Class A No. 10 Tygarts Valley ‘just fine’ with underdog-type role

MILL CREEK, W.Va. — Tygarts Valley has added to the already-significant Class A Region 2 baseball depth over the last couple of seasons.

The 10th rated Bulldogs entered the week with an 18-5 overall record, winners of 12 straight going back to April 13.

“We knew we were a good team,” said head coach James Markley. “We started out 2-4, but we knew we were alright. We turned it around from there and the wins started rolling. Our defense and our pitching have been really good this year and that’s probably been the biggest difference from last year.”

Tygarts Valley won a shootout last year in the regional semifinals over South Harrison 13-10, but ran out of steam against Moorefield in the regional finals, falling 12-2.

“We expected to make that run, but it looked like a lot of people were looking over us,” Markley said. “I think we snuck-up on South Harrison a bit. It was fun, but we pretty much used all of our pitching up in the semifinal. It was a good experience for the kids.”

The Bulldogs returned eight starters for this season, setting the stage for another postseason run. It’ll be a grueling task for whichever team ultimately emerges out of Region 2 this year as South Harrison, Pendleton County, East Hardy, Moorefield and Tygarts Valley all entered the postseason ranked in the MetroNews baseball poll.

While South Harrison (No. 1) and Pendleton County (No. 3) have garnered more statewide attention in the rankings, Markley is just fine with taking the backseat – for now.

“We like being the underdog, that’s just fine with us. Don’t pay any attention to us, it’s okay,” Markley said. “We’re good with that role, really. We just want to play baseball and we know that anyone can be beaten on any single night. We can beat anybody, but we can be beaten too. We have to show up every night – we’ve done well with that this year.”

And while it’s an experienced Tygarts Valley team, the Bulldogs have just an 11-man roster.

“I think it works out better because the kids get more reps,” Markley said. “There’s obviously the other side of that which is being fearful of injuries. But as far as reps going to the right kids, that’s the main thing – we’ve been able to do that.”

Tygarts Valley has been led at the plate by senior, and Fairmont State signee, P.J. Lanham, junior Caleb Riggleman and junior Rece Wamsley. Wamsley and Riggleman are both hitting over .500 at the plate on the season, while Lanham is hitting around .420. Wamsley has been the ace on the mound, while freshman Brett Smith has added some needed depth.

The Bulldogs will be matched up against a veteran, top-ranked South Harrison team in regional semifinal play — the Hawks will no doubt be eager to avenge last year’s regional semifinal loss.

“They’re very experienced and they hit the ball really well,” Markley said of South Harrison. “They have several pitchers who are really good. We know it will be a tough test and we have to play our best.”

It’s a stretch to call the Bulldogs actual ‘underdogs’ with just five losses, but in a region loaded with other ranked teams, that’s the role they will take.

Tygarts Valley has two baseball state championships — they both came back-to-back in 1978 and 1979.

“It’s been a long time,” Markley said. “That’s our main goal. But we’re focused on smaller goals right now. We’re not looking past anybody. We know what South Harrison has and how tough they are. We’re going to have to play our best game and hopefully we come out ahead.”





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