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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Cabell County voters have ultimately defeated a five-year school excess levy that included reduced funding to libraries and parks.
The levy failed in Tuesday’s Primary Election with about 64 percent of the vote. There were about 10,388 votes against it and more than 5,800 for it.
Huntington resident Marty Fowler was among the “no” votes. He and many others with the community Facebook group “No Parks, No Libraries, No Levy!” have rallied together to shut down the proposal.
“It’s a lot of disbelief that ‘wow we did it’ and a lot of gratitude from the citizens — a bunch of people who really didn’t know each other — pulled together, united around a common issue and won the day,” Fowler told MetroNews Tuesday night.
The original proposal would’ve removed $2 million dollars in funding for the Cabell County Public Library and the Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District; however, in March, the Cabell County Board of Education reached a compromise and voted to provide libraries and parks with partial funding in the total amount of $1.5 million.
Under the revised levy, the library system would’ve received $1.37 million and $200,000 would’ve gone to parks. Libraries typically receive about $1.5 million while parks receive around $500,000.
Fowler said the school board never listened to the community’s concerns.
“They ignored us, they ridiculed us and belittled us and now they have to fix this self-inflicted wound,” he said.
Cabell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ryan Saxe previously cited a decline in student enrollment, a lack of additional COVID-19 funds and inflation for the funding cuts. MetroNews reached out to Saxe for comment Tuesday night but did not receive an immediate response.
Fowler said Saxe and other school officials need to get their spending priorities in line.
“The school superintendent Ryan Saxe insisted on a fixed amount of money for the parks and libraries every year and with inflation, that’s not going to be the same amount in five years that it is today,” he said.
The levy has faced a number of court challenges over the last year. In February, the state Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision that would’ve continued funding libraries and parks. In Dec. 2023, a Cabell County Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of libraries and parks after the two parties filed a lawsuit against the school board. The BOE then appealed the lower court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
Saxe previously told MetroNews it was still important to get money to libraries and parks.
“They are the fabric of our communities. That’s why it was important for us to be able to work with them,” Saxe said earlier this month.
In addition to libraries and parks, the school excess levy also would’ve funded school resources officers, school security guards, high school and middle school athletics, playgrounds/outdoor learning spaces, career technical education and workforce development, cyber safety/device security and facility maintenance across the district.
Cabell County Library Executive Director Breana Bowen and Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District Executive Director Kathy McKenna released a joint statement following Tuesday’s vote and pledged their support to working with the Cabell County school board to find a solution.
“It is our opinion that the failure of the levy is directly related to the Cabell County Board of Education’s decision to significantly reduce funding to the CCPL and GHPRD. While the CCBOE is no longer obligated to fund either entity, the failure of the levy speaks volumes regarding the desire of the majority of Cabell County voters,” the statement read in part.
The levy could be up for a vote again in November.
Fowler said the school board needs to step up between now and then to provide more funding before he and others in the community will consider voting “yes.”
“We’re not going to be happy until the parks and the libraries are adequately and permanently funded in a way that you can’t just unilaterally swipe every time you have a budget deficit,” he said.
The levy has provided funding to the library system since 1967 and parks district since 1983.
Also in Huntington, the nominees for mayor were decided Tuesday night.
Huntington business owner and U.S. Air Force veteran Patrick Farrell defeated combat-wounded Vietnam veteran Andy Battista, of Westmoreland, and U.S. Army veteran Richard Luther, of Guyandotte, for the Republican nomination. Farrell received 2,011 votes to Battista’s 795 and Luther’s 282, according to unofficial results.
Former Huntington City Council member Jennifer Wheeler secured the Democratic nomination over U.S. Coast Guard veteran, retired Huntington Police officer and Cabell County Magistrate Judge Dan Ferguson. Wheeler received 2,549 votes to Ferguson’s 1,055 votes.
The City of Wheeling also held a mayoral race which was decided Tuesday night.
Wheeling voters elected Denny Magruder to serve as the next mayor. He faced five other challengers and garnered 2,622 votes.
Wheeling Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum finished second with 1,643 votes. JT Thomas finished third with 1,337 votes, Chad Thalman fourth with 1,065 votes, with Beth Hinebaugh and Carl Carpenter finishing fifth and sixth, according to unofficial vote totals.
Magruder is the retired longtime executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, which oversees WesBanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre.
Magruder begins his term in July and replaces current Mayor Glenn Elliott who ends his second and final term at the end of June. Elliott, a Democrat, takes on Republican Gov. Jim Justice in the race for U.S. Senate this fall.
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Senate President Craig Blair was defeated in the Republican primary by challenger Tom Willis.
Blair was one of a number of incumbent losses in the Republican-dominated state Senate. Others who were defeated Tuesday included Mike Maroney of Marshall County, Chandler Swope of Mercer County and Robert Karnes of Randolph County.
Another Republican incumbent senator, Patricia Rucker, won by a relatively thin margin over challenger Paul Espinosa, who has served in leadership positions in the House of Delegates.
Half the state Senate is up for election every two years — so 17 seats were on ballots this cycle.
Blair, a Martinsburg resident who has been Senate president since 2020, was challenged by Willis and by former Delegate Mike Folk.
With 73 of 83 precincts reporting, Willis had 3,511 votes. Blair had 2,849 votes. Folk had 2,129.
“We’re feeling pretty confident that we’ll bring this one home,” Willis told WEPM Radio in Martinsburg as the results were still coming in.
He said of the Senate president, “I don’t really put too much stock in anybody’s title or position. We felt called to this race.”
As Senate president, Blair was also in the position of lieutenant governor. He spent much of his time at the Capitol in Charleston and emphasized economic development opportunities.
Blair was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2002 and elected to the Senate in 2012. He rose to Senate President in 2021 after his predecessor and friend, Mitch Carmichael, was defeated by school teacher Amy Nichole Grady, who is now the Senate education chairwoman.
The last time Blair’s seat was up, 2020, he earned 53 percent of the vote in the primary election to his far lesser known opponent’s 47 percent. That year’s general election was then a blowout for Blair.
Willis describes himself as “a constitutional Christian conservative.” He was a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and is a current member of the West Virginia National Guard. He’s a partner at a Martinsburg law firm and previously served as an international business attorney in Washington, D.C.
The Senate has a Republican supermajority, but it is divided among some who emphasize economic issues and others who are more driven by culture issues.
Blair and Karnes were particularly at odds. Karnes was defeated by developer Robbie Morris in a big district that includes Randolph County.
Blair had supported Espinosa, who lost his bid to defeat incumbent Senator Rucker. Rucker two years ago had strongly considered challenging Blair for Senate president. Blair removed Rucker as Senate Education chairwoman and handed that role to Grady.
Maroney, the Senate Health chairman, lost a district sprawling over nine counties to Chris Rose, a coal miner.
Swope, founder of Swope Construction in Bluefield, lost to challenger Craig Hart of Mingo County.
Some Republican incumbents successfully defended their seats. Those included Senator Ryan Weld, the majority whip, who defeated challenger Scott Adams. Senator Eric Nelson defeated former Delegate Chris Pritt.
Some senators were unopposed in their primaries. Those included Grady, longtime Senator Donna Boley and senators Glenn Jeffries, Jack David Woodrum, Patrick Martin and Rupie Phillips.
Scott Fuller was the winner in the Republican race for a seat that has been held by Democratic Senator Robert Plymale for many years. The Democratic candidate in that Senate race is Delegate Ric Griffith, a pharmacist and operator of the popular Pumpkin House attraction.
Senator Mark Hunt, R-Kanawha, wasn’t on the ballot to defend that seat but he sought and won the Republican nomination for state auditor.
In the House of Delegates, some incumbents were also defeated. Those included delegates Heather Tully of Nicholas County, Diana Winzenreid of Ohio County, Don Forscht of Berkeley County and David “Flimsy” Adkins of Lincoln County.
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Two-term Gov. Jim Justice has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, a race that was called shortly after voting concluded.
Justice’s most prominent competitor was Congressman Alex Mooney. Polling consistently showed Justice with a big lead over Mooney for months.
MetroNews and other outlets called the race early on. The Associated Press called the race for Justice at 8:15 p.m.
Justice was at the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston and was preparing to make remarks from there.
“I love the people of West Virginia, and they know me through and through. They have the opportunity to judge me by my deeds; they’ve done that,” Justice said on MetroNews’ election coverage. “That’s why we have this landslide, landslide, landslide.”
He committed to adjusting to life in the U.S. Senate if he wins the general election.
“You have to adapt to any situation. That’s all there is to it. You have to adapt to your surroundings and move forward and that’s what I’ll do,” Justice said.
Joe Manchin, a Democrat, decided not to run for reelection in increasingly Republican-leaning West Virginia this year. So the seat is open and most national pundits believe the seat is likely to swing to a Republican.
Manchin is leaving the Senate seat after first being elected in 2010. In recent years, the centrist Manchin has been a key swing vote.
Justice had support from the Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate, including Mitch McConnell. Senator Steve Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released a statement tonight congratulating Justice.
“When the 2024 cycle began, the Senate race in West Virginia looked like it was going to be a toss-up. That all changed with the recruitment of Governor Jim Justice. Governor Justice is one of the most popular governors in the country, and his work to cut taxes and create opportunity for hardworking West Virginians makes him exactly the right person to represent the state in the U.S. Senate,” said Daines, R-Montana.
“Congratulations to Big Jim and his team on a big win tonight. We look forward to welcoming him to the United States Senate next year.”
Justice is a two-term governor who first won that office as a Democrat in 2016. He switched parties in 2017 at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, citing his close relationship with Trump and saying he could accomplish more as a Republican. Trump announced an endorsement for Justice several months ago.
Justice’s family owns West Virginia’s famed Greenbrier Hotel, and the family business network includes coal, timber and agriculture holdings. Justice made his early reputation as a “business guy” who could “buzz the numbers.” The businesses have been under significant and widely discussed financial pressure, but that hasn’t affected Justice’s electoral position.
Mooney was elected to Congress representing a swath of West Virginia in 2014. In 2022, he defeated fellow Congressman David McKinley in a consolidated district that includes the state’s northern counties.
Before winning the congressional seat, Mooney was a Maryland state senator from 1999 to 2010 and then chairman of Maryland’s Republican Party from 2010 to 2013.
“Tonight, I called Governor Justice and congratulated him on his victory. I wish him well as our Republican nominee and the next U.S. Senator,” Mooney said. “While this race didn’t go as we hoped, I will continue fighting for our conservative West Virginia values.”
Democrats on the ballot for the seat included Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Marine Veteran Zach Shrewsbury and former coal executive Don Blankenship, who spent years promoting conservative and Republican causes.
Elliott was the winner and will be the Democratic nominee. He acknowledged an uphill fight against Justice.
“I think I will outwork him. I think he has his own issues to be worrying about. I think it’s going to be closer than people think,” Elliott said during MetroNews’ election night coverage.
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Several statewide executive branch offices were up for grabs in West Virginia.
Attorney General: J.B. McCuskey has won the Republican nomination for Attorney General, according to a MetroNews call of the race.
With 21% of the vote in, McCuskey had 40,629 votes compared to the 25,535 votes for his closest competitor, Mike Stuart.
“I am just ecstatic to be able to continue to serve the people of West Virginia,” McCuskey said on MetroNews’ election night coverage.
This office has been held by Republican Patrick Morrisey for three terms, but he opted to run for governor this election cycle.
McCuskey is a two-term state auditor and former state delegate from Charleston. His father was a state Supreme Court justice in 1998.
Stuart, is a current state senator from Kanawha County, a former federal prosecutor in West Virginia’s southern district and a former state Republican Party chairman.
The most recent MetroNews West Virginia Poll showed a tight race but 27 percent of likely voters still undecided.
McCuskey, who was originally running for governor, has an advantage in fundraising dollars available for his campaign.
The most recent campaign finance reports filed with the secretary of state showed McCuskey way ahead of Stuart in fundraising and spending.
Stuart’s campaign raised $113,176 since the race started and spent $97,404, according to the finance reports.
McCuskey’s campaign raised $1,071,787 since the race started and spent $823,018, according to the finance reports.
Democratic candidates include Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva and former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb.
Secretary of State: Kris Warner, the brother of two-term officeholder Mac Warner, has won the Republican nomination for this seat.
“I have built a name in West Virginia over the past 35 years,” Kris Warner said on MetroNews’ election night coverage. “We’re going to build on the foundation that Mac has built over the past seven years.”
Republican candidates included former Delegate Ken Reed of Hedgesville, former Delegate Doug Skaff of South Charleston, Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood of Winfield and Warner, a former Republican Party chairman.
Reed is a pharmacist. Skaff was leader of the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates before switching parties. Wood has been the top elections officer in Putnam County for two decades.
The Democrat in the race is Thornton Cooper, who has run for several state offices over the years.
Auditor: Mark Hunt, a former Democrat who has served many years in the state Legislature, has won the Republican nomination for state auditor.
Republican candidates included former Delegate Caleb Hanna of Charleston, House Majority Leader Eric Householder of Martinsburg and former Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson.
Hanna had been one of the youngest members of the Legislature before resigning to focus on his run for auditor. Householder served as House Finance chairman for several years before transitioning to majority leader. Hunt had been a Democrat in the House of Delegates, left for a few years and then won a seat in the Senate as a Republican two years ago. Jackson was removed from office as a county commissioner after refusing to attend meetings for several months.
The Democrat in the race is Mary Ann Claytor, a St. Albans resident who has run for auditor twice before.
Treasurer: The only candidate is Republican Larry Pack.
Pack is a businessman and former delegate who has been serving as senior adviser and acting revenue secretary for Gov. Jim Justice.
No Democrat filed to run for treasurer.
Agriculture Commissioner: Incumbent Kent Leonhardt, a Republican, who was running again for the seat has won the Republican nomination again. Leonhardt has served the past two terms.
Former Delegate Joshua Higginbotham of Charleston is also running for the Republican nomination to the agriculture post. Roy Ramey of Lesage is another Republican in the race.
The Democratic candidate for Agriculture Secretary is Deborah Stiles of Parsons.
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State Treasurer Riley Moore has won the Republican nomination for a congressional district that includes northern West Virginia counties, and incumbent Congresswoman Carol Miller has handily defeated her primary election opponent.
In West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers northern counties, Republican Congressman Alex Mooney opted to run for U.S. Senate – leaving the seat open to new faces.
Moore, the state treasurer from Harpers Ferry is the best known of the Republicans running. Moore is a former state delegate from Jefferson County and nephew of state Senator Shelley Moore Capito. He was elected treasurer in 2020.
“I have a real track record of success here at the state level, not only as the treasurer but as a legislator, and I want to take that track record to Washington,” Moore said in MetroNews’ election night coverage.
“I love this state with all my heart, and I’m going to fight like that every day, like it is my last day, to defend this great state.”
Other Republican candidates in the race include Joseph Earley of Bridgeport, Alexander Gaaserud of Parkersburg, Dennis “Nate” Cain of Hedgesville and Chris “Mookie” Walker of Martinsburg.
The Democrat in the race is Steven Wendelin.
In the 1st Congressional District, which covers southern counties, incumbent Miller of Huntington defended the seat she won in 2018. Miller is a former state delegate.
“It has been the honor of my life to represent West Virginia in Congress, and I am grateful to have won the Republican primary in West Virginia’s First Congressional District tonight. Over the past few years, I have ensured that the Mountain Valley Pipeline will be completed, worked on legislation that will lower taxes for West Virginians, and held the Biden Administration accountable,” Miller said.
“While the Republican House Majority has accomplished great work, we still have more to deliver for the American people. I’m thankful to represent my wild and wonderful state in Washington, and I will continue to work to make West Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Her Republican challenger was Derrick Evans of Prichard. Evans was elected to the state Legislature in 2019 but resigned before serving after surging into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020. He served three months in jail after pleading guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder.
The jail time related to the Jan. 6 sentencing has been a central component of his campaign.
Democrat Chris Bob Reed of Charleston defeated Jim Umberger of Lewisburg in the congressional primary.
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WEST UNION, W.Va. — Highlights from Petersburg’s 11-0 (5-inning) win over Doddridge County in Game 2 of the Class A Region II tournament. The Vikings won the series 2-0 and they will face the winner of Wednesday’s Ravenswood-Buffalo game in the opening game of the state tournament on May 22.
(Highlights and photos by Teran Malone)
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The West Virginia University golf team is in position to qualify for the NCAA National Championship after posting another solid round at the Rancho Santa Fe Regional. With 36 of the 54 holes complete, the Mountaineers stand in third place in the 14-team field. The top five teams after Wednesday’s final round will advance to the National Championship May 24-29 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Rancho Sante Fe Regional results
North Florida leads the field at 3-over par through two rounds. California is a shot back at 4-over and the Mountaineers are 5-over. Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State (6-over) and Oklahoma (8-over) currently hold the last two qualifying spots. The host team, San Diego is 9-over.
Max Green leads the WVU contingent at even par. He stands tied for eighth place individually. Kaleb Wilson (1-over) is tied for 11th. Shady Spring High School graduate Todd Duncan (3-over) is tied for 17th. Jackson Davenport (6-over) and Pierce Grieve (12-over) round out the WVU lineup.
The Mountaineers were tied for fifth after Monday’s opening round. They will begin final-round play at 11 a.m. eastern time Wednesday.
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Patrick Morrisey, a three-term attorney general, has won the Republican nomination for governor.
The governor’s seat opened up because two-term Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, is up against a term limit. He is running for U.S. Senate.
Competitors for the Republican nomination included Morrisey, two-term Secretary of State Mac Warner, former House Judiciary Chairman Moore Capito and businessman Chris Miller.
With 98% of the votes in, Morrisey had 71,737.
His closest competitor, Capito, had 60,647. Miller had 44,769, and Warner had 36,987.
“Thank you West Virginia. What an incredible night. We did it,” Morrisey said to supporters at his campaign headquarters. “We never give up.”
He said his campaign sent a message: “You do not mess with West Virginia. In West Virginia, we fight, we advance conservative values and boy do we win for our people.”
The Republican Governor’s Association swiftly congratulated Morrisey.
“Congratulations to Patrick Morrisey on his victory tonight in West Virginia’s Republican gubernatorial primary election,” said RGA Chairman and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “Patrick Morrisey has stood up to Democrats’ bureaucratic overreach time and time again, and he’ll continue to do just that as West Virginia’s next governor, delivering freedom and economic opportunity to West Virginians across the state.”
The only Democrat in the race for governor is Huntington Mayor Steve Williams.
“I think I can help,” Williams said on MetroNews election night coverage. “There are areas that need massive infrastructure additions. We need to make sure we’re working so hard to be able to compete with the rest of the world that we go at warp speed.”
He said he’ll gear up for a competitive election toward the fall, including the fundraising that can help with communication. “I can’t be everywhere at once, so I have to have the resources to let the people hear our message — and it is our message,” he said.
Capito had the endorsement of Justice, who characterized him as the best option for carrying on his administration’s priorities.
Some of the Republican candidates were carrying out family traditions.
Capito is the son of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and grandson of three-term Gov. Arch Moore. Miller is the son of Congresswoman Carol Miller and grandson of longtime Ohio Congressman Sam Devine. Warner’s brothers have been involved in politics and public service.
Money poured into the governor’s race, with Morrisey, Capito and Miller each having more than a million dollars on hand in the closing weeks. Miller’s campaign reported spending a whopping $2.7 million during the period.
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FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Samuel Viani missed all of last baseball season due to a major injury to his left knee suffered while playing basketball.
Having returned to the diamond as a senior, Viani had no intention of allowing Fairmont Senior’s season to end prematurely when the Polar Bears welcomed crosstown rival East Fairmont to Mary Lou Retton Park for a winner-take-all matchup in Class AA Region I, Section 1.
The right-hander proved as much Tuesday by throwing a complete game shutout in which he limited the Bees to four hits and lifted the Polar Bears to a 2-0 victory.
“He was focused. He was hurt last year and didn’t get to play, but he was not going to end his senior year here,” Fairmont Senior coach Dave Ricer said. “He plans on ending it somewhere else.”
With the result, Fairmont Senior (21-6) advances to take on Frankfort next week in a best-of-three Region I series with a state tournament spot at stake.
One day after the Bees prolonged the sectional and forced the decisive matchup with a 5-4 win over the Polar Bears, East Fairmont (19-10) threatened to take an early lead against Viani.
Half of the Bees’ four hits came in the opening frame, including consecutive one-out singles from Nate Whiteman and Danny Raddish. With runners at the corners, Viani struck out cleanup hitter Brody Bledsoe and Ian Graffius to escape the threat.
By the time Viani came back out to the mound, he had a lead with which to work with.
Cam Peschl led off the home half of the first with an infield single, advanced to third on separate EFHS errors — the Bees’ only defensive miscues of the matchup — and scored when Viani helped his cause with a sacrifice fly to right.
“It was really good to get up early,” Viani said. “Whenever we score in the first inning, most times we win the game, but last time we played them, we scored early and then lost. We got our get back.”
Yet Viani’s mentality hardly changed while pitching with the advantage, particularly 24 hours after the Polar Bears led 2-0 through one inning and fell short.
He worked around Case Linn’s one-out single in the second and the Polar Bears scored what proved to be the game’s final run when they came to bat that inning.
The frame began with Logan Canfield’s single to center and he moved into scoring position when Hayden Jones followed by drawing a base-on-balls.
With runners at the corners and two outs, Peschl came through with a pivotal single to center, allowing Canfield to cross the plate for a 2-0 advantage.
FSHS had a chance to add to its lead that inning with two in scoring position, but Bees’ pitcher Tristan Boone struck out Viani to prevent further damage.
“We couldn’t get enough going. Boone threw a heck of a game and we needed to get some run support and just couldn’t string hits together,” Bees’ coach Joe Price said. “The name of the game is you get guys on, get them over and get them in and we just didn’t do it today. Hats off to Sam. He threw a nice game.“
The only baserunner either team mustered over the third and fourth innings was Polar Bears’ catcher Ethan Miller, who drew a two-out walk in the fourth.
Boone worked a two-out walk in the fifth for the Bees’ first baserunner since the second, but Viani followed by inducing an inning-ending fly ball to right off the bat of leadoff hitter Owen Music.
“I trusted my defense better throughout the game,” Viani said. “Once I saw them making a lot of plays, I felt it was better to let my defense make plays instead of trying to strike everyone out.”
East Fairmont mustered a baserunner in both the sixth and seventh innings, though neither advanced beyond first base. Raddish reached on Fairmont Senior’s only error in the sixth and River McClain singled to right with two outs in the seventh, before Viani retired Boone on a ground ball to second for the final out.
“I told them, things are going to happen and don’t let the wheels fall off,” Ricer said. “Expect them, deal with them and move on. We kept our focus a little bit better tonight.”
Viani struck out three and walked one, working effectively around the plate throughout.
“My sophomore year, I was doing the same thing I’m doing now, but I’m doing it a lot better now. It’s kind of just getting back into my own,” Viani said.
Peschl had two of his team’s six hits and was the only player with more than one.
Boone had a strong showing in defeat with four strikeouts and two walks over six innings.
“He threw a heck of a game,” Price said, “and kept us right there in it.”
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Seeking their first state tournament appearance in three decades, University wasted no time finding the scoreboard in Tuesday’s Class AAA Region I matchup with Morgantown. The first seven batters for the Hawks reached base and the first five scored in a 5-1 win over the Mohigans to wrap up the regional title.
“They are believing in themselves,” said University head coach Mindy Parks. “We are getting more kids coming out too. That really helps. Whether the girls think it or not, to be able to have those pinch runners and those pinch hitters and I can pull kids off the bench that can get the job done. That’s really important. I haven’t had that in a few years.”
The Hawks sent ten batters to the plate in the first inning. Josalyn Phillips opened the scoring with an RBI single. Sophia Lenhart delivered a bases-clearing double to extend the UHS lead to 4-0. Lehosit went 3-for-3. Kelsey Park’s fielders choice RBI added another run.
“We rattled them quick. We laid down some small ball there and made them make some mistakes. We jumped on them quick and I think that was important for our team.”
Staked to a big lead, the Hawks used a pair of pitchers to complete the game. Lenhart pitched the first four innings. She allowed one run on two hits. Maddie Campbell collected the final nine outs. She allowed two hits and struck out three batters.
“Sophia has a very unique spin on the ball. I think she definitely kept them off balance. Maddie came in and closed out the game. That worked in out in our favor.
“That’s a really good hitting team. To hold them to one run, I am really proud of the girls for that. The pitching was really on today.”
University (22-9) won the best-of-three series 2-0. The Hawks will compete in the state tournament for the first time since 1994. UHS will face Greenbrier East in the first Class AAA contest on May 22 at South Charleston’s Little Creek Park.
Morgantown (20-9) received their lone run in the third inning. Emily Peterson’s RBI double scored Grace Robinson. Maddie Wisman did not allow a run in six scoreless innings of relief.
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