Prep Baseball Report

West Virginia State Tournament Preview: Class A



By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

A total of 48 teams began regional play last week and 12 remain as the West Virginia state tournament prepares to kick off on Thursday at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston. Today we preview the four teams that will compete for an opportunity to be crowned Class A state champions for 2014. Prep Baseball Report will be in Charleston for all three days to cover the final weekend of play and the crowning of three new champions.

+ CLICK HERE to view complete regional Tournament brackets leading to the state tournament

Class A (in bracket order)

Gilmer County (25-10)

The Titans cruised through section and regional play winning four games outscoring opponents 39-9. This is the year Gilmer County has been building towards with seven seniors and a junior in the starting lineup. The Titans saw first round opponent Notre Dame on April 21 with the Irish winning 15-2.

Notre Dame (26-6)

The Irish advance to the Class A final four for the 2nd consecutive year having sat at or near the top of the state rankings all year. The Irish carry an 11 game win streak with them and have played arguably the most difficult schedule of any Class A team that has reached Charleston. Notre Dame owns a 15-2 win during regular season action over Gilmer County and lost 9-7 in their lone meeting with St. Marys. The Irish did not play Man in 2014.

St. Marys (29-2)

A 21-8 loss to Ravenswood, a regional finalist in Class AA, and a 15-9 loss to Class AA final four participant Bridgeport are the only blemishes on the Blue Devils' record. St. Marys has dominated opponents in post season action outscoring their competition 61-3 in section and region play. Two of their 29 wins have come against other final four participants, 9-7 over Notre Dame and 2-1 over Gilmer County.

Man (19-11)

The Hillbillies have not played any of the the teams advancing to the state tournament with them. While their 11 losses is the largest total of any of the participants advancing to Charleston the majority of those losses came to teams that advanced to regional play in various classifications. The Hillbillies travel to Charleston following two stellar pitching performances, yielding just one run in regional wins over Sherman and Greenbrier West.

State Tourney schedule

Thursday, June 5 - Appalachian Power Park

Gilmer County vs. Notre Dame (4:30pm)
St. Marys vs. Man (7:15pm)

Saturday, June 7 - Appalachian Power Park

Class A Championship Game - 10:00am


Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf

Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf

Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf

Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf

Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf

Gilmer County (25-10) vs. Notre Dame (26-6), 4:30 p.m.

St. Marys (29-2) vs. Man (19-11), approximately 7:15 p.m.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140531/ARTICLE/140539893/1145#sthash.1zW4viyB.dpuf