10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Wahama junior standout Hoffman leads Class A all-state

By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner, West Virginia Sports Writers Association

MASON, W.Va. — Wahama is perched on top of Class A with its second consecutive state championship, and this one again featured all-state first team pitcher Philip Hoffman leading the charge.

Hoffman, chosen first team captain by the W. Va. Sports Writers Association, garnered 18 strikeouts on only 87 pitches in the semifinal and 162 Ks for the season to put Wahama on top once again.

“I was in a zone. I pitched as hard as I could to win it and stayed low so they couldn’t hit it,” Hoffman said. “I threw two breaking pitches, one change-up and everything else was a fastball. I was as accurate as I had been all year. I got better as the game went on. It feels just as good as last year, if not better.

MORE: Class A all-state baseball teams

“We had a little more hitting last year, but our defense is good this year and we are ready to go,” he continued. “Even if I didn’t have the strikeouts, my defense would have had me. It’s hard to stay in the game when I pitch. They usually don’t hit on the first pitch. I get dialed in for the whole game.”

Having Hoffman on the mound was vital to Wahama’s success, but his hitting was equally as impressive.

Hoffman connected for a .530 batting average entering the state tournament with 34 RBIs, and owned a 0.49 ERA on the mound with a 9-4 record in 79 innings as the White Falcons repeated as champions with a 22-11 record.

“He is the heart and soul of this team,” Wahama coach Tom Cullen said. “He’s our best hitter and our best pitcher; just amazing. He throws upper 80s and is just a junior. He doesn’t lead by being vocal, but by what he does and how hard he plays.”

Joining Hoffman as pitchers on the first team are Buffalo senior  Nick Whittington and Williamstown senior Reece Westfall.

Westfall was 10-1 for the Yellowjackets with a 1.43 ERA with 90 Ks in 73 total frames.

Whittington finished 7-4 with a 1.85 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 58 2-3 innings, while picking up impressive wins against Greater Beckley Christian, Ravenswood, Poca and Notre Dame.

The first team infield has two from the eastern panhandle as East Hardy senior Bryce Strawderman and Pendleton County senior Logan Cooper join senior Josh Baker of Notre Dame and Greater Beckley Christian junior Wil Mullins.

Strawderman had a .453 batting average with 39 runs and 22 stolen bases to help the Cougars reach the Region II semifinals.

Cooper garnered a .485 batting average with 32 runs scored in guiding the Wildcats to the state tournament.

Baker, a repeat first-team honoree, hit .441 with 23 RBIs, seven doubles and two home runs. Mullins hit an impressive .558 with seven doubles and recorded 25 stolen bases to enable GBC to reach the Region III championship.

There were three outfielders from Region II selected to the first team in South Harrison senior Ian Riggleman, Moorefield senior Wil Schoonover, and East Hardy junior Corey McDonald.

Riggleman led the Hawks with a .419 average, 39 hits and 30 RBIs. He also contributed 24 runs and three triples. Schoonover, a catcher last season, but primarily a centerfielder this year, led Moorefield with a .402 batting average, 13 doubles, 28 RBIs, and 29 runs.

McDonald pounded the ball for a .510 batting average with 15 doubles and 40 RBIs. Wheeling Central Catholic junior Isaac Rine is the first-team catcher. Rine showed poise at and behind the plate all season long with a .493 average and 45 runs, while pacing the Maroon Knights to a berth in the state title game.

The first team utility players are Pendleton County senior Tim Hevener, Williamstown sophomore Mason Adkins, Greater Beckley Christian senior Tanner Ray and Sherman senior Jacob Barnett.

Hevener was 9-2 as a pitcher, including 15 strikeouts in the Region II semifinal game against East Hardy, plus a .385 batting average with 32 RBIs.

Adkins led the Yellowjackets with a team-best .489 batting average with 32 RBIs and 18 doubles, plus a 6-2 record with a 2.47 ERA with 43 Ks.

Ray paced GBC with a .517 batting average with 17 doubles and 41 stolen bases in addition to recording 74 Ks and a 2.04 ERA. Barnett garnered a .529 batting average for Sherman with 30 RBIs and 27 runs with 10 doubles at the plate, and contributed 74 strikeouts on the mound in 57 innings.

Tygarts Valley senior catcher P.J. Lanham (.419, 32 RBIs, 28 runs) was selected as the second team captain.

The second team also included state tournament representatives in Man senior pitcher Jake Adkins and Wahama senior Mason Hicks as a utility player.

Joining Adkins as second-team pitchers are Huntington St. Joseph sophomore Charlie White and South Harrison senior Jacob Montgomery.

The second-team infielders included St. Marys senior Michael Fox, Doddridge County senior Drew Lett, Bishop Donahue junior Johne Stocklask and Greenbrier West junior Hunter Bevins.

Gilmer County junior Chandler Ferguson, St. Marys senior Ty Flowers and Wheeling Central senior Anthony Gentile are the second-team outfielders.

Along with Hicks, the utility spots for the second team are comprised of Tyler Consolidated’s Jordan Baker, Charleston Catholic’s Nick Russo and East Hardy’s  Brett Tharp.





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