Prep Baseball Report

AAA Regional Preview: Road to Power Park


Josh Kuykendall
West Virginia Director of Scouting

Follow @pbrwestvirginia

The 2019 West Virginia High School Baseball season is entering regional play this upcoming week in the Mountain State. Today, we start a series of articles looking at the games in each classification. On Monday, best-of-three series throughout the state will begin. Here is a look at the match up's:

Region 1

Wheeling Park vs. Morgantown - The Mohigans bring a stout 28-5 into regional play. Lead by seniors Quintin Smith, Caleb Taylor, Deon Neal, and Colton Matthews, Morgantown has enough fire power at the plate to make it to Power Park. The big question is if they have enough pitching. The Mohigans will rely heavily on junior Carter Patrick, sophomore Charlie Petty, along with seniors Taylor, & Matthews to try and get it done.  Wheeling Park, just a year removed from a loss to the hands of Hurricane in the state championship, will look to seniors Trevor Thomas and Jacob Shia, along with junior Maison Richardson as they try to make back-to-back trips to Charleston.  

Region 2

Jefferson vs. Hedgesville - This has the makings to be a great series. The Eagles are a senior dominated team with some real talent. Lead by seniors Chase Delauter, Hunter Coe, and Brady Weaver, Hedgesville has been playing together as a team for a long time. That coupled with junior Parker Martin and ultra athletic sophomore Kyle West, the Eagles are in prime position to punch their ticket to Power Park. Jefferson brings a 26-7 record into regional play. The Cougars are led on the mound by seniors Taylor Tennant and Jordan Trunnel. At the plate, Jefferson has been led by Tennant, senior Cory Daly and sophomores Cullen Horowicz and Zac Rose. The Cougars are looking to make their first trip back to Charleston since they won the championship in 2016. 

Region 3

Riverside vs. St. Albans - This matchup, on paper seems to be the most lopsided. St. Albans carries a 30-4 record into regional play. Led on the mound by seniors Jake Carr and Connor Fizer, juniors Ayden Hodges & Chase Norris, the Red Dragons are tough to score runs on. At the plate, St. Albans has some real firepower in seniors Nick Loftis, Ridge Lester, Fizer & Carr, to go along with juniors Noah Cummings and Casey Kemplin. They are looking to punch their ticket to Charleston for the third year in a row, winning it all in 2017, and falling in the semifinal round last year. Riverside brings a 14-18 record into the regionals. There were no stats available for Riverside.

Region 4

Parkersburg South vs. Hurricane - Parkersburg South is led on the mound by seniors Drew Cochran and Chase Dunbar, to go along with junior Colin Bryant and sophomore Eli Reeves. At the plate, the Patriots are led by upperclassman Nick Yoho, Blake McMullen, & Cochran, along with sophomores Grant Hussey and Dustin Corley. Parkersburg South is attempting to punch their ticket to Charleston for the first time since 2013. Hurricane brings a 29-4 record to regional play. Led on the mound by staff ace senior Johnathan Blackwell, juniors Brenden Lewis & Mason Mckenzie, along with sophomore Joel Gardner. At the plate, the Redskins bring a potent lineup. Led by seniors J.T. Cooper and Matt Vance, juniors Tyler Cox, Cole Bumgarner, Enzo Lewis, and Austin Dearing, sophomore Joel Gardner and freshman Quarrier Phillips. Defending champion Hurricane is looking to make yet another trip to Power Park.


UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
2019 West Virginia Top Prospect Games WV 06/11 Frank Loria Field
Central West Virginia Summer Kickoff Showcase WV 06/26 Sue Morris Complex
Parkersburg College Prospect Showcase WV 07/09 Bennett Stump Field - City Park
Eastern Panhandle College Prospect Showcase WV 07/16 Potomac State College
West Virginia Deep South College Prospect Showcase WV 07/24 Linda K Epling Stadium
Junior Future Games NATIONAL 07/30 LakePoint


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