CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Another spring championship event for the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission and another significant shakeup in the schedule due to mother nature.
The state baseball tournament at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston this weekend joins the likes of the softball and tennis tournaments along with the state track meet having schedules changed due to rain.
The first pitch of the tournament was supposed to happen on Thursday evening in Class AA but storms rolled through that pushed back the first pitch to Friday morning.
“It’s completely out of your hands,” WVSSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan said. “In the Fall we know there are weather events, in the Spring we know its weather. You just try to make the best of the situation.”
In Class AA, No. 1 Bridgeport defeated No. 4 Shady Spring 9-2 on Friday morning and No. 2 Frankfort is No. 3 Scott is scheduled to play around Noon on Friday.
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The second session on Friday is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. in Class A with No. 1 Moorefield against No. 4 Huntington Saint Joseph’s followed by No 2. Charleston Catholic and No, 3 Wheeling Central.
Accuweather is calling for showers and storms in Charleston on Friday afternoon and into the evening.
Like Thursday evening, Dolan said if the first game of a session cannot begin by 9 p.m., the session will not happen.
“There are different pitching rules that apply,” Dolan said. “We wouldn’t want one school to have an advantage over another. Once we start, we try to get that session in.”
Along with pitching rules, Dolan said it’s just fair to the athletes and administrators to make an earlier decision about the games.
“I think it is important for the schools to figure out where they are going to be the next day, whether they have to stay another night,” he said.
“There are a lot of logistics that go into this besides just saying hey we want to play tomorrow.”
Class AAA semifinal games are slated for 9 a.m. on Saturday between No. 1 St. Albans and No. 4 Wheeling Park with No. 2 Hurricane against No. 3 Hedgesville starting after.
Because of the delays on Thursday pushing the schedule back, the Class AAA championship is now scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
As of Friday afternoon, the Class A championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. and Class AA for 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Dolan said Sunday was originally slated as a makeup date, which could now be a possibility for all three class championship games.
He even told MetroNews Monday could not be ruled out.
“The goal is to get the games in on a reasonable time, as close as we can,” he said.
“We want it to be a great experience for the kids but we want the field to be in great shape also.”