HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Minutes before midnight, two teams seeking their first state baseball championship traded runs in a back-and-forth contest which was perhaps the most-entertaining game of the 28 played over eight days at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field.
After 236 pitches and five lead changes, No. 1 George Washington outlasted No. 2 Morgantown, 6-5 in the Class AAAA state championship game. The title for the Patriots comes after GW fell in the final twice over the last four years.
“I don’t even think I can put it into words. I am so happy for our community, who has really gotten behind GW baseball,” said George Washington head coach Mike Davis.
“When I took over here, Mike Armstrong my assistant, he has been with me the whole ten years. I think he was the only one crazy enough to believe me when I said that GW baseball can win a state championship.
“We spoke it into existence almost.”
Ryan Anderson pitched 3.1 innings without allowing a run in relief and he retired the final four batters he faced by strikeout to secure the championship.
“He came in in Game 1 and did a great job. He is just a great kid, man. He works his tail off. That’s just so rewarding when you see kids go out there with a big smile on his face when he is getting ready to get the final out.”
MetroNews broadcast interview from Daniel Woods with George Washington’s Luke Gordon after GW’s 6-5 win over Morgantown in the Class AAAA state championship. #wvprepbase @MetroNewsSports pic.twitter.com/Ymg9w2lnHd
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) June 14, 2026
Morgantown (31-6) broke a scoreless stalemate in the third inning with an RBI single from Ryan Nipper. GW answered in their half of the third inning with back-to-back run-scoring singles from Eli Smith and Anderson.
MHS immediately regained the lead in the fourth inning by scoring three runs. Kai Henkins and Mason Bowers delivered the tying and go-ahead runs. GW (32-5) tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Jackson Engles and Jon Fala both scored on the same play on a wild pitch and a throwing error.
MetroNews broadcast interview from Daniel Woods with George Washington head coach Mike Davis after GW’s 6-5 win over Morgantown in the Class AAAA state championship. #wvprepbase @MetroNewsSports pic.twitter.com/cimTHQdRLx
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) June 14, 2026
In the top of the sixth, the Mohigans used consecutive sacrifice bunts to retake the lead. Bowers brought Brooks King home with a squeeze bunt to make it a 5-4 game. However, GW’s final rally came in the bottom of the sixth. Engles scored on a throwing error and then Luke Gordon sent Jon Fala to the plate with an RBI double.
“He was on a different planet offensively this week,” Davis said.
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates getting on before me, doing their job. That’s all I ask for is to do my job. Get one base, get them over, get them in,” Gordon said.
Prior to the Class AAAA State Championship game, the WVSSAC honored 25-year tournament director Pete Kelley during his final season serving in that role: #wvprepbase pic.twitter.com/t3gjVWJtZW
— MetroNews Sports (@MetroNewsSports) June 14, 2026
Gordon was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. In three games, he went 7-for-9 with five runs batted in.
“Honestly, I just trust in the Lord and his process. He always has a plan for everything. I just have to get here, play my own game that I know how to do. There’s no pressure because he has a plan. Just trust what the Lord has for me.”
Anderson went 3-for-3 for GW while Engles, Gordon and Fala each added two hits.
Morgantown fell in the championship game for the second consecutive season. Nipper had two of MHS’ five hits.
Congratulations to the Class AAAA All-Tournament team:
Ty Nettles (George Washington)
Eli Smith (George Washington)
Maddox Boggs (Morgantown)
Slade Barton (Morgantown)
Brayden Gorby (Morgantown)
Koa Silvers (Morgantown)
Ryan Bowman (Hurricane)
Liam Healey (Jefferson)
Owen… pic.twitter.com/5mW761HuGM— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) June 14, 2026