(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After winning just 8 of their 23 regular season games, East Hardy is celebrating their first state baseball championship since 1987. The Cougars (14-15) rallied from an early five-run deficit to defeat Madonna, 10-7 in 9 innings in the Class A state title game.
“That’s how our season has been,” said East Hardy head coach Tyler Mongold. “We were 5-12 at one point. We just kept fighting every inning, we kept fighting. I told the guys, I pulled them aside in the third and fourth, ‘Guys, people counted you guys out all year long because we were hurt. Just try to prove it one more time’.”
The Cougars were beset by numerous injuries throughout the season and they played an extremely challenging regular season schedule. However, East played their best baseball in the postseason, sweeping regional series against Pendleton County and Tygarts Valley to win the Class A Region II title. East Hardy defeated Gilmer County, 11-1 in the semifinal round on Thursday.
East Hardy fell behind 5-0 inbound the second inning after the Blue Dons (27-5) scored five runs in the second frame. They needed just one base hit to do so.
The Cougars scored once in the fourth and four times in the fifth to pull even at 5.
After that, the teams traded two-run base hits. In the bottom of the fifth, Mathew Geer’s two-run single gave MHS a 7-5 advantage. East Hardy answered right back in the sixth with a two-run double from Mason Hamilton. The game would head to extra innings tied at 7.
After a scoreless eighth, East Hardy took their first lead of the game in the ninth when Dayton Dove delivered a two-run single. An RBI groundout from Mason Hamilton capped a three-run inning.
Madonna loaded the bases with two out in the ninth. However, Evan Hamilton came out of the bullpen to retire the final two batters and preserve the win for Shayne Sisler. Sisler was one of the many Cougars who dealt with injury throughout the year. He allowed just two hits in four innings of relief.
“My ace came in, Sisler. He has been hurt all year long. The last week and a half, he had three bullpens. I knew we probably needed him at some point throughout this tournament. The plan was on Thursday but [Jordan] Teets threw a heck of a game on Thursday.
“I thought he delivered for not pitching all year long.”
After falling in the title game 13 years ago, Mongold led his alma mater to their first state championship in 38 years.
“I was on the field in 2012 when we lost that state championship. I was actually on the mound. This makes it better.”
Mason Hamilton went 3-for-6 for the Cougars and he drove in five runs. Sisler and Patrick Mills also had two-hit games.
Koleton Grishkevich had three of Madonna’s five hits.
Class A All-Tournament Team:
Evan Hamilton (EH), Mason Hamilton (EH), Shayne Sisler (EH), Jordan Teets (EH), Jacob Lazear (Madonna), David Connors (Madonna), Koleton Grishkevich (Madonna), Remington Huffman (Gilmer), Braylon Mencer (Gilmer), Daniel Gaye (Webster) pic.twitter.com/SLMBpWf6vn— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) June 7, 2025