HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Sherman head coach Jeremiah Pettry received a message Friday night on the eve of the Tide’s Class A state championship game against Gilmer County.
That message altered Pettrey’s pitching plans for the title game and ultimately helped Sherman collect the school’s first state baseball title. Brady Perdue’s complete game effort led the Tide to a 4-1 win over the Titans.
“Brady Perdue pitched a heck of a game for us today. Actually, he wasn’t our starter. We were going to go another direction,” Pettry said. “But he messaged me last night and said, ‘I want the ball’. Emotions are high. To hear this crowd, we’re loving it.”
Perdue scattered six hits, walked three, struck out five and did not allow an earned run in his 101-pitch performance. Perdue’s effort, combined with back-to-back shutouts from Luke Tagliente in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, allowed Sherman to make their way through the bracket while allowing just one run in three games.
“It is what I have been telling everybody the whole year — we have one of the best pitching staffs in all of Class A. And one of the best defenses in all of Class A. It showed today.”
Sherman collected all the offense they would need in the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Tide opened up by working out four consecutive walks. Avery Skeens’ walk allowed Tagliente to score the game’s first run. Perdue later added a sacrifice fly, doubling their lead to 2-0.
MetroNews broadcast interview from Luke Wiggs with Sherman head coach Jeremiah Pettrey following SHS’ 4-1 win over Gilmer County in the Class A state championship: #wvprepbase @MetroNewsSports pic.twitter.com/aoXnRGbemh
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) June 13, 2026
Gilmer County (29-8) pulled one of those runs back in the second inning. Brody Beall reached on an error and that allowed Dallas Goodrich to score.
However, the Tide answered with runs in the fourth and sixth to build a 4-1 lead. JonAaron Seacrist scored on an error in the fourth and Oliver Harless delivered an RBI single in the sixth.
“They have been together forever. Parents have raised them on the ballfields. They are still together today. They are always together.
“The support is amazing. You could hear the Tide all day long. You could tell it was with the boys from the first pitch to the last.”
Pettrey is looking forward to the celebration that awaits the team when they return to Seth Saturday.
“We’re eating like kings, guys! We’re eating like kings!”
Playing in the state championship game for the first time since winning the title in 2001, the Titans outhit the Tide, 6-2. Roddick Page and Lexington Grogg each delivered two hits.
Jacob Stewart pitched all six innings in relief for GCHS. He allowed just two hits and did not surrender an earned run.
Marshall University President Brad Smith & Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison throw out the first pitches to begin Championship Saturday at the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament: #wvprepbase @MetroNewsSports pic.twitter.com/wkwtisWvjE
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) June 13, 2026
Congratulations to the Class A All-Tournament Team:
Elijah Jeffery (Sherman)
Jacob Stewart (Gilmer County)
Kolten Holbert (Gilmer County)
Roddick Page (Gilmer County)
Cam Kellar (St. Joesph)
Wyatt Pence (St. Joesph)
Mason Hamilton (East Hardy)
Chase Owens (Pendleton County)… pic.twitter.com/bA5nZBydWp— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) June 13, 2026