, and I'm not sure exactly when we'll
get to him. Kind of go until Chris, George and
I stop, but Chris Johnson will join us. We'll go
through a bunch of local headlines, including three Bridgeport products
who will be heading to the North South All Star

(03:33):
Game for baseball coming up in just a little bit
later this month. And then of course Chris George is
going to set the table for everything that we got
to talk about on the show today, jumping around from
the state tournament to the end of Bridgeport's season, and
of course we're going to talk to some Mountaineer baseball,
because how about those Mountaineers getting the job done in

(03:56):
dramatic fashion. I might add a real flair for the
dramatic sweeping their way through the Clemson Regional, coming from
behind in every game, and coming from behind twice in
the final game against Kentucky, down by five runs twice,
ultimately winning thirteen to twelve. We'll talk about all that
and much more coming up with Chris George. So all

(04:16):
that being said, table set, we'll get at it right
after this on the other side of our first break.
This is the Friday free for all, brought to you
by Dan Cavitzeota Buick GMC, reminding you to check out
the show if you ever miss an episode or a
segment or whatever, check it out in podcast form. You
can do that a couple of different ways. You could
download the Spreaker app, which is our home base. Well,

(04:38):
you could simply use your preferred podcasting platform. The show
is in and available on most podcasting platforms that you
probably are familiar with. You can also just worst case
scenario if you're not tech savvy, that's okay, go to
WKMZ news dot com. The show is embedded there under
the podcast section, so lots of different ways that if

(04:59):
you miss the show you can hear it in podcast form.
All right, we will go ahead and get to our break.
Get Chris George on, and we're back after this.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
Now back to the Dan Cavatoyota wick GMC Friday Free
for All on one O three three w.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
KMZ Friday Free for All, and leading us off in
the lineup today is Chris George, who is of course
not only the play by play voice of the Bridgeport Indians,
but he is pretty much our He's our he's our ace,
he's our baseball ace during the course of this season,
and obviously Legion ball is coming up. But it is
kind of crazy to think that another high school season

(05:36):
has come and gone. Essentially, we are halfway there towards
having all the championship games decided on who will be
in it and of course Class Triple A and Class
Quadruple A if the weather permits, will we'll we'll get
there today and then Saturday have some championship games, very
very exciting. We'll have four champions crowned by Saturday, including

(06:00):
potentially Philip Barber. We'll get to that in just a moment.
They want a thriller last night, But Chris, what's up man?
We're gonna talk a little. Bridgeport obviously disappointing into the season.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
How are you pretty good?

Speaker 4 (06:13):
Just baseball mode as always this time of year, kind
of transition from high school now to American Legion baseball
local is my state chairman duty is start in my
first year? Is that Pirates Mountaineers. Of course, they have
a big regional coming Saturday, Sunday and hopefully Monday, high
school state tournament their way right now as we speak,

(06:36):
a lot of baseball, the baseball all levels.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well, I would you say hopefully Monday. I'm hoping. I
think we were all hoping for for no game Monday
for different reasons. But I think realistically, if they're gonna
beat LSU, I mean LC's got two pretty good starting pitchers,
more than likely they're not going to beat both of
them in those first two games, if that's how it
winds up going down in terms of the rotation for them.
So yeah, I think hopefully Monday is probably the realistic outcome.

(07:03):
But we are going to get to that. We are
going to talk a little Mountain your Baseball with Chris
coming up later on in this segment. After they swept
their way through the Clemson Regional. But why don't we
start with Bridgeport and then we're gonna work our way
to the state tournament. Obviously, listen, you know, a really
disappointing way for the season to go down for the Indians.
Really quality opponent in Frankfort. Obviously, there's a reason why

(07:24):
they got as far as they did. They are, of course,
in a different classification this year, but trying to defend
their state title from a year ago, even in a
different classification. But when all is said and done, Bridgeport
goes down in a best of three, losing both of
their two losses at home. They won on the road

(07:46):
and one in convincing fashion. I might add, you know,
it kind of looked like we talked about the role
the weather might play last week and they came out
like Gangbusters in that second game, got the win, couldn't
get the job done though on Saturday, and ultimately their
season comes to an end. Takeaways thoughts on on Bridgeport
getting one game away, one win away from getting back

(08:09):
to Charleston.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
Yeah, I think the I think the best team won.
I think Frankfurt is the best team in this region.
I said it last summer, I said it through the fall,
and they kind of proved everything out this past spring
and they end up won the regional championship. It's a
baseball team that you know, has experienced a lot of
these guys played on that double A state championship a
year ago, and a lot of them really uh some

(08:34):
of these undercrastsmen Blake Jacob's, Jacob Nehing lanceor and Orf.
Those guys last year's underclassmen. A clup of them are
still underclassmen this year. A lot of experience in the
Legions circuit last summer against eighteen and nineteen year old pitchers,
and those kids hit the ball a ton. I mean
I saw summer. I was like, holy bleep because I

(08:56):
saw them last summer and I'm like, we're going to
be in trouble. We as in Bridgeport and it's just
a good hitting team. The thing about Frantford is it
doesn't matter in baseball in general. I'll be honest with you.
In general, baseball really doesn't matter what classification you're in.
You can have a good team from Single A to
Quad A. Now, I know the Kawad schools have more depth,

(09:18):
just like they do in any sport. But you know
single double A schools sometimes have enough depth. You see
that with Philip Barbara currently right now, Frankfurt as well.
They'll be back to Double A next year. There's still
a Double A high school. They were boost to TRIPA
A for this year due to the being close to
Coverra Maryland. I guess you could say, but that means
nothing any Thankfully they did a way of that role.

(09:39):
But the economic what it's called. But it's a good team.
They can hit, they can pitch. They had two solid pitchers.
They saved their number two for Game three. Head coach
Matt Miller, he said that was his game plan if
if they won game on which they did six y
five back on Thursday behind Lance and Norndor and twelve

(10:00):
Frankfort hits, and then they saved their number two. Jackson
hare for Saturday, and then you know Friday, they they
tried out there, three or four different pitchers and Bridgeport
hit them all. In fact, Bridgeport hit the best that
they've done all year in the postseason, and that's key.
They brought their bats for when it counted, but just

(10:20):
didn't have enough on Saturday. Couldn't get the our pitching
just inconsistent, a lot of free passes. In fact, on Saturday,
here's that for you. Six walks, two hit batters between
the Bridgeport three Bridgeport pitchers on Saturday. Can't do it.
You can give free paces to a team like Frankfort
as well as they hit the ball. They had twelve

(10:41):
hits on Saturday, had a crushing it, Blake Jacobs had
crushing a junior had a crushing two run double in
the top seventh after Orndorf was intentionally walked, and then
Jacobs made the bay and kudos to them. They earned
their way to Charleston ex and Hair ends up going

(11:03):
the complete game for the victory. He was just good enough.
Bridgeport hitting fairly well. I mean, Bridgeport had eight hits
and scored six runs, and just just watching that game
and broadcasting it, Frankfurt would score three here, four there,
and then bang two more big ones there in seventh
and Bridgeport just had to scratch and claw and grind

(11:27):
the runs they got. They were down six to two.
They scratched, they clawed, they do everything. They did everything
they possibly had to come back and tie that. And
then when Frankfort answered with a run, and then it
got two more runs to make it an answer of
two runs, and now the two run double from Jacobs
to make it ten cents. You can just hear the
you can hear the air go out of the balloon.

(11:47):
You really could feel it because everyone knew Bridgeport's down
their final three outs. They worked very hard to get
back to a six to sixth tie and we're not
sure we can four four to tie it in the
bottom of seventh and in the difference in that game
was at seventh inning. And then Frankfurt congratulations to learn
his Falcons. They head to Charleston to compete for a

(12:08):
state championship, different.

Speaker 2 (12:09):
Class this year, and boy, they've got a really good
shot now. Of course, a great matchup. We're going to
see them today again, weather permitting. Of course, we're going
to see them today against Fairmont's senior and one of
the things that you know, obviously there had to have
been some concern after Bridgeport was not able to get
the win in the game. Jacobs deev Rack has pitched,

(12:30):
but again did their job in game two. You expect
that if you win one on the road, you're probably
going to advance, and Bridgeport just could not defend at
frank Loria, so the Indians go down. I guess before
we switch gears over to the state tournaments, I do
want to talk about that Frankfurt Fairmont Senior game. I
want to talk about Philip Barber. But what's next for

(12:51):
Bridgeport next season? How do you think this group regroups,
how do you think they look a year from now?

Speaker 4 (12:57):
Well, and quickly on the Frankfurt thing rope matchup, I mean,
Bridgeport be a lot of quaddy schools this year, but
when you play Team Mike Frankfort as well as the
hit was just a bad matchup for Bridgeport. It really
was and showed there. But as for next year, it's
a program. Bridgeport has a base program. It's like their
football program. They're not They're not going to rebuild, They're
going to release. I think this summer is key to

(13:21):
a lot of the players, the undercurrent underclassmen to have
good summers, whether they're playing Legion Baseball and Bridgeport or
wherever they're playing. Uh, this has a chance to be
a pretty good teams year. A lot of question marks.
I think the pitching case and Bond and Blake Butcher
have to develop into pitchers. Right now, they're they're kind

(13:43):
of inconsistent, you know, and they have great stuff. Both
of them have good velocity, have great stuff. Case and
play shortstop. He's your starting shortstop. But those two have
to come on strong in the summer and really help
this pitch staff next year. But I'll owen Sonricer got
a chance to see him in Game two. He would
be a big addition to this team. Only was he

(14:06):
this year, but that year as well. Offensively, you know,
did a great job this year. Pitch pitched the heck
of a game in Game two of the Regionals. He
has the quality stuff and you know, they've got some
other pieces there. They're gonna have to find a catcher
replace Michael Ormano. That's a huge loss, and right now
they don't have a Michael Romano on that they don't Uh,
they got several guys on the jockey for that position,

(14:28):
and they don't have a Jacob Stervacca. It's the number
one horse, a guy that can you know, played first base,
very good picture. He's going to Potomac State to pitch.
You know, they gotta find probably two pitchers to replace
his production because I don't you can ask one guy
just to do that. But they have depth in the program.
A ton of arms. Will have a ton of arms
that will you know, go out there on the mountain.

(14:48):
But I have to find a way to hit better.
You know, this Bridgeport team this year hit around two
eighty nine for the season. That's just not good enough.
Robert Shields will be the first. It was one of
his lowest hitting teams his coaching career at Bridge You know,
he expects them to be around three point thirty three
forty like frankfort was, you know, and you can with
you can do this without the power. And only had

(15:10):
ten home runs as a team this year. But they
had to crap out of the ball. So Bridge Sport's
gonna have to do a much better job of hitting.
Somebody starts in the weight room. Uh, they gotta get
they gotta get stronger. Some of these non football players
beyond basketball. Kids got to get stronger. We have to
get stronger. And I like the JV team. I think
I think we have a good freshman group down there.

(15:31):
If a couple sophomore sprinkled in, there's a very good
middle school group. Come to the high school next year.
There might be a player or two that might sneak
in narsity roster at some point next year. Would just
have to wait and see. But it's program. They'll be fine.
But they've got to improve on the things that they
that this year hitting and find more depth in that
pitching staff. Consistent depth in that pitching staff. But I

(15:53):
mentioned I forgot to mention, think over sixty errors this
year defensively, that has got to be cut down to
at least forty or less. Has to be They have
to get around that four park because Birchport's aways will
play thirty some games. But you cannot make over sixtyers
again in bat two eighty nine and be a system
from starters two through four in irritation. I'll tell you what.

(16:16):
They did a job winning the games they did this year.
Congratulations Robert Shields coaching staff. It was a good season.
They exceeded my expectations. Honestly, I did not see this
team winning twenty six games. I thought they could get
to twenty and I thought they could get to the
regional final. But they exceeded my expectation. The Aglar season.
They won some games I didn't think they could win,
and they did. So I can do this next year

(16:39):
and we'll see it beens on the summer. These kid's
got to buy in this summer. They will, they'll get
better and we'll see what happens here.

Speaker 2 (16:47):
Very good, All right, let's switch gears over to the
state tournament. Obviously, have a bunch of results already and folks,
you can go check them out at wv metronews dot com.
And did almost prophetic fashion a lot of blowouts in
the opening days of the tournament, which, if you're not
really looking forward to the expansion of this tournament a

(17:09):
year from now, probably already has you tugging at your
collar a little bit over. Looking at the scores from Thursday,
Madonna and East Hardy both get wins, both do it
in six innings. Madonna over Webster County, eliminating Webster County
in their first ever trip to the state tournament thirteen
to three and six innings, East Hardy eliminates Gilmer County

(17:31):
eleven to one. So East Hardy on a roll here
and as noted last week by our Chris George, they're
getting healthy at the right time and now despite being
thirteen and fifteen on the season, we'll have a chance
to play for the Class Single A state title. Wheeling
Central Catholic also got the job done in six innings,
beating Wyoming East ten to nothing, and the only game

(17:53):
that went the full ride seven innings. Philip Barber beats
Logan Logan with a furious comeback effort in the seventh inning.
Ultimately the Colts hold on and they are going to
the state title. Six five Philip Barber wins first state
title appearance in high school baseball. And UH, tremendous. We obviously,
you know, we got a chance to talk with the

(18:14):
coach on the show. I recommend folks go back and
listen to that. Coach Carpenter was just it was a
great It was a great interview, a great, great, very
humble guy. Uh knows the game and really enjoys the game,
and you can tell that. And Philip Barber now has
a chance to play for it all they do.

Speaker 4 (18:33):
And we'll start with single A here for quickly. No surprise,
neither one of these. Both these games went like I
thought they Everyone looks at these Tarte's records, Shane, don't
look at that. Look who they played. He starready played
a ton of played almost all the teams in the
panhandled the Jefferson, some Martin for the Musclmings, and their
strength of schedule was great. Got back one of the
Hamilton twins who was hurt during the state basketball tournament.

(18:56):
And Evan and Mason Hamilton are two of the greatest
hitters in any class there, really good and are athletes,
just great athletes. A good hitter. Scott Sissler the pitcher,
their ace hurt earlier this year. He's done. It's going
to hurt them tomorrow. I'm afraid because Tet's got the
win today, but they're they're having trouble find that number

(19:17):
two and they're just going to try to get through
with what they can. But they're going to depend on
their offense tomorrow against a good, weird Madonna team. I
would be a very good on Saturday. That would be
a very good uh UH State championship game in single
don't know who's going to win that. I think East
Tardy's got the better athletes. As far as the Hamilton Twins,
I think they might get better, but I think Madonna

(19:38):
might have an advantage into pitching in that championship game.
Double A Noose surprise Willing Central. Uh, this team's probably
the best team in Double A when you look paper,
Now that's paper. You don't win. You don't play for
state championships on paper. So you do it on the field.
And this Philip team special man. They found ways to
win all year long, and they did it again with Flogan.

(20:00):
The Wildcats hadn't loaded in the bombas two outs and
Grant Harris struggled in but he was able to battle
back and get to struck out to end it there.
And Philip Barber a team that can hit one through. Now,
we've talked about them all year. They have depth and pitching,
They have depth in the run up, and they'll play

(20:21):
Winning Central in the Double A state title game. I
think Philip Barber's got a great chance on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, I think so as well. And I mean again,
they've just been They've seemingly answered every challenge all season.
So we'll see how that goes. It's over the games
that haven't been played yet, and we'll start with Fairmont
Senior and Frankfurt. Since you and I have spent so
much time talking about Frankfurt, and obviously you've mentioned how

(20:50):
well they hit, well, this is probably this is pretty
pretty close. I would imagine you tell me Fairmont Senior
one of the best hitting teams in class trip. How
close is this in terms of who hits better?

Speaker 4 (21:04):
Frankfurt's the best hitting team in the tournament. That doesn't
mean that's going to end up being that way, because
Faramont Senior can hit as well. Frankfurt is very solid
through their order, but Faaramont Seniors got pitching. Braden Gorby
is one of them. I think he'll get the ball.
I'm sure they may go up to left logan canfield.
We'll see. These two teams know each other quite well.

(21:26):
Last year they were reached opponents in Double A and
it was Frankfurt at won game three to go to
the state tournament. Fairmont's looking some revenge. They're a senior
leaden team that knows that is their year because next
year the numbers are very very thin. They only haveteen
kids on the whole roster. It's been a great year.

(21:46):
But a lot of these kids are seniors, multi sport athletes.
They can hit the ball well, they got two good pitchers.
Defense will be there's solid. Just ought to be a
heck of a game in Double A. I mean right here,
this could be your state pitchhip game. But Aaron triple l ashes.
But you look at that Ripley on paper is the
best team there on paper. Will they do it on

(22:06):
the field, We'll see. They have very been pitching. They
can hit, they can defend. Casto and Curry are two
of the best pitchers in the state. For Ripley. Castos
a verbal commit to WVU and place as senior. That's
been looked at by Marshall. He's undecidled in his college future.
If these kids can hit the baseball as well, so

(22:29):
it should be interesting Triple A. It's gonna be fun.
There's a lot of good talent there. And Quade, we
talked about that. How about Hedgesville and it came out
of nowhere. Hedgesville would not surprise me. If they're a
team that takes it all but has got the advantage
there amongst all four of these teams. They're really deep,
pitching really deep, and they can hit. They got a

(22:50):
very good catch Corby and Dixon. G W has the
most talent in Quada. But again, it might be the
best team on paper, but this means gonna be the
best team carrying the plaque home this week and all
the Triple A quad is gonna be very, very fun.
I have predictions. I really don't. I think uh and

(23:12):
Town would even talk about them, but I think I
think Triple AUD is going to be up in the air.

Speaker 3 (23:17):
I really do.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, I was going to ask you who do you
think is a better chance of going further of the
of the two North Central teams playing today, Morgantown or
Fairmont Senior.

Speaker 4 (23:31):
I do I think Faaramont can can beat Frankfurt. Frankfort
might be a better hitting team one three times, but
Fairmont's got some hitters now and they got two good pitchers,
so I think Fairmont could advance there. Morgantown I just
don't know, because they just don't have the offense this year.
They're they're They're not a bad hitting team, just not
what they normally have been, and their pitching is good,

(23:54):
good enough to get them through this. I don't know
what not Morgantown is. They play a lot of small ball,
and they might but do some conventional things where teams
might be a little bit tight and able to play
defense as well in the state tournament because the nerves
and time might jump up on someone real quick like
that and make team to play from behind. I think

(24:16):
that's their game plan. But if you ask that question,
was Fairmont Senior. But we'll see I could be wrong.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
Really exciting looking forward to folks. Reminder, of course, wv
metronews dot com is where you can get all the
coverage of the state tournament, both highlights and recaps from
the games that have already happened, and live coverage as
well at the website and at the Metro News TV app.
All right, so let's switch gears to w baseball. Chris,

(24:47):
I think you kind of said it on what the
Mountaineers needed to get to get the job done at
the regional. The one thing we didn't talk about, though,
is they're pension and flair for the dramatic, which we've
seen it times since this year, stealing home to win games.
They've had a couple of walkoff wins this year and
I don't know that anything was as dramatic as coming

(25:09):
back not once but twice from down five runs against Kentucky,
and as troubling as the bullpen has looked at times.
WVU got the job done and unconventional, but style points
don't matter. They win thirteen to twelve in that final game.
They sweep their way through, and now they take on

(25:31):
an LSU team who truth be told, didn't look that
great in their own region at home either. We'll see
if they're able to write those issues. But initial takeaways
going into Saturday's first game of this super regional series
with LSU, I'm.

Speaker 3 (25:46):
Shocked, am.

Speaker 4 (25:47):
I was surprised West Virginia went down to Clempson and
won the regional. After the way they regular season and
through the Big twelve tournament, I was very uncomfortable. But
they found a way to win on the first night,
which surprised me. I thought they could be Kentucky and
they did. But the win over Clemson was huge, and
the cushion decision of the weekend was Steve Saba won

(26:08):
the Griffin Kern with a one run lead and the
ninth in it had to the internet situation. I know
he threw one hundred and eighteen pitches on on Friday
or whatever it was, it was a day before. Uh,
you had to. You had to in a situation because
your bullpen had been the whole last month plus in
the season, and you want to win that game. You

(26:29):
get to your best guy to go out there and
get three outs. And it's exactly what Griffin Kerrn did
on the Supers. They go for a second year, and
I think this team is gonna be more comfortable going
down to baton Rouge this year. Last year they got
a taste of Super Regionals for the first time and
and they you know, just came up short to get

(26:50):
to Carolina. There was some nerves there, and there's gonna
be nerve. There's gonna be some nerves there each weekend.
But and I know Elish was really good. The ton
of talent, there's a ton a MLB Draft type players
this roster. But West Virginia has seen pitching like this
all here. I mean, you've seen guys though in the
mid nineties. They've seen great sliders, good breaking balls, off speed.

(27:12):
They've seen it all. They faced good athletes. You know,
you're in a big and I get it. They may
not have the depth of the Big twelve they do
in the SEC and base ball, but West Virginia has
played this and the thing with the Mountaineers right now,
their team is such a momentum based team. They really
ride the moad train that just do a lot of
people really but now the minim is on their side.

(27:33):
They're on the right direction. I thought Jed Jorco did
a great interview on Sports Signers this week and he
said it exactly. It was towards the end of the
regular season. Our bullpen was getting tired and everyone knew it.

Speaker 3 (27:46):
You know, they were.

Speaker 4 (27:47):
Lying on that bullpen and a lot of those arms
down there, who were three of those arms just got tired.
There was a little pressure. There was a lot of
pressure on this team knowing that they had to do
this and do that in position to host a regional
did not happen. There had enough cushion built in the
conference to were able. They were able to league with
an Arizona State loss on Friday night, last weekend series

(28:12):
of the season, and they just down the stretch. It's
a learning learning thing for this team and to dig
dun Deek got a little extra rest before the regional
and that was the they needed.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (28:24):
The bullpens still struggle, but they got the rest they needed.
Both starters pitched well. We mentioned Kerrent and jefferstonas pitched
really well as well against Clemson, and that's what they're
gonna need. This way, we're gonna have current and Carston
has pitched the game best games they pitched all year.
Bullpen's gonna have to be steady. They don't have to
be lights out, But that's Virginia's gotta have to score.

(28:45):
They're gonna have to hit the ball. That's simple. Everyone
talks about pitching. A defense wins championships, well now more
so than ever, offense and scoring runs just as much
wins championships. And West Virginia's got to find a way
to score six or seven runs at least to give
them a chance down in baton Rouge. And you're right,
LSU did not look good against Full Rock. Was that

(29:06):
because they were looking at Little Rock? And maybe not
as I don't know who knows, But we stragina it
be ready because they're gonna get lesu's best shot. But
I think Mountain Ears will be It should be a
good series. Think we'll go three, but I'll be honest
with you, I hope it goes too, because I think
what Virginie's chances are winning are better if it does
go too, because the West Virginia Game three or starter

(29:27):
will be to be honest with you, we haven't had
a consistent third starter since Gavin Bank Kimpen got hurt.

Speaker 2 (29:32):
Yeah, and it's it's also not really super clear what
order As far as I'm aware, it's not super clear
what order LSU's planning on going with their I mean,
they have two really good pitchers. But again, you asked
yourself that question. Do they save one of them for
the third game where they would potentially have a greater
mismatch in the pitching battle, or do they try to

(29:53):
go strength on strength? That is always the question when
you get to this time of year.

Speaker 4 (29:57):
Yeah, I mean you're a home and if they in
game one, I think that's what they'll do. I'm not
saying they'll do that, but if it were me to
do that, if I have two really good pictures and
a confident three, I saved my number two for game three,
No One, I'm in home, Okay, it's in my yard.
The key is winning game one. But if the Mountaineers
win Game one, but you're gonna see the number starter
game too, because they got no choice. Game one is huge, man,

(30:20):
it's huge. It's down there. There's gonna be a huge crowd.
It's gonna be an atmosphere that the Mountaineers have never
played in. They played in North Carolina's place last year,
but this is such bigger place and uh, it's it's
big time base. And uh, what a recruiting advantage this
is for the coaching staff and also recruiting advantge in
a transfer portal. I mean just to be in a

(30:40):
super regionals two years in a row. I mean you
can tell these kids, hey, look we need some guys
next year.

Speaker 3 (30:44):
We need you you and you.

Speaker 4 (30:46):
Get us over the top to get to Omaha. This
program is here where it ls you for a chance
to go to Omahall what better recruiting there is there
than that? Uh?

Speaker 2 (30:57):
And worth noting. I don't know the I don't have
it all in me, but they actually picked up a
couple of pretty good commits out of the portal, I
believe just this week. I want to say they had
two big commitments out of the portal this week, one
from a D two college, and one. I want to
say from a mid major out west, but I'll have
to go back and double check, but I did notice

(31:18):
that guys want to come play here. That's a huge,
huge change from you know, fifteen years ago. Guys want
to play in West Virginia right now.

Speaker 4 (31:30):
One thing I want to say college baseball, it's much
different than basketball and football. You have a lot of
talent at the D two level. Really, the only difference
position players at D one and D two is foot speed.
D one love get faster guys. You'll find power bats
at all levels baseball, and you'll find power arms at
all levels of class baseball. You'll find more guys that

(31:53):
can go with more velocity. At the D one level,
you'll find guys that might be better refine pitchers as
a D level that might increase servelossie as they get older.
Then when they get older for increased lossy and that
pitching mindset, that's when the guys like Grefen Kerrn can
go from D two to D one and become first
team All Big twelve. Unlike all the other sports, Baseball's

(32:15):
loaded D one D two and you're seeing it. And
what are years fen for West Virginia see how they
finished this weekend.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
Do you feel it all like if they get pack
because like, I don't think in my personal opinion, I don't,
and I always it's like a pet peeve of mine
to say that, because of course I'm saying it. It
is my personal opinion. But in my personal opinion, I
don't think WU is necessarily playing with house money. I
think I think they have a right to be here.
What I do think is interesting, though, Do you feel

(32:42):
at all like if they get past this point, getting
to the College World Series, getting to Omaha, at that point,
are we to have it as the conversation then become
playing with house money for this team?

Speaker 4 (32:52):
Yeah? I mean no doubt about that. No one thought
this team could get to the Omaha And uh, I
mean I was just I was really before the start.
I was contented just making the tournament and looky, looky
we are and you know, I don't even know if
you know, back at it, I still thought the nineteen
team might have been their best in recent time. This

(33:12):
team right here maybe the best when it comes to
accomplishing goals. They're just two inches away, you know, and
yeah they're up against it. There's no doubt about that.
You know, LSU is the sixth number one seed for
a reason. And boy, all those great historic programs they've
had in the past. To think of recent teams like
Paul Skeins and Dylan Cruz just won a national title

(33:34):
two years ago to LSU. So should be fun and
see what the Mountaineers can do and through tom on.

Speaker 2 (33:40):
How critical is the bottom of the lineup? You saw
what they did in that regional, particularly in the last
game against Kentucky. Guzman has just been a revelation, I
think is probably the phrase. There's a great profile of
him over at the WVU Sports section of wv metronews
dot com. Him and Lumsden as well, and they work.

(34:01):
They were critical. He wound up being region MVP four
or five in that last game. How critical is that
that for WVU to get the bottom of the lineup
working again against LSU And is it realistic to get
him working again?

Speaker 4 (34:14):
We you need all you need all of them one
through nine. You know, Genez, this guy throw strikes and
play defense and just make the routine plays. Don't beat
yourself and give yourself a chance to play. And goos
want to do that man and then this kid's draft eligible.

Speaker 3 (34:30):
Next year.

Speaker 4 (34:31):
He'll be a next year or two junior, he'll be
draft eligible. This is a draft eligible, this draft type
of guy. He could run like a deer. He's got
some strength, he's so versa, so he can play everywhere.
He's unbelievable defense, both on the enfield upfield. I mean,
this kid here, if he puts it all together, next
year could be a draft you know, a top ten
round draft pick. But we'll see that's next year. He

(34:53):
would have played more this year had not been for
the leg injury. He had middle there, and boy he
had some Sports Center top ten moment. It's back catch
at Ohio State. He had in the outfield. Now look
at him playing third. I mean he's you know, if
he would have been healthy, he'd probably been our third
basement for most of the middle of the season to
the end.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
All right, before I let you go, Chris, give us
quick tease on legion ball. Start starting to get underway,
of course, as we transition out of high school baseball.
So what's what's the word? Who are we who should
we be paying attention to this year? Who are the
most excited groups that have assembled this year?

Speaker 4 (35:28):
Well, Junior Legion, which is seventeen between ages thirteen and seventeen.
You can't turn eighteen this calendar year. That pretty started
last week. The senior Legion teams around the state kind
of kicked off in a lot of places this week.
I'll look at it right now. It's sally to say
who's good. Morgantown's always good in Area too, Area one

(35:48):
or defending state champion Wheeling. They're going to be solid again,
a great talent from Lendsley, Willing Park Withinge Central and
a couple other kids from Tyler data that were released
Eastern Panhandle. I mean you got Berkeley to team. That's Martinsburg, Jefferson, Washington,
and Musselman in the up Berkeley Post sixty and that's
the other that's northern part of the county plus Burk Springs.

(36:09):
So those teams will be solid, but the team is steps.
I think the early early season favorite is the Beckley
Bash for thirty two. They brought back the old Beckley
Bash name from point what a name that was? Those
teams won like thirty forty games. They won a couple
of state titles under the late great John Tabor, and

(36:29):
they are drawing kids from all over the southern coal field.
And in fact, according to the rules, you can't go
over the seventy five hundred limit for enrollment your recruiting area.
That's great through twelve now not nine through twelve, and
they're right up against that. They're over thousand of all
the schools are drawn front man. They are talented to
Beckley Bash, I think for pre season favorites, but there's

(36:49):
a lot of good teams. I think as the weeks
go on, we'll see more and more how this goes
Bridge Court the part. Next week we'll see what they have.
This is important Yere for sport. Like we talked, these
kids gotta have a good summer and eighty step up
and give it. They're all and we'll see.

Speaker 2 (37:06):
Very good Chris, George, we appreciate your running down the
full gamut of every topic I could possibly want to
talk about. We will talk with you next week, man,
Take care. All right, this is the Friday free for
all Brough talk to you by Dan Cavatoto to be
a GMC. We're gonna talk with Chris Johnson on the
other side of this break Michael Minnick a little bit
later after that, we're back in just a moment.

Speaker 1 (37:27):
Time for more high school sports talk on the Dan
Cavatoyo w at GMC Friday, Free.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
For all, Friday, Free for all, rolling on here. Time
to bring on my regular co host, who I think
will be joining us back in the studio before long.
As we're getting closer and closer a little foreshadowing there,
closer and closer to football season and fall sports season.
Chris Johnson is on the line with us. Chris, what's
up man?

Speaker 3 (37:52):
Not much man? How are you?

Speaker 2 (37:54):
I'm good enjoying Friday, enjoying the fact that we got
a lot less rain this week, though obviously for baseball purposes,
I'm sure all the coaches and players would have probably
preferred that the weather we got this week would have
been last week. Of course, then the state baseball tournament
may have been impacted. But yeah, good to be a
little bit drier this week. How about you? What's going on?

Speaker 4 (38:18):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (38:19):
You know, it's always a good feeling when you have
all your yard war on heading into the weekend.

Speaker 3 (38:25):
You know, I actually got it all on Wednesday.

Speaker 5 (38:29):
Till Tuesday, most of the Thursday and not half the
day Wednesday, but all caught up, you know, until it's
time to start on it again, but that won't be
over the weekend, which that's always a good feeling I
feel like.

Speaker 2 (38:41):
So yeah, I did I mode midweek knowing that it
was going to be a little rainier as the as
the weekend approached, because of course it is that we
would get the rain on the weekend instead of during
the week. But nonetheless, nonetheless, I'm still going to enjoy
the time off. I did not have a great weekend
last weekend, had a lot of stuff going on on,
so it was extremely not unpleasant, but not relaxing in

(39:06):
any way, shape or form. There was no R in
R time to to sit back and recharge after the week.
So looking forward to that this this weekend. Let's talk
a little baseball. There's a kind of a lot going
on at the moment. We'll we'll dive a little bit
into the state tournament as well when we get a chance.
But I did at least want to like elaborate a
little bit further. We we just talked with Chris George

(39:27):
about Bridgeport obviously, and you know, I, I I'm wondering
where you're at as far as surprise goes that Bridgeport
really took care of business. In game two they were
able to beat the weather and beat Frankfort. And then
in game three just kind of a nightmare end too.
That game and what was kind of a classic through

(39:49):
much of the game, and then as as it wore down,
Frankfort kind of wore Bridgeport down.

Speaker 3 (39:56):
Yeah, you know, anytime.

Speaker 5 (40:00):
You primarily cover gets eliminated, I mean, you know, it's
there's some sadness involved, I guess.

Speaker 4 (40:07):
So.

Speaker 5 (40:07):
I mean, bride Sport had another outstanding season. You know,
there's a lot of programs in the state. Would their
seasons for Bridgeport going twenty six and ten, you know, so,
And I know there's a lot of disappointment. They thought
they were going to get to Charleston. They thought they
were going to be the last team standing. And you know,
if we turn around and play that reached tournament again

(40:30):
in a couple of weeks, it could could turn out
completely differently. But that's to take nothing away from Frankfort,
because Frankfort a very good baseball team, and I really
watching them play, and like I said, you know, the
team that our primary cover was on the losing end
of it. But oh no, I mean I didn't see

(40:51):
the game at Frankfurt and bridge Sport one. But I
saw both in Frankfurt's wins, you know, you know one
in Bridgeport High School one and frank Lauria memorialal and.

Speaker 3 (41:00):
I had two really good games and I'm.

Speaker 5 (41:04):
Better team won both of them, you know, you know
that particular day they were.

Speaker 3 (41:09):
You know, the team, and.

Speaker 5 (41:12):
They're both two really really good programs but kind of
built completely different.

Speaker 3 (41:17):
I mean, Frankfort just goes up and just masters.

Speaker 5 (41:21):
I mean, if if I remember setting Beside, you know,
you are our friend Pruss George who does the the
Bridgemore games on the radio, and it's like or like
shock when you know Frankfurt, you know, bad or at
least fake, like he was gonna sack, but like you
move someone, it's like that's just not their m O.

(41:43):
They're just like, no, we're going to hit a hard
lot out somewhere, and uh and they do that a
lot more than so. Yeah, I mean, you know, the
trip a fields a good the four teams that are
in Charleston for really good teams. But uh yeah, I
mean I would put Frankfort as a favor just because
they've got so many kids back from that team that

(42:05):
won the state titles year even though it's double A. Yeah,
they just feel like a team wants to take care
of business again and be you know, last team staying
so well.

Speaker 2 (42:15):
And kudos to them though, because by the way, it's
it's one thing to be it's it is really one
thing to be like to go up a level, because
again you are going up a level essentially, It's one
thing to be competitive. It's another thing to be right
back in the state tournament, which is what Frankfort is.
So a lot of kudos, a lot of kudos to them.
I mean, that's that's not an easy thing to do. Uh.

(42:36):
Even though obviously it's not the same as going from
double to triple in UH in a three class system,
it is still the competition is harder than it would
have been.

Speaker 4 (42:48):
Oh.

Speaker 5 (42:48):
Absolutely, you know, that's you something to think about it.
It's been a pretty good year for frank for athletics. Yeah,
you know, football title and you know, I mean they
can get a baseball one, yeah, you know, and it's right.

Speaker 3 (43:06):
I feel like that's the school that as.

Speaker 5 (43:08):
We into this era where we're dealing with reclassification like
every two years instead of four, you like Frankfurt. People
say bridge Sport's always going to be on that quad A,
triple AA. You know, it's like, you know, you know,
a few students here and there, depending on what class brand.
I feel like it will be the case for frank
for just in double A and triple A, because I

(43:31):
at least for the next two years, you know they're
going to be back down in double one, you know,
in pretty much everything. So uh, you know, you know,
Frankfort has become a really solid, solid apple program.

Speaker 3 (43:43):
Across the board.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
I feel like for for on a slightly different note,
but seeing as this is their opponent in the first round,
I think it's it's an appropriate segue. I feel like
for Fairmont Senior, now it's all kind of laid out
in front of them, don't have to worry about Bridgeport
at all in the tournament, and Bridgeport's been kind of
a thorn in their side athletically, especially in the last
year or two, but particularly uh this year. But it's

(44:06):
not gonna it's not gonna be easy. That's a that's
a really good frank for a team, guys, I recall correctly, Uh,
Fairmont Senior and Frankfurt did not wind up getting a
chance to play in the regular season, and uh the
the the gentleman that we had on a few weeks ago,
the play by play voice for for Fairmont Senior, he
basically said that was kind of like that was the
thing he was most disappointed about, was that they didn't
get to play. And so now that that gets that

(44:29):
gets that gets solved here at the state tournament.

Speaker 5 (44:32):
Yeah yeah, and uh, well better place than to finally
get a game man, right, you know, the semi finals
of the state tournaments.

Speaker 3 (44:39):
So uh yeah.

Speaker 5 (44:40):
And as much as I as you know, uh talking
about how good Frank fur is, I mean, I mean
this point in any sport, you know, leedlone baseball, would
you be surprised if we're back when the ar next
week talking about from Senior being in state champions in baseball?

Speaker 2 (44:57):
No, because they played very similarly to you're talking about
with Frankfurt's power man, that's how Fairmount Senior plays.

Speaker 3 (45:04):
Yeah, so you know, and.

Speaker 5 (45:08):
The two things from all my years covered the base
moment feels like you gotta have happened what you gotta
have pitch. I don't care how good of an offensive
team you have. Frankfort, you know, I saw they've got
two outstanding front line starters.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
You Fairmount Senior's got some arms too. You gotta have
pitched Charles.

Speaker 5 (45:34):
And one thing that Bridge did so well it kind
of flew under the radar when they're on that streak of.

Speaker 3 (45:41):
The seven eight how many ever was state titles in
a row?

Speaker 5 (45:46):
Is you got to capitalize when another team makes a miss,
you know, whether it's uh.

Speaker 3 (45:52):
You know, a fielding air or base running era or whatever.

Speaker 5 (45:57):
Capitalize on that other team's mistakes on that big stage. Charleston,
you're going to find a way to win more often
than Bridge. I mean, I remember me, Greg Henery has
a crsation so many times it's like Bridgeport might even
be down and then something would happen and we just
like look at it.

Speaker 3 (46:13):
Others like yep, here they come.

Speaker 5 (46:14):
It's like you got one play kind of open the
door for him and then you know, two winnings later.

Speaker 3 (46:20):
Bridge sports up five runs.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (46:22):
So yeah, you know, part of it is just understanding
the stage or on and realizing that moments don't come
as frequently as they might in a regular season game.
So you've got to jump on it. You gotta pounce
on it. You gotta capitalize whenever you get opportunity.

Speaker 2 (46:40):
So on that note, let's let's wrap the Bridgeport talk
with the announcement that Carson Curry, Jacob Stevraccus, and Michael
Romano would be selected to play in the annual North
South All Star Game coming up actually Sunday at Go
Mart Ballpark in Charleston, and well deserved, I think, no
question about it. Rackets and Romano to standouts this season,

(47:03):
and then Carson Curry also having a really tremendous year,
hit team best three ninety five on the season, so
well earned for the three of them.

Speaker 5 (47:14):
Absolutely, it's three tremendous players that all had. Really all
three of them had really great career as a Bridgeport
And I was telling Chris George, you know when we
were wrapping up and you know, packing up all of
our supplies and stuff after Frankfurt secured you know, the
Berthon State Tournament, is like, I mean, you back for

(47:35):
the kids, you know how hard they've worked and you
but I firmly think Michael Romano has been the best
catcher in the state the past two years and one
of the best high school baseball players I've ever seen.

Speaker 3 (47:50):
Is like you're stopping He's like man, as great as
he's been.

Speaker 5 (47:54):
In as much as the bridge Sport baseball program has had,
never got, never had the opportunity to play in the
state tournament game, because like that's.

Speaker 3 (48:03):
Kind of fine boggling when he's stopping the thing.

Speaker 5 (48:05):
Good of it that way that you know, and you
know Jacob, you know Carson as well. But uh yeah, no,
kudos to all three of them. And I don't know
exactly how it's going to play out. You know, we'll
have the All state meeting coming up real real shortly,
and I think all three of those aren't first team
blocks uh myself. I mean you put the schedule the

(48:30):
Bridgeport played, and the numbers that those three produced. Uh yeah,
I'll be shocked if all those aren't first team all Stagers.

Speaker 2 (48:40):
Uh. Let's uh, let's wrap the baseball talk. Well, let's
wrap I guess the diamond talk. We'll talk to some
softball and I just a quick congrats Kylie Anderson named
All Big ten in softball for Bridgeport. Uh, and that
well deserved obviously, you know, Bridgeport probably didn't go as
far as they were hoping. Uh, but Anderson well earned
accolade there for her.

Speaker 5 (49:01):
Yeah, we're just real quick on that solid team. As
you know, they finished nine and twelve, but you saw
improvements with this team throughout the season and.

Speaker 6 (49:15):
Feist I mean, I mean they scratched and clawed and
you know a lot of those games as they lost,
and uh you know I I I think that programs
like right on the edge of you know, things around
and being you know, a legitimate contender.

Speaker 2 (49:31):
Yeah. And there was a lot of representation as well
for Philip Barber, a little bit of a down year
for them, and Grafton, who was I think within one
win of getting the state tournament. I want to say
that their regional went to best of three, but a
lot of rep there. They had the picture of that.

Speaker 3 (49:48):
Can you think of I can't think of the Grafton players.

Speaker 5 (49:52):
Grafton had the picture in the big ten and Lewis
County had the player of the year.

Speaker 2 (49:57):
Yeah yeah, yeah, So congrats, congrats all around. And that's
up by the way connect Bridgeport if folks are interested
in looking at that. All right, so we made it
through all that, all all all the we dotted, we
we touched all the bases. You might say, uh, now
we're gonna have a little fun. Uh not that we
haven't been having fun already, but we're gonna have a
little fun here because a little segment that we've got

(50:19):
uh to wrap us up for the rest of the day. Uh,
we're gonna talk about things. I'm calling it the way
too early list, but things that we're already excited about.
Uh because last week we did the sort of remembering
all the best favorite favorite moments of ours during this season, uh,
this academic school year. Now we're gonna take a way

(50:40):
too early look at what we're excited about. I know
we've still got two and a half months more than that,
even until Friday night lights are back in earnest, but
I'm still ready. I'm pumped. What's on your mind? Chris?
What are you? What are you way too what are
you pumped about? Way too early?

Speaker 5 (50:59):
Let's right off the top ridge for football, I'm can
tell you right now they're going to legitimate state title
contender again.

Speaker 3 (51:08):
I don't think really a surprise.

Speaker 5 (51:10):
I'm really not really going out on too big of
a limb there, but a couple of things and I'm
curious to see about this football team is uh Gabe
Martin last year's a sophomore as good as that defense, well,
I mean he was the leading tackle and had from
end the season on defense, had so many players like

(51:32):
Alex Moses and Josh Love.

Speaker 3 (51:33):
And Jack out Off kind of ahead of him.

Speaker 5 (51:36):
On the offense, all signs are pointed to Gabe having
a more expanded rolling offense, and I'm really curious to
see how he does, you know, in that expanded rolling offense.
I think he's going to have a monster season on
that side of the ball and still really good defense

(51:57):
as well. You know, also football, Gavin Williams established him
some one of the best kickers in the state last year.
He's already been I know, he's already been to the
Pit Special Teams camp, He's been to the Marshall Special
Teams camph just looking.

Speaker 3 (52:17):
For ways to get better. I mean, you follow that
young man on social media and he's.

Speaker 5 (52:22):
All the time out there working. You're working on his
kick coffs, working on his field accuracy. I'm curious to
see how much better he can get. And not to
the extent of Gabe, maybe may not. I think Gavin's
going to have a bigger role in that Bridgeport off
other than just being the kick. Now, I will say,

(52:42):
I know there's a little bit of hesitancy to him
touch the ball too too much because he is so
valuable as a kicker. But the young man is so
athletic and he's proven it spurts, whether it be his
kickoff return for a touchdown or all of touches he
got in the backfield last year. I think he might

(53:03):
be a young manage just so athletic or going to
have to find a way to get on his hands
other than just kicking in as far as football goes.
That's two of the big things I'm really really looking
forward to. And and even going further down the line
with with your boys basketball, who's going to be looking
at the find the state title? I mean, I I

(53:23):
said all went out like Gavin along with Anderson McDougall
as sophomores, made up potentially the best young backcourt in
the state. I'm curious to see how that basketball team
transitions into them to being the leaders. You know, they
had such a great group of leadership that you know

(53:46):
last year during that state title run.

Speaker 3 (53:48):
I mean kind of what you know, they the Indians
kind of.

Speaker 5 (53:54):
You know really you know, hunder Haddle was a senior
leadership and you know, and of course, you know, some defense.
But uh, I mean, this is gonna be Anderson and
Gavin's basketball. Uh And I'm I think they're gonna be fine.
I think it's gonna be you know, fun, you know,
to to watch those two or we get into the winner,

(54:15):
but uh yeah, I just I don't want to get
too far aheads. And we got an exciting football season
coming up. And I know, you man, you're gonna get
to see almost every Friday night. You know, what's what's
Jadon Hadfield gonna do? As I mean, he's still just
a junior. Yeah, you know, we just got two more years.
Uh because you know, as of right now, you know,

(54:36):
high school kids can't leave early. Yes, we got two more,
two more years of watching Ayton Hadfield on the football field.

Speaker 2 (54:45):
So uh yeah, I mean basically, I mean if he stays,
if he stays healthy, he could do some some really
special things here. That's definitely a story to be to
be watching. Believe it or not, was not actually the
first thing that was on my mind. I was thinking
more about South Harrison as a whole. They've landed a
couple of from what I understand, they've landed a couple
of really strong transfers, and I am going to be

(55:05):
kind of curious to see how the the end of
obviously the end of an era with Liberty winds up
impacting the county as a whole. Plus you got to
include Doddridge County in there, with players going and leaving
Liberty and where they land, whether it be yes, exactly so,
And I think that only bolsters a Lincoln football program

(55:26):
that obviously, I don't think any of us expected them
to be as down as they were a year ago.
They have been a model of consistency over the last
few seasons and we're really very surprised at how last
season went. I know I was, So that's one big
story that I'm gonna be watching where these kids land.
So South Harrison might find themselves in with a really
big number this year from what I'm hearing, could be

(55:48):
in the mid thirties. Still very early to have even
a remote idea of what a number is going to
look like, but yeah, that would be huge for them,
that that would be tremendous. Jaden Hatfield obviously would really
benefit from from the additional depth on that team, because
that's always the toughest part when you got a team,
a small team like South Harrison. They're one of the
smallest in Double A. You know, the challenge is you're

(56:08):
gonna start wearing down as the season goes on, and
you're gonna be at a real disadvantage when you're going
up against the biggest teams in Class Double A at
the end of the season. And then the other the
other story outside of South Harriston, actually outside of Harrison
County that I'm paying attention to, will definitely be paying
attention to in football is Fairmont Senior new head coach
Mark Sampson. That's a big story and uh, you know,

(56:30):
I have no real feel for how this is going
to be. I would be shocked if he doesn't have
a good run there, but I will be real curious
to see how it starts because there's there's obviously there
was a lot of turnover there, and I'll be I'll
be very cured. I think that's one of the more
intriguing stories to see what the Polar Bear football team
is going to look like.

Speaker 5 (56:50):
Yeah, good, good call on that, because you know, there's
always a transition period, you know, when when a new
coach comes in. So again, like you, I think they're
going to be fine, but it's still gonna be we
have to keep an on.

Speaker 2 (57:03):
On them, Yeah, for for sure, replacing Nick Bardik, who
just had an incredible run. We had him on this
show multiple times. Heck of a coach, just had an
incredible run there at Fairmont Senior. And then the better
question is how does that how does that kind of
ripple out and affect the rest of the county? You
know what I mean? I think they're they're real ripple
effects that could be felt for whether for North Marion

(57:25):
or for East Fairmont. So I'll be I'll be fascinated
to see how that all kind of how that all
kind of plays out, And of course, as we get
closer to a football season, will have a better idea
of what the transfer situation is going to look like,
what the rosters are going to look like. I think
we're still a little bit early for that more than likely.
But but I mean, on that note, man, I'm excited.
This one is probably not too early. I think we

(57:46):
can start looking forward to flex days. I think that's
fair to say that we can start looking forward to
that once school's out for the summer.

Speaker 5 (57:52):
Oh yeah, well, I mean I know the majority of
your programs have already been doing stuff, you know, because
you have that new schedule kind of went in the
effect last year where they they don't have to limit
it to that three week period. They can take two
here or two there, you know, three there, take a
week off. You can kind of spread them out, you know,
all through the summer. So, uh, I know, I've seen

(58:17):
I've seen like Bridge kids out there in football helmets.
You know, you're doing stuff as I've driven past the field,
and I know, I think Philip Barber has been doing
stuff already. I believe Elkins is already doing some stuff.
I'm sure everyone else has as well. But you know,
those are the ones that I've definitely seen.

Speaker 2 (58:37):
Yeah, yeah, I think South Harrison may have started. If
they haven't started yet, they're they're right about to. But
I mean that's basically uh okay, they're they're starting later
this month. So I mean, yeah, it's it's it's it's
coming and and we're gonna start getting a better idea,
a lot better idea about what to expect from these

(58:58):
teams as time goes on. Doddridge County, I'm of course
always fascinated by Doddridge County are they gonna be able
to get over the hump? Finally? That's that's always the
big question with them. They have become just the like
as far as consistency and program consistency goes year in
and year out. Even like again, we go back two
years ago, Doddridge County struggling a little bit to start

(59:20):
the season, and of course they righted the ship mid season,
got the job done and ultimately made the playoffs. But
that's sort of the where where we're at with them
now is can they get over that and take that
next step?

Speaker 5 (59:33):
Yeah, yeah, that's the point I've Doddridge County has definitely
become a program where it's not surprising to make the playoffs,
it's expect Uh. They just got to find.

Speaker 3 (59:49):
A way to give her at hump and go out,
you know, get a state title.

Speaker 5 (59:54):
There's a lot of you know, class way schools in
that count you know, I will put East Hardy in that,
you know, uh, I think both you know, that's just
two examples. Both of those schools are at the point
where they're going to be a playoff team.

Speaker 2 (01:00:12):
Mm hmm.

Speaker 3 (01:00:13):
Yeah, it's just figuring out how it reached out the step.

Speaker 2 (01:00:17):
So definitely any other any other ones you wanna you
wanna jump on before we get out of here.

Speaker 5 (01:00:23):
Uh touched on Philip Barber's the second. You know, you
know that program has really made a lot of strops
into being a consistent playoff team as well. It's I'm
kind of curious to see if that momentum and that
culture continues to be positive.

Speaker 3 (01:00:44):
I think it's going to be.

Speaker 4 (01:00:46):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (01:00:47):
I think they have turned the corner, you know, you
know with that that school, so definitely excited to, uh
see what the Colts do.

Speaker 2 (01:00:57):
You know, you know what I would love to see.
And I I know that I know that we've talked
about this, but when when when can we get and
we almost we didn't, we weren't mathematically that far off
from it. When can we get that South Harrison Philip
Barbara playoff football game? That would be give me that
I need that.

Speaker 5 (01:01:16):
It's common and you you know it's going to happen
sooner or later.

Speaker 3 (01:01:20):
I feel like, you know, and it's really kind of cool.

Speaker 5 (01:01:25):
I feel like we're kind of like the infant stages
of watching a rivalry build between There's two schools in
a lot of different sports, and I think it's kind
of cool.

Speaker 2 (01:01:38):
Yeah, yeah, it was great that we got it in baseball.
And now let's see, I mean, and the games were good,
Philip Barber winds up sweeping, but those were two really
good games.

Speaker 5 (01:01:48):
Oh and a lot of mutual respect there because when
Barbara wrapped that series up, I just got there because
the Bridge Sport Frankfort was following that one in frank Gloria,
and uh, you see coach k just first second, you know,
of course he was disappointed, like his team had a
legitimate sean again a Charleston making some noise on there,

(01:02:09):
you know, like like you know, just like we know
what Bridge Bridgeport did.

Speaker 2 (01:02:13):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (01:02:13):
But uh.

Speaker 4 (01:02:15):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (01:02:16):
I noticed a lot of mutual respect between players on
those two teams. A lot of them just hung out
stuck around watching the Bridgeport frying for game from both schools.

Speaker 3 (01:02:27):
I thought that that was really really cool because.

Speaker 5 (01:02:29):
You know, a rivalry's rivalry is one thing, but for
to be a mutual respect rivalry, I think that's what
we're all shooting for.

Speaker 2 (01:02:37):
Yeah. Uh, one more that just popped into my head.
We're paying close attention to Elkins and RCB. Those are
two programs that took big steps forward last season. Uh,
and I'd like to see what's next for both of them,
because that's that's that's kind of the critical question, right
you take a step, what's the next step now?

Speaker 3 (01:02:55):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:02:56):
Yeah, do you build on it? Or was it not
a enough step to keep momentum going? And he started
drifting backwards? You know, that's that's a million dollar question.
You know, programs, you know, like out are facing right now?

Speaker 2 (01:03:08):
Yeah, I haven't. I haven't talked to Bill Nester in
a in a little bit, but last time I talked
to him, I think he was feeling I think he
was feeling okay with where the where where things were headed?
Uh this this offseason? Hey, one last note before I
let you go, who do you think is the better
shot to win it all in this tournament?

Speaker 4 (01:03:25):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (01:03:25):
Fairmont Senior or Morgantown as those games both will get
underweight to day in classes Triple A and Quadruple A.
Who's got the better shot to win their win their
state title in their classification?

Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
Wow, that's a tough one.

Speaker 4 (01:03:37):
I know.

Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
I left it save the best for last.

Speaker 5 (01:03:45):
I'll go Fairmont's Senior, but I'm not real real comfortable
with it. And the only reason I say that is.
I feel like Trip Away all four teams are really good,
not too much separation. I feel like in Quada, although
Morgantown is fantastic, I feel like GW is really really good,

(01:04:06):
Perkins really really good, you know. I yeah, I just
feel like there's a little more level playing field between
the four and trip A than there is.

Speaker 2 (01:04:22):
So yeah, I would call this, I would say that question.
That's a true, true definition of a of a coin flip.
So I don't think there's any no shame in that
answer at all. It just popped in my head and
I was like, actually a fair question, Chris, much appreciated.

Speaker 1 (01:04:37):
Man.

Speaker 2 (01:04:37):
We'll talk with you next week, and I'm excited here.
As we get later into the month, we're really I mean,
next week we'll be doing state tournament recap stuff. I'm sure,
but yeah, two three weeks, we're really gonna be diving
hard into football.

Speaker 3 (01:04:51):
Yeah. Probably, I'll probably talk a little.

Speaker 5 (01:04:53):
As of right now, I'm planning on at least going
to the North South basketball game next Friday.

Speaker 3 (01:05:00):
You coach Marshall and Phoenix Circle. You'll play one more
high school game, so.

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
Very good, very good. Zach Bartill be there as well,
so i'd be right, be a good group. And uh
and uh oh man, his name is Escaping me the
Boston Boston from Liberty Boston Bowers right. Uh yeah, he'll
be there as well. So heck of a heck of
a group you got there for the North Squad. On
that note, we're gonna wrap and take a break. This
is the Friday Free for All, brought to you by

(01:05:26):
Dan Cavatiota Buick GMC. We're back after this.

Speaker 1 (01:05:29):
Now back to the Dan Cavatoyota Wwick GMC Friday Free
for All on one O three three w KMZ.

Speaker 2 (01:05:37):
And now our final guest for today, rounding out our lineup.
Technically hitting clean up by the standards of the show,
but if you consider the fact that we only had
three guests today, it's not technically true, but we're going
with it anyway. Mike Minnick of wv News and ESPN
Plus is here with us. Mike, what's up, man, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:05:55):
Great to see Alex.

Speaker 7 (01:05:56):
Excited to talk about kind of season to come and
the season we just wrapped up too.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
Yeah. Yeah, Well, I'm I'm glad. I'm glad to get
you because I I always like to get different perspectives
on this from people who are covering it in the area,
and of course you're as dialed ins as really anybody
when it comes to high school sports. So I last
week Chris Johnson and I did a little segment on
some of our favorite stories of the academic school year.
So if you want, we can start with that rather

(01:06:22):
than going to the main cored. That could be the
appetizer if you want some of your favorite stories, Uh,
just real quick, go over some of your favorite ones
from the from the entire academic school year. Now that
it's wrapped up, I know baseball's not quite over yet.
We're close, uh, and there could still be one or
two more good stories to come out of the out
of the state tournament. But if you have a couple
of favorites before we jump into the main event, you're

(01:06:44):
welcome to share them now.

Speaker 7 (01:06:47):
Yeah, I mean the one that comes to mind. These
fermarcro soccer team did last fall where they had never
been to a state tournament, gotten to a reach them
a couple of times, hadn't gotten over the hump, bring
in a fantastic freshman class. The only time they lose
in the seasons to Charleston Catholic. The you know teeth time,
defending state champion, they lose one of their best players

(01:07:07):
in Brooklyn to shoot to a knee injury. Still win
the section, still win the region, go to Charleston, really
great semi final against an Elkins team that they battle
in the regular season, and they go ahead and meet
Chelton Catholicy within a state championship.

Speaker 4 (01:07:20):
So that was one of those things.

Speaker 7 (01:07:21):
Where I think they probably, if you give them truth
here before the year, said oh, this is a year
for a build, maybe finally make a state tournament. But
they won the whole thing. So now we have a
battle set up between a young East Fairmont team that
loses a couple pieces like Leo Paul and you're playing
Charston Catholic team that has defending State player of the
Year in me Low, has a lot of good players back.

(01:07:42):
They lose a good senior. But I'm already really excited
to kind of see this too play. I hope they
play in the regular season again, and I figure we're
gonna see them playing back with the last day of
the season again.

Speaker 2 (01:07:51):
Yeah, that's it's funny. You're the You're the second person
who said something similar to me that you like, you
hope you'd like to see that happen in the regular season.
Someone mentioned to me about Fairmont Senior and Frankfurt not
getting a chance to play during the regular season in baseball,
and then of course they got rewarded with that in
the postseason, or I should say, will get rewarded for
it later today. And so I think there's a funny

(01:08:13):
way of that happening where just in case that doesn't
occur for whatever reason, there does seem to be a
knack for these things kind of happening at the end
of the season, so that that could be a good
one potentially. Any other big moments from the last count
it's hard to believe that the school year is over,
kids are out, schools are consolidating. It's it's kind of wild.
Any other big stories that you were particularly fond of,

(01:08:36):
storylines from this past year before we take a way
too early look ahead at next school year.

Speaker 7 (01:08:42):
I think kind of sticking with the pleasant surprise category
with the boys, Boswen was able to do where again
a team that didn't quite make the same tournament last
year had some pieces back. You weren't sure how they
were gonna you know, a little bit older, how much
their younger players are gonna contribute. Obviously, Carters and Leianni
coming in nice piece for them. It took a bit
of time to kind of get going, but very similar.

(01:09:03):
He's pharamount right. They lose the record season a Nitro
and they beat him. Want to count in the champion.

Speaker 2 (01:09:08):
By the way, you mentioned Carter Zuliani. He's just like
a great story in general. I mean talk about a
multi sport success story. Every season he was doing and
some seasons more than one sport, which was even particularly impressive.

Speaker 7 (01:09:22):
Yeah, I mean in individual, in team state championships he
won four.

Speaker 3 (01:09:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:09:26):
So the question was last week, have we seen an
athlete like him in as far as the when you
look across all the different things that he did, how
often does an athlete like that come around. I don't
think we've seen much.

Speaker 7 (01:09:40):
Of that, not to the point where they were winning
multiple state championships. I mean, you have someone who would
be maybe great in all three sports, or great at
or even if they you know, an example I was
thinking about was only maybe ten fifteen years ago Lincoln,
where she kicked for the football team. It was really
good and she was a great soccer player, and she
was a great basketball player and is a rit softball player.

(01:10:01):
So you have some of that where you might see
somebody do two sports in the fall, and as you
see that with a runner too, the run cross country
and they'll play soccer across. He's a good example of
that from last year, right, all state soccer player, really
good country runner, you know, really good track runner was
able to contribute to multiple sports.

Speaker 2 (01:10:19):
So in the previous segment, Chris Johnson and I laid
out a couple of these as well. And I'm curious
to hear what would make your list so now, and
I know football is technically it's only two and a
half months away, flex days are starting, but what are
the you know, I kind of borrowed this bit from
some of my other favorite sports journalists. Usually this is

(01:10:40):
I will say for listeners, this is usually a bit
that I find people who cover any of the professional drafts,
whether it be the NHL, the NBA, the NFL, MLB,
this is a bit that they will do where towards
the end of the current draft season or even in
the days after the draft ends, they will do a
way too early big board for next year. That's kind

(01:11:00):
of the inspiration behind this. So Mike without further ado,
what are some way too early storylines that are you're
excited about going into next season.

Speaker 7 (01:11:11):
Yeah, I think the big one is the one that's
still undecided. I think it's gonna really be interesting. What
are these alignments gonna be?

Speaker 4 (01:11:18):
Like, we still don't know.

Speaker 7 (01:11:20):
We still don't know one hundred percent who's gonna be
in what class, who's gonna be in what region? And
that determined so much. I mean, we just saw with
this baseball season, Bridgeport had a great season, had a
great team, had a lot of experience coming back, they're out.
So who you get paired with matters If if Frankfurt's
not in that region, they probably walked to Charleston frank presentation.

(01:11:42):
They don't walk to Charleston and instead, you know, you
mentioned Frankfin Fairmontinior they were paired together for quite a
long time in that region. And Kaiser too was a
state and runner up team a couple of years. So
like one of those teams can make it and the
other ones couldn't. So kind of sing off of that
baseball's going to eight teams next year, So is this
the last year we're gonna see that really great regional series,

(01:12:03):
Frankfort and Bridgeburg go three games. Philip Barbara and South
Harrison was a sweep. Those games were great, a two
nothing game to clinch it for Philip Barber. The game
before that, South Harrison takes the lead, Philip Barbara hits
a grand slam. You know, I wonder if we're gonna
see the death of that, because if you look at
this year, that system has been in place. This year
Bridgeport beats Ham and Lincoln and goes to Charleston. You know,

(01:12:26):
it's a lot easier path than have you go to
a best of three with the defending doubles datech champions.
So I think that story is who's gonna be in
what class? And then of course after the last year,
will they stay in that class? We we haven't even
in that class or well, what we see in you know,
June and July, but what we see at the year two.

Speaker 2 (01:12:46):
That's a great point, especially because if the if the
ideas they're also going to change this up every two years, anyway,
we're it's gonna be very difficult getting getting used to
who's in what class to begin with. And it's still,
as you pointed out, not really fully decided and that
know real quick. How do you feel about the expansion
of the baseball tournament? A lot of mixed feelings on
my end, and my guests have not been as thrilled

(01:13:07):
about it. But I have sort of a sort of
a mixed point of view on it.

Speaker 7 (01:13:12):
I don't love it, and I think for a couple
of reasons, I think an eight team tournament in Charleston
seems like it's too big. Is again you're hoping in
praying the weather cop right at the weather cock right
You're playing an eight day tournament. You're starting on a Saturday,
and you're finishing on the next Saturday. So to me,
that totally changes the equation of you're pitching. How you
set things up?

Speaker 3 (01:13:33):
Right now?

Speaker 7 (01:13:34):
Class A is gonna Saturday. I think their semi final
would be Wednesday, and then they play the championship on Saturday.
So could if you had a star pitcher, could you
use that pitcher in two three games or even all
three of those games? If you have a blowout in
your quarterfinal or a semi final, can you keep that
pitch count down and use them all three games? That's

(01:13:56):
a tofferent equation of what we see now. Where you're
playing Thursday, Saturday, friday'say where you use your stud in
the semi final and then you use the final by
a lot guys WB And now Jase reinher pitch fantastic
for North Mayor in the semi final a couple of
years ago one than that game. Then they got me
in the championship. So now I wonder if we're gonna

(01:14:16):
mabe see some more parody because or well, a team
like Bridgeport that has a lot of pitching depth will
that one out over the course of a three round
state tournament.

Speaker 2 (01:14:24):
Now, well so, and baseball is such a weird sport
where you just kind of alluded to it, like there
is that opportunity for more parody, but there is also
like you're gonna see games where like talent just does
wind up winning out and as a result of that,
I I think that's a great point that no one
has yet brought up, is are you going to potentially
see a guy get pulled after four innings? You can

(01:14:46):
see a guy get pulled after three innings because they
say we don't need him to win this game and
we can use him again on Wednesday. I think that's
a I think that's a really another interesting angle to
this just changes the strategy. So yeah, there's been I
will say I think the responses I have gotten of
the people I've pulled definitely skews negative. The one thing
that I do like is I think I don't think

(01:15:08):
South Harrison and Philip Park were like, Look, they didn't
win a game, but the Hawks hung with Philip Barber
the whole time. It's not like that's not a team
that could play in the state tournament, you know, this week,
but they just they couldn't quite stay with Philip Barbor
long enough and gave up obviously that Grand Slam. They
were ahead in that game, and so I kind of
get it from that perspective, but I, by the same

(01:15:30):
token you you also pointed out there are some logistical
concerns behind that as well. So it's a it's an
interesting it's listen, I think more than any other sport
that one is is kind of that's a wild I
could see any other sport expansion being justified. Baseball is
an interesting one to try it well.

Speaker 7 (01:15:49):
And again it's gonna be fascinating too how you align everybody,
because if three good teams in one region and one
good team in the other region, and we've already seen it.
On Thursday of the first day of the state tournament,
the first two games of the tournament were blowouts, and
those were one four games and two three games, not
one eight and two seven games. So there's acting certain

(01:16:11):
And then, like you said, the flip side of that is,
if you have a team maybe get in a sixth
seed that's got a like a D one pitcher and
they knock off a two free seed, that totally messes
up the bracket.

Speaker 2 (01:16:22):
Now, huge change potentially. All Right, what are some other
way too early storylines that these are good? By the
way you're taking this literally, I like it. What are
some other way too early storylines that you're paying attention to?

Speaker 7 (01:16:34):
Yeah, way journally, but we're talking a year away.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
Now, Yeah, that's a full year away. That's great, that's fantastic.
All right, So so give me give me some more.
What else you got in the chamber?

Speaker 7 (01:16:44):
Yeah, I think obviously football is the big sport in
the state, and it's fascinating to see how some of
these teams do playing down, playing up. You know, we're
talking about a floor rubber program that I think has
really benefited from being in Double A this year where
they were able to keep their their and it's in volleyball,
but they got to the state baseball tournament, which is
something they've been close. They've been close to in a

(01:17:04):
three system, but in a four class system they were
able to rise, you know, rise above the drop and
win it and win a regional champions You can get
this far. So that's always fascinating. And I went through that,
you know, when I was at Kaiser, Well, we were
triple A senior year. Then my senior year we were
in the Semis. In basketball, we were in the semis
and foot we won golf, we were good in baseball,
like all of a sudden because we were one of

(01:17:26):
the bigger schools that are one of the smaller ones.
It whips the switch. Now the other side of that
equation is a dodge of South Harrison, where you know
you've got a lot of talent, and both those programs
have been consistently good, especially Doddridge playing in a smaller classification.
Can they find that at a higher level. And then

(01:17:46):
for those two it's tougher to schedule, right because if
you're in the OK City, you're playing a lot of
smaller schools. You're obligated to play a lot of smaller
schools because it's your conference that hurts you in terms
of bonus points. So then it's like, well, how do
you do you maybe pick up a triple A game
or something to kind of bound your schedule a little bit.

Speaker 4 (01:18:05):
And also the.

Speaker 7 (01:18:07):
Departure of is going to affect a lot of people too,
because that was a school in the conference, but not
only that, South Harrison was an opponent of THEIRS across
the board in sports, same with Doddridge. So now you're
losing that, you know, double a triple A size school.
I don't think it's going to affect much in terms

(01:18:28):
of I don't think Bird's gonna get enough to move up,
but it is going to move things around a little bit. So,
I mean, we've certainly seen how transfer is going to
impact things, the situation where those kids are being forced
to transfer. So you're gonna get some kids that were
really good at like Isaiah Heflin, you know Quintin Hilly
that were really good at Liberty.

Speaker 3 (01:18:47):
Now where do they go?

Speaker 7 (01:18:49):
How do they impact the team's going to?

Speaker 2 (01:18:51):
Yeah, and I get the sneaking suspicion that it's going
to be it's gonna be South Harrison, it's gonna be RCB,
it's going to be Lincoln who are going to benefit
the most because Doddridge, Yeah, and Doddridge right, absolutely, those
are the places where playing time is going to be most.
I mean, granted, Doddridge is really really deep typically every
single year, but they can always use more bodies, being
again on the smaller end of the class double a spectrum.

(01:19:15):
On the note of sort of like how like balance
of power works? And I'm thinking about Marion County now.
I mentioned I'm very excited to see what's gonna happen
with the new coach in Fairmont Senior in the previous segment,
But I am curious, and I hinted at this, but
I would say I'm not well caught up enough on
the subject yet. Do you think there's even a short

(01:19:36):
term rebalancing of the balance of power in football in
Marion County, even if it's just for a year with
a new head coach at Fairmont Senior? Or is it
just gonna be reload and move on for the Polar Bears.

Speaker 7 (01:19:49):
No, I mean, I think they always seem like that.
We would have won. I think that had to rely
a JV program last year, which they always tend to
just because a numbers game. So I still think they'll
be really good. And you know, I the last couple
of years have been the best Marion County has ever
been across the board. While was making the playoffs, East
Fairmont took a step back last year. I don't think

(01:20:09):
they're gonna be quite as good this year. Even so,
I don't think they're gonna go out and beat these
fair beats, beat Fairmount Senior, North Marion. You know, I
think they I think I would love do you know,
have their season would have gone last year before the transits.
You know, if you keep Brock Martin and Jeff Caligher,
how much better are you? Does a difference? I mean
that was a really that was a really tough classic
trip a way to get out. But you know, I

(01:20:31):
still feel like Seniors got a ton of talent coming back,
and I think they're going to be the team to be.
And again, you know, I look at the big ten
and say, we'll Bridgeburt's gonna be great, Fairmount Senior is
going to be really good. Who steps up to be
their team? Does nor North Marry has done it more
often than not. We've seen bost do it at times.
We've seen Lincoln sometimes kind of step up.

Speaker 3 (01:20:50):
To that point.

Speaker 7 (01:20:51):
But it's it's it's been a two horse race really
in the Big ten for the last decade. So who
can happen to be that third team? As always, I
think the question going into the year, maybe it's talent.
Talent wise, they've been there before. Performance wise, they haven't
a race, So can they consistently find that Maybe, like
we said, you get a couples in that makes you
a little bit deeper. Maybe you only have to play

(01:21:11):
kids one way. They've got a lot of guys coming
back that I think can be really good.

Speaker 2 (01:21:16):
All right, And so we're towards the end of the segment,
so let's throw one more out there, one more way
too early storyline that you're paying attention for the twenty
five twenty six twenty twenty six is not a real year,
but twenty five to twenty six school.

Speaker 7 (01:21:29):
Year, Yeah, I think the girls basketball is something that
this area has been really good at. Who's going to
be the team that stuff up and it makes a
run to a semi final final. We saw the Barber
mek A final two years ago, three years ago. Now
Lewis County kind of had a schedule and did it
two seasons ago. It's this Fallly gonna best fair Mount's

(01:21:50):
years always, they've had the great regular seasons, they've had
the big ten championships. They put it together and get
to Saturday. I think that's my biggest question for Gros
going into the season. They know how they like to play.
They had a young group last year that I thought
really matured, but again just fell a little bit short
and Charleston, So can they find a way to finally
do that? And that's and that's been the story of

(01:22:11):
Marion County for a long time. North Mary and Fairmont
Senior have had great teams that haven't won championship. Sometimes
they won them with teams that weren't quite as good
on paper, but found a way. So maybe Pharamont's it's
their turn to join the other two and finally win
a state Championshipping County.

Speaker 2 (01:22:25):
Very good, Mic as always, If you got any work
coming up that you want to promote, light on us.

Speaker 3 (01:22:30):
Yeah, it's summer is a little bit clearer for me
in terms of that. We'll waiting for w to come
back and and all of that.

Speaker 7 (01:22:36):
Yeah, I'm just excited to have a little bit of
a break and get back into it this fall year
or two at Jim Greeney, hopefully do some WVU soccer
as well, and see the Gramps continue to rise under
Dance draft and NIGGI as a brown.

Speaker 2 (01:22:48):
Yeah very good? Hey, uh real quick? Any any predictions
for for WVU baseball this weekend.

Speaker 7 (01:22:55):
I feel like I feel like I did coming into
last do against North Carolina, where it's like this has
been a great story. Don't that they have the pitching
depth to win the best in three series. I think
they have to win Game one that has to win
this series. If they lose Game one, I think it's
gonna be similar to last year where they just don't
quite be able to get over the hum. I'd love
to see them win one in the Batton Ruverers. I
think that I was considered as successful week. If they

(01:23:16):
can win one, it's gonna be a really hard for
them to one.

Speaker 2 (01:23:18):
Darius, very good, All right, Mike, much appreciated.

Speaker 4 (01:23:21):
Man.

Speaker 2 (01:23:21):
We are going to go ahead take our final break
on the Friday Free for All brought to you by
Dan Caviatato. You a GMC.

Speaker 1 (01:23:26):
We're back after this time for more high school sports
talk on the Dan Cavatoyota Wa GMC Friday Free for All.

Speaker 2 (01:23:35):
All right, we are back to wrap the show. Coming up,
let's go over. I haven't looked at all today at
what the schedule is going to look like, so we
can go ahead and take a look at today's schedule
for the high school Baseball tournament. But first, a special
thanks to all of our guests. Mike Minnick, Chris Johnson,

(01:23:55):
my typical co host from connect Bridgeport. He'll be back
in the studio with us before you know it. And
then Chris George, who I just have to tell you
as we approach the end of high school baseball season,
could not do the show that we do without Chris George.
He is an unbelievable resourced guy, eat, sleeps, and breathes baseball.
So very happy to have him available to us. Okay,

(01:24:20):
so coming up on today, Coming up today, we've got
in class Triple A Winfield and Ripley. That's one in four,
Ripley one at twenty five and three Winfield the four
seed twenty three and seven coming up at ten a m.
Fairmont's Senior twenty three and six the three seed against
Frankfurt twenty two and eight, the two seed that'll be

(01:24:41):
fifty minutes after game one comes to an end. In
Class Quadruple A, Hurricane the top seed taking on four
seed Hedgesville at five o'clock this afternoon, Morgantown and GWGW
the two Morgantown the three that'll be fifty minutes after
game one Saturday. All four championships will be played on Saturday,

(01:25:04):
starting at ten am, with East Hardy and Madonna Madonna
twenty seven and four Squad East Hardy thirteen and fifteen.
Fifty minutes after. The Class Single A final will be Wheeling,
Central Catholic and Philip Barber set for again. Saturday, June
seventh is the second game. Class Triple A is going
to be scheduled for five thirty, and of course we

(01:25:27):
don't yet know who is going to be in that
one between Ripley, Frankfurt, Fairmont Senior and Winfield, but that'll
be at five thirty and then the Class Quad A
Championship will start fifty minutes after the third game. The
Class Triple A Championship Hurricane, GW, Morgantown and Hedgesville. All
of this, of course, is available to you at wv

(01:25:48):
metronews dot com. I recommend you go and check it out.
Lots of great game recaps from Joe Bercado and Greg Kerry.
Plus of course, all of these games you'll be able
to listen to or watch live. Checkout wv metronews dot
com or download the Metro News TV app. Can't stress
that enough. The Metro News TV app definitely a worthy download.

(01:26:10):
All that said, folks gotta go. We are out of
time here on the Friday Free for All. No bonus segments.
This was the full show today, so the Morning Spiel
will come up next as regularly scheduled. We'll be talking
on the Morningspiel about upcoming events in the city of
Clarksburg and in the region for the summer, things you

(01:26:30):
can do, things you can take your kids to do,
and we'll be taking a little break from sports talk.
Plus we'll get to your news and sports headlines and
everything else we do on TMS. That said, Friday Free
for All brought to you by Dan Cavatota b you
at GMC. Don't forget to check out the show in
podcast form if you ever missed the show in any way, shape,
form or fashion. Just check it out the Friday Free

(01:26:51):
for All app, the Speaker app, or your preferred podcasting platform,
or wkmznews dot com. We'll see you guys next week.
We'll have the final word on the state high school
baseball tournament next Friday.

Speaker 1 (01:27:12):
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 and
one O three three WKMZ