ЧАРЛСТОН, В. Va. - Wahama White Falcons of head coach Chris Noble were once again at the top of the Class A field when everything was said and done, securing the repeated state championship.
Junior Mikie Lieving, who scored 3-0 with 42 shots in 21 innings of work at Little Creek Park, has been named captain of the first team of all states by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
“Mikie had another amazing season, both throwing and offensively,” admitted Noble, who watched his ace go 21-2 with a 1.63 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 154 2-3 innings with an average of 0.644, 15 doubles, 10 threes, a dozen circular trippers, 42 runs-bated- in and 12 stolen bases. “She has a natural talent, plus she invests in business.
For the second consecutive spring, the White Falcons had three players who received recognition for the best unit - battery friend Amber Wolf, junior and senior Lauren Noble.
Wolff knocked out 13 runners (38.1% caught stealing) and finished with an average of 0.538, 17 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 56 RBI. Noble, who had only two errors and scored .968, led VHS with 57 runs. It had an average of .636, 15 doubles, one triple and 10 bombs.
“They had an amazing year,” said the coach, whose team finished 29-2.
“Amber behind the plate, she’s really helping Mickey there.
“In my opinion, Amber is the best catcher in the country. Those three, I don’t think they know how big they are with the others. They put that team together. ”
Five more players repeated in the first team, and among them is Buffalo senior Abby Darnley, who also became the first team as a freshman. Selected in favor, Bison hit 0.534 with 12 doubles, a trio of threes, six homers and 25 RBI. She also withdrew two dozen bases.
Junior Morgan Cooper, whose team lost 2-0 and 3-1 in the regional match against Wahama, returned to first place. She scored 13-6 with a 0.66 ERA and scored 253 shots in 117 innings. She had an average of .415, knocked in 11 runs with a quartet in doubles, two threes and three home runs.
Ravenwood catcher Hattie Kennedy, who was a first team outfielder as a junior, knocked out nine runners and finished with an average of 0.551. The Red Devil also drew 12 moves against just three outbursts and had 10 pairs, 10 stolen balls, three threes, two homers and 23 RBIs.
Other repeat winners were second-year field selections from St. Mary’s Zoe Winland (.429 AVG, 7-6-3, 25 RBI, 13 SB) and Sherman senior Hailea Skeens (.536 AVG, 10 HR, 28 RBI) .
Tag Valley’s Autumn Hall and Gilmer County’s Taylor McHenry, both seniors, are on the first team for the second time since they did it in 2019 as freshmen. Hall amassed 11 wins, 1.97 ERAs and 182 eliminations. The Panthers also hit 0.474 with nine doubles, one tatter and a dozen bakery incursions. Titan not only had an average of .544 and drove 52, but also had 10 doubles, seven triples and 14 home runs.
Dodridge County junior Jozalin Lipscomb (.500 AVG, 15-5-8, 44 RBI, 22 SB) was the second selection of the first team on the field.
Wheeling Central freshman Josie Frizel, who led the Maroon Knights to the regional before falling from St. Mary’s, joined second St. Petersburg player Sam Colo (12-1, 1.80 ERA, 107 hp) as second pitcher in the first team.
Petersburg, who finished as the state runner-up, also placed Braille Corbin (.553 AVG, 6 HRs, 25 RBIs) in the first team in the utility.
Freshman Cali Masters helped St. Mary’s reach the second day of the state tournament and also received recognition for the first team in his favor. Together with a 9-2 record that included a 1.71 ERA with 79 strokes in 65 2-3 innings, the Blue Devil scored 0.398 with 10 duplicates, a triple, four home runs and 21 RBIs.
Midland Trail reached the state tournament and was represented in the first team by senior Megan Gil (.426 AVG, 2 HR, 2.40 ERA, 111 HP).
Skeens and Winland were joined by two seniors - Katie Darnley from Buffalo (.430 AVG, eight pairs, 28 stolen balls, 20 RBIs) and Shannon Fips from James Monroe (.460 AVG, 3 HR, 34 RBIs).
Sherman pitcher Chloe Treadway was chosen as the captain of the second team.
The second unit also awarded Ella Smith pitchers from St. Marisa and Buffalo’s Alec Hill. Five players in the field were Mikala Taylor from St. Petersburg, Cameron Beck from Williamstown, Ashley Tomblin from Mann, Aubrey McCoy from Charleston and Breana Price from St. Mary’s.
Leah Loudin from Tyler Consolidated, Bailey Mansy from Mann and Sterling Kump from Murfield were other external players of the team.
Three catchers - Emily Hatfield from Tug Valley, Jaici Gray from Ritchie County and Sydney Sheets from the Midland Trail - along with four useful places - Maddie Morris from Charleston Catholic, Lauren Guthrie Sherman from Sherman, Emma Wilson from Van and Ravenswood in the second team Maci.
Contact Jai Bennett at [email protected]