MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Herbert Hoover will host Independence in the annual WVSSAC Kickoff Game on Thursday, August 29. The game broadcast will air on SportsNet Pittsburgh and on the MetroNews TV app with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
The game is a rematch of the 2022 Class AA state championship game, won by the Patriots. Both teams will compete in the new Class AAA starting this fall.
Herbert Hoover (8-4 in 2023) advanced to the state quarterfinals last November. Independence (8-4 in 2023) won a pair of playoff games on the road last fall before falling to eventual state champion Fairmont Senior in the semifinals.
The Huskies welcome back four-year starting quarterback Dane Hatfield to engineer an offense that averaged 39 points per game in the regular season last fall. The Patriots welcome back several key contributors from a defense that posted six shutouts in 2023.
MetroNews to broadcast 2024 WVSSAC State Softball Tournament
All games of the 2024 WVSSAC State Softball Tournament will be broadcast on select MetroNews radio affiliates. Video broadcasts of each game, produced in conjunction with Video Productions, can be seen on the MetroNews TV app and the MetroNews website.
The state softball tournament will be hosted at Little Creek Park in South Charleston. The 12-team tournament field will be set following the conclusion of regional play in the third week of May.
John Marshall (Class AAA), Winfield (Class AA) and Wahama (Class A) are the three defending state champions.