HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — To qualify for the Class AAA state championship game, St. Albans fought through a pair of one-run victories in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
On Saturday, no such drama was required. The No. 2 Red Dragons sent 14 men to the plate in an eight-run first inning as they cruised to a 11-3 win over defending state champion Ripley.
St. Albans defeated John Marshall, 1-0 in eight innings in Tuesday’s quarterfinal and they knocked off Shady Spring 3-2 in Friday’s semifinal.
“Like I told them before we came up here, no matter what happened today, they maxed out the season,” said St. Albans head coach Rick Whitman. “I got to spend as much time with them and they got to spend as much time with me as they possibly could. To walk out of here with a trophy, it is a special group.
“We didn’t swing it well the first two games. But we came out today and swung it. They deserve this.”
The first six batters for St. Albans reached base and eventually scored. Chance Campbell, Jonah Carte, Braxton Burke and Gavin Comer all drove in runs in the opening frame as part of the five-hit attack. Burke scored twice in the first.
MetroNews broadcast interview from Fred Persinger with St. Albans head coach Rick Whitman following SAHS’ 11-3 win over Ripley in the Class AAA state championship: #wvprepbase @MetroNewsSports pic.twitter.com/IjcOX7jrDv
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) June 14, 2026
“They were down eight in the first game and came back. We knew we had to keep scoring. I honestly never felt comfortable until the seventh. Brogan [Samms] is pumping 88 and 90. I felt good then.”
St. Albans (32-6) starting pitcher Gavin Comer allowed three runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings. Samms picked up the final eight outs in relief while allowing just one hit.
“Our pitching staff is what we rode all year. We used the Burke kid and obviously the Samms kid, and the Comer kid hadn’t pitched all weekend. He came out and gave us really good innings. I knew if we hit, we were going to be dangerous. In this tournament, we waited until the last day to start hitting. It was well worth it.”
Comer and Campbell each had two hits. Samms reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Campbell and Carte each drove in two runs.
The title is the third in the last decade for the Red Dragons, all coming in the last ten years (2017, ’19).
“I am happy for the town of St. Albans. I am happy for the administration. We have had our struggles in athletics so it is nice to hang another for baseball.”
WVU commit Bryson Casto went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Ripley (27-10).
Congratulations to the Class AAA All-Tournament Team:
Lucas Rohrig (Bridgeport)
Parker Phillips (Spring Valley)
Tyler Wilhite (Shady Spring)
Bryson Casto (Ripley)
Landon Meadows (Ripley)
Peyton Keller (Ripley)
Chance Campbell (St. Albans)
Braxton Burke (St. Albans)
Brogan Samms… pic.twitter.com/RW5a8fI2T5— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) June 14, 2026