MorgantownƵs Maddox Boggs readies to pitch during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs Bryson Shirkey (12) and Brady Rigney, left, celebrate during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane coach Brian Sutphin, center, and Morgantown coach Pat Sherald, left, meet with home plate umpire TJ Morgan before the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs baseball team celebrates during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Morgantown's Maddox Boggs pitches during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Nick Fleece runs the bases during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Morgantown's Mason Bowers watches a play develop during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs Bryson Shirkey throws during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Aiden Ocheltree looks on during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Morgantown's Jackson Bredeson swings during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Morgantown's Weston Mazey stands at first base during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Tyler Baxter (29) takes a throw during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs Tyler Baxter catches a popup during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Morgantown catcher Quincy Joseph receives during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Bryson Shirkey scores a run during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Bryson Shirkey runs the bases during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs Tyler Baxter, left, eyes the ball during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Hurricane's Tyler Baxter signals two outs during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
MorgantownƵs Maddox Boggs readies to pitch during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
HurricaneƵs Bryson Shirkey (12) and Brady Rigney, left, celebrate during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
photos by CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane coach Brian Sutphin, center, and Morgantown coach Pat Sherald, left, meet with home plate umpire TJ Morgan before the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
HurricaneƵs baseball team celebrates during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
Photos by CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Morgantown's Maddox Boggs pitches during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Nick Fleece runs the bases during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Morgantown's Mason Bowers watches a play develop during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
HurricaneƵs Bryson Shirkey throws during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Aiden Ocheltree looks on during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Morgantown's Jackson Bredeson swings during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Morgantown's Weston Mazey stands at first base during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Tyler Baxter (29) takes a throw during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
HurricaneƵs Tyler Baxter catches a popup during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Morgantown catcher Quincy Joseph receives during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Hurricane on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Bryson Shirkey scores a run during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Bryson Shirkey runs the bases during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
HurricaneƵs Tyler Baxter, left, eyes the ball during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CRAIG ALLISON | For HD Media
Hurricane's Tyler Baxter signals two outs during the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament championship game against Morgantown on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CHARLESTON Ƶ Hurricane captured its fifth state baseball title in school history on Saturday night with a 6-1 win over Morgantown in the ƵSSAC Class AAAA tournament championship game at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneƵs first state championship since 2022 came behind superb pitching from Weston Smith and RBI doubles from sophomores Braylan Hutchison and Tyler Baxter.
ƵIt was kind of an odd start there,Ƶ Hurricane coach Brian Sutphin said. ƵWeston kind of got to the point where he was unflappable. He was mentally tough, and he was a lot of fun to watch do his thing.Ƶ
Smith pitched all seven innings and got the final out with the last batter he was eligible to face, having thrown 111 pitches. Smith allowed three hits and struck out 13. The run he allowed was unearned.
Smith, a senior who was a member of HurricaneƵs most recent championship team in 2022 but did not play in that state final, said he was never unnerved by two Hurricane errors in the first inning, along with a perfectly placed bunt by Morgantown that loaded the bases.
The Mohigans scored the gameƵs first run on a groundout. Smith then struck out the final two hitters of the inning.
ƵThis is the game you play for since youƵre a kid,Ƶ Smith said. ƵObviously, I wanted the ball and thatƵs what I got today.Ƶ
Hutchison, the third baseman, was charged with errors on consecutive ground balls hit to him in the first inning, the result of a broken glove. Hutchison found redemption at the plate, however, with a second-inning double that tied the game 1-1.
Leading 2-1 in the fourth inning, Hurricane started a two-out rally that ended with Baxter getting a fly ball to drop between three Morgantown defenders to score three runs. Baxter came home after two consecutive wild pitches to make it 5-1.
Those mistakes, along with two Mohigans errors, greatly aided HurricaneƵs offense.
ƵEssentially, those are things we havenƵt done all year,Ƶ Mohigans coach Pat Sherald said. ƵYou know, this team was built on pitching and defense and scratching and clawing runs. We gave the best pitcher in the state some runs when, historically, itƵs something we donƵt do.Ƶ
Each of MorgantownƵs three hits were singles, with the lone RBI coming on Vincent AloiƵs groundout in the first inning that scored Weston Mazey.
The rest of the game belonged to Hurricane.
HutchisonƵs double in the second that scored Aiden Ocheltree was followed by Brady RigneyƵs RBI that gave Hurricane a 2-1 advantage, a lead it did not give up.
In the fourth, Rigney hit a two-out double off Morgantown starter Maddox Boggs, who followed that with a pair of walks to Wesley Sutton and Bryson Shirkey. All three runners scored on BaxterƵs double.
Boggs pitched all six innings for Morgantown, allowing six earned runs on eight hits.
Ocheltree and Nick Fleece led Hurricane with two hits each. Baxter produced three RBIs.
Along with the 2022 Class AAA championship, Hurricane (29-7) won state titles in 2002, 2014 and 2018 before adding another on Saturday.
Morgantown (27-11) was in the state championship for the second time ever, following a runner-up finish to Huntington in the 1976 Class AAA championship.
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