MASON, W.Va. — After an initial 0-2 start, the Wahama White Falcons have pushed their record out to 13-6 on the year out of Class A. Wahama, which hasn’t been to the state tournament in Charleston since winning the title in 1998, hopes to make a postseason run behind pitching ace Hunter Bradley.
The three-sport senior athlete has struck out 48 batters in 43 innings pitched on the year, holding an impressive 0.33 ERA and overall 4-2 record.
“I’ve never had anybody with an ERA that low,” said veteran Wahama coach Tom Cullen. “He throws the ball in the mid-80s and he’s got a good curveball – he tries to keep people off balance that way. He could be 6-0 on the year, but we’ve made some costly errors behind him in a couple of games.”
Overall, Wahama owns a team ERA of 2.20 on the season.
The White Falcons have three losses by one run apiece, to go along with a couple of losses to regional foe Charleston Catholic.
“Early in the year, it was our defense giving us some problems,” Cullen said. “But that’s come around and we’re playing better there to back up the pitching.”
The White Falcons have been close to getting back to the state tournament several times in regional play over the past decade, but have specifically had trouble in each of the last three years getting past Class A defending state champion Charleston Catholic.
“Our seasons have ended in Charleston, but not from the park that we want,” Cullen said. “It’s a tough region overall with Charleston Catholic and Buffalo as potential matchups in the semifinals – and then Gilmer County has been pretty good as well. We have to play sound defense with good pitching and get timely hits.”
Upcoming for the White Falcons on the schedule next week is a home contest against Mason County rival Point Pleasant. In their last meeting, Wahama suffered a close 7-6 defeat back in the second game of the season in late March.
Ravenswood back to form in Class AA:
In 2012, Wes Swain was still an assistant for the Ravenswood baseball program. That team finished the season with an abysmal 3-22 record, surrendering 18 times to the 10-run rule – but what a difference two years make.
During this year’s campaign, and in Coach Swain’s second season as head coach, the Class AA No. 8 Red Devils have put together a 16-7 record so far this spring.
“We needed to go back to ‘team ball.’ It’s something we’ve been trying to build here the last couple of years now,” he said. “We just drive into them that we have to win as a team – that’s the only way we’re going to win ball games. We don’t have any superstars.”
The Red Devils, though, did return senior shortstop Devon Crews who was named second team all-state a season ago. Crews is hitting .513 on the year with six home runs (four of those grand slams) and 43 RBIs this season.
“He is probably one of the top five hitters in the state, I honestly believe that,” Swain said. “The kid can flat out hit – one of the best we’ve had.”
Ravenswood dropped a 4-0 contest against Ripley on Thursday night, but still has Sissonville, Williamstown, Parkersburg Catholic and Parkersburg South to finish up the regular season next week.
Depth is key for Gilmer County:
The Titans have battled their way into the top 10 of the Class A state rankings this season with a promising 17-4 record.
“Our older guys are experienced. We start seven seniors and one junior – and the junior that starts has started every game in his career,” coach Joe Frashure said. “So we do put forth a lot of experience out there.”
That experience translates to the pitching mound as well for Gilmer County.
“Our top four pitchers are seniors and our pitching has been very good up to date, as for the most part. Adam Beall is probably the ace on the mound. Any time he’s on the mound, we’re going to have a chance to win,” Frashure said.
Three of Gilmer County’s four losses on the year have come by two runs or less.
“Two of our four loses we’ve lost in the last inning,” Frashure said. “Another loss of the four we lost one in eight innings. So just making sure you’ve have that focus and that mental toughness through 21 outs or through the entire ball game, and I do believe that’s something we’re gaining on and we’re getting better at.”
Nitro keeps bruising:
Nitro picked up another win Thursday night by beating Oak Hill to improve to 18-5 overall. The Wildcats play at Point Pleasant and Cabell Midland this weekend.
Bridgeport wins in walk-off fashion over Notre Dame:
The Indians scored in the bottom of the seventh on Thursday night to notch a victory over Notre Dame 3-2. The Irish, at 15-6, face Lincoln and Capital this weekend. Bridgeport, with just two losses on the year, has intriguing matchups on the weekend against Parkersburg South, Jefferson and Huntington.