(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On the state’s biggest stage, Hurricane senior Weston Smith showed why he has established himself as a Division I pitching prospect and the leading candidate for statewide awards. The WVU signee struck out 13 batters as the top-seeded Redskins defeated Morgantown, 6-1 to become the first Class AAAA state champions.
Smith allowed just three hits and the one run scored against him was unearned. At one point, Smith retired ten consecutive batters and the Mohigans only put multiple runners on base in an inning twice.
“Whenever the defense steps up and when your team is swinging the bat pretty well, it makes it pretty easy to settle in for your guys,” Smith said.
“That’s what you prepare for all season. All winter we are working, trying to get ready. It shows today.”
“He is an animal,” said Hurricane head coach Brian Sutphin. “We just didn’t make some plays behind him. What I really love about Weston is watching him mature, not only as a player but as a person. He’s got everything now. He is mentally tough.”
Morgantown (27-11) opened the scoring in the top of the first. After back-to-back errors and an infield single, Vincent Aloi’s groundout sent Weston Mazey to the plate.
Hurricane took the lead away in the second inning. Braylan Hutchison’s RBI double was followed by a run-scoring groundout from Brady Rigney, giving the Redskins a 2-1 lead.
Still a 2-1 game in the fourth inning, Hurricane loaded the bases with two out. Tyler Baxter hit a sky-high fly ball to left field. Miscommunication by the Mohigans allowed the ball to drop and three Hurricane runners scored. HHS (29-7) later added a run on a groundout to build a 6-1 lead.
Morgantown threatened in the sixth, putting two runners in scoring position. However, Smith worked out of the jam with a strikeout.
The state championship is the fifth in school history for Hurricane and their first since 2022. Freshmen, like Smith, on the 2022 team now have a second title to celebrate.
“I started my career with one as a freshman and I wanted to win another one. I am glad to do it with these guys,” Smith said.
“I am going to miss all of them. We have always been great friends. I think that’s what I am going to miss the most.”
“This senior group showed a lot of younger guys how to go about it, not make it about yourself and make it about the group,” Sutphin said.
The large-school championship is the fourth consecutive title for a team from Region IV after Cabell Midland won the last two championships.
“You feel like when you get here you are prepared,” Sutphin said. “But it is single elimination and every game is an elimination game. You have to play well once you are here.”
Aiden Ocheltree and Nick Fleece each had two hits for Hurricane.
Koa Silvers, Kai Henkins and Mason Bowers had base hits for Morgantown. Maddox Boggs went the distance on the hill for the Mohigans.
Class AAAA All-Tournament Team:
Weston Smith (Hurricane), Tyler Baxter (Hurricane), Brady Rigney (Hurricane), Ryan Bowman (Hurricane), Vincent Aloi (Morgantown), Judd Messerly (Morgantown), Kai Henkins (Morgantown), Corbin Dixon (GW), Ty Nettles (GW), Chuck Kelley (GW) pic.twitter.com/JBSxehU5nB— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) June 8, 2025