By Rick Kozlowski
The Journal, WV Sports Writers Association
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. — Paul Witt takes a simple approach on the ballfield, all the while keeping a proper perspective of the game of baseball: it’s about having fun.
“It’s definitely something you can’t kill yourself over,” the Jefferson shorstop said. “It’s a game. It’s meant for you to have fun and compete. You’re not supposed to go out and expect to win every day. The game’s not going to let you. In the game of baseball, there’s always ups and downs.
“You just have to go out everyday and enjoy it, because it’s going to end, no matter what.”
Witt’s level of fun, though, rises above most of his peers.
He proved that in leading Jefferson to consecutive Class AAA state championships, putting the Cougars’ program total at 12 titles to move them into a 10th-place tie nationally for all-time crowns.
A three-time all-state player, a second-teamer as a sophomore and a first-teamer for his final two seasons, Witt also is being named today as the West Virginia Sports Writers Association’s State Player of the Year for 2016.
“It’s definitely a great feeling and honor to be selected for any kind of award,” said Witt, also the first-team all-state captain. “Whatever it is, I’m definitely happy I’m selected. It’s always a great feeling whenever I’m selected.”
Witt won the honor over fellow first-team, all-state honorees, Jacoby Bradley of Nitro and Chris Jordan of Ripley.
“Paul just has a passion for the game, and he has an infectuous personality, which draws people to him,” said Jefferson coach John Lowery, the only baseball coach the school that opened in 1972 has known.
“His whole family is all about the game, whether it’s baseball or softball. You can see the accomplishments of what his two sisters have done in softball and what he’s done in baseball.”
An older sister plays softball at Shepherd, his twin sister is headed to Concord to play softball and Witt will play baseball at Virginia Commonwealth University, being given a shot to crack the lineup as a freshman.
“You have to say he was as good as anyone who’s gone through here,” Lowery said.
That list would include some players who went on to professional baseball.
Witt’s ahead of them in one respect: he broke the career hit record at Jefferson, finishing with 185 of them, his last one, a double in the Cougars’ 11-2 victory over Nitro in last weekend’s state championship game.
“I’m proud of that,” Witt said, “but it didn’t come without hard work.”
He credited his dad and a number of coaches who worked with him during the season and in the offseason for his hitting prowess.
Witt had 60 hits and batted .508 for Jefferson (36-3). It was a goal of Witt’s to produce hits in half of his at-bats. Seventeen doubles were among his 21 extra-base hits. He scored 57 runs and drove in 33 runs.
“I definitely wanted to do more than I did last season, wanted to help the team out more,” Witt said. “I mainly wanted to put the ball in play and hit the ball hard.”
With that in mind, Nitro intentionally walked Witt as a way to prevent him from getting a hit that might’ve ended the state championship via the mercy rule.
That act speaks to Witt’s ability as a ballplayer. He’s equally adept at the plate and in the field.
“He had a great season as a senior,” Lowery said. “Paul struggled some – as what happens to all players, it’s inherent in the game, you have a little bit of slumps – in the middle of the year with his throws. He turned out crisp at the end of the season.”
He was at ease during state tournament play no matter the season at Appalachian Power Park, turning a 6 -3 double play with ease in a state semifinal win over Wheeling Park this season and making a remarkable catch in the 2015 state championship game also against Nitro a season earlier.
A foul pop headed toward the stands in short left field with a runner in scoring position at second base late in the final, and three Jefferson players gave chase.
There were the left fielder, the third baseman and the shortstop – Witt.
Witt tracked the ball with his back toward home plate, angling toward the wall behind third base. He caught the ball over his shoulder and was able to keep the runner at bay, helping to preserve a 2-1 victory.
“With his athleticism and baseball-field savvy, he brings versatility to the game,” Lowery said, “so he can play a number of positions.”
Witt started for the Cougars in left field as a freshman. He’s been a shortstop ever since.
“It’s been a great part of my life,” Witt said. “It’s definitely been memorable, and I accomplished a lot. I was happy with what I did, the friends I made and the help I got from my coaches. I’m proud of it.”
Witt endured despite losing 14 pounds battling the rigors of a season. From the beginning until the end, Jefferson was together for 97 days.
“That speaks to the grind of the game people lose sight of,” Lowery said. “That’s practicing and playing. That’s part of the challenge of the game, not only on-the-field stuff, but taking care of yourself, which he does. There’s a lot of things players contend with over the course of a season.”
Through it all, Witt enjoyed it, making sure to have fun on the ballfield, no matter what.