SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The South Charleston high school baseball team has been building for the last couple of years to get back to the state tournament in June.
The Black Eagles finished the 2015 season with a 26-7 record, falling in a nail-biter to Ripley in the regional semifinals, 5-4.
“The drive started last year,” said South Charleston coach Ken Samms. “I had four really good seniors last year with a nice junior bunch. You could feel their determination – it was a great atmosphere with the kids and everyone got along. You could just see how much they wanted it.
“They kind of felt like they got a little short-handed last year, losing that regional semifinal game to Ripley,” he continued. “They’ve workout out hard all winter and through the fall – it’s working out right now to hopefully (contend again) for the state tournament, but it’s going to be a tough road.”
South Charleston returned six starters from that 2015 team as the Black Eagles are looking for a trip to the state tournament for the first time since they won the title in 2006.
“I felt like we would have a pretty good season this year,” Samms said. “I knew we had some arms and pretty good pitching coming in. I was kind of concerned about our hitting, but a couple of guys have really picked it up.
“Trevor Sampson, an all-state shortstop last year, has really hit the ball well,” he continued. “Jacob Marler, who was just a pitcher last year is playing a position right now and junior Brendan Quinn has played pretty good ball as well so far.”
Sampson has continued to put up all-state numbers, entering the week with a .667 average from the plate.
“It’s unreal,” Samms said. “He’s a hard worker and he worked really hard in the offseason to get himself in shape. He’s grown about another inch and a half and he’s just a good athlete. He would be a steal for some college, I think he could play about anywhere he would want to go. He’s pretty much been my leader and we’re going to depend on him down the stretch.”
Marler, meanwhile, entered the week with a .441 batting average and first baseman Isaiah Moss is hitting .351. Cole Lanier has been a standout behind the plate, while freshman Corey Lanier has been a nice spark at second base.
On the mound, senior left-hander Tyler Abbott has led the way, along with Marler and Sampson.
“Really, everybody has contributed,” Samms said. “Tyler Abbott on the mound has been throwing the ball really well. He’s developed more control this year than what he had last year. He’s gotten a little bit more mature and can handle the ups and downs a little bit better.”
South Charleston entered this week with just two losses and a No. 3 ranking in the MetroNews high school baseball poll. The Black Eagles started out the season with a bang, picking up back-to-back wins over now No. 4 Greenbrier East and now No. 9 Ripley (preseason No. 3).
“I talk to them all the time about the ups and downs in baseball,” Samms said. “You can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. You have to stay in that middle ground and they seem to buy-in to that.”
And Samms will certainly be preaching that message down the stretch as the Black Eagles are positioned in sectional play against No. 6 George Washington, with potential regional opponents Ripley, Greenbrier East and Woodrow Wilson all having strong seasons.
“Pitching is always key,” Samms said. “You have to have a couple of really good pitchers – hopefully your top two or three guys can carry you through. You can’t afford to go out there and walk a lot of guys and have to go deeper into that rotation, especially with the new pitching rules, that really hurts.
“We have to stop giving up so many walks,” he continued. “But I feel as good as anyone else (in the region). I have a lot of faith in these seniors and they have a lot of faith in themselves. They’re the ones that go out there and hit it and throw it. I have a lot of confidence in them.”