Softball tourney starts today

Atmosphere festive for state tournament

By JAY W. BENNETT, jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
VIENNA — A dozen of the best softball teams in the Mountain State gathered Tuesday evening at Jackson Park for the annual Parkersburg News and Sentinel pre-tournament pizza party.

The mood was considerably light compared to what’s going to transpire throughout the next two days as a trio of champions in three classes will be crowned at the West Virginia state softball tournament, which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. today with a Class A battle between Wheeling Central (25-2) and Charleston Catholic (20-15).

Wheeling Central is going after its third successive single-A crown, while in Class AAA the Highlanders of Huntington (21-5) are trying to repeat. Only Class AA will see a new champion as the field has quite the mix from Shady Spring (16-16) going after the school’s seventh all-time title to Lincoln (23-9) making the field for the first time in school history.

Shady Spring might not have the best record in the event, but the Tigers have history on their side as they attempt to capture their third state title in six years.

Scott (27-5) reached the double-A field for the third time in its history, but the Skyhawks have yet to taste victory at the big show. Then there’s Point Pleasant and its 28-8 resume. The Big Blacks have survived a coaching change just a couple of weeks ago to interim skipper B.J. Grady and are hoping this appearance at the state tournament turns out like their last one in 1998 when they won it all.

“We had actually planned on it the last two or three years, but couldn’t get a break,” said Man High School head man Randy Epperly of getting back to state, something the 21-3 Hillbillies haven’t done since 2000.

Man faces Little Kanawha Conference foe South Harrison (19-11) in its opening round tournament game today.

Even though Epperly knows all about Wheeling Central’s history, which included taking seven straight championships from 1995 to 2001, he tried to get his team as best prepared as he could.

“It’s always best to play good competition throughout the course of the year because it helps at the end,” Epperly said.

While Class AA might be considered the most wide open and Class A perhaps the most difficult, triple-A definitely will be a challenge for Huntington, which managed to avert a prom disaster after having to come back to Jackson Park last Saturday to beat St. Albans in the regional final during a game that was suspended by rain in the fifth inning.

“We got home by like 2:30 and whatever girls kept their (hair) appointments got their appointments and everybody had a great time at prom and it was perfect,” said Highlander assistant coach B.J. Chappelle.

“It was just tough coming up to play a 20 to 25 minute game. Other than that, I think the girls are focused one way or the other.”

Despite owning victories against both South Charleston (18-7) and East Fairmont (24-7-1), Chappelle said the team knows better than to take anyone for granted and that includes Robert C. Byrd, which is not only 27-4 and in the tournament for the first time but also takes on HHS.

“We won but that stuff doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “We don’t know anything about Robert C. Byrd, but South Charleston is a formidable opponent.

“They are dangerous as is East Fairmont. East Fairmont has a good team. They are here and they are here for a reason.”