Herbert Hoover High School Athletics

Kanawha Valley prep baseball sectional schedule

By: Rick Ryan, Prep Sports Reporter | Posted: May 4, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Double-elimination sectionals

(Numbers denote seeds)

Class AAA

Region 3 Section 1

All games at 6:30 p.m.

Monday – No. 4 Capital at No. 1 St. Albans; No. 3 George Washington at No. 2 South Charleston

Tuesday – Winners at higher seed; losers at higher seed

Region 3 Section 2

Monday – No. 4 Princeton at No. 1 Greenbrier East, 6 p.m.; No. 3 Riverside at No. 2 Woodrow Wilson, 6 p.m.

Tuesday – Winners at higher seed; losers at higher seed

Region 4 Section 1

Monday – No. 3 Parkersburg at No. 2 Ripley

Tuesday – Parkersburg-Ripley loser at No. 1 Parkersburg South

Region 4 Section 2

All games at 6 p.m.

Monday – No. 4 Huntington at No. 1 Hurricane; No. 3 Spring Valley at No. 2 Cabell Midland

Tuesday – Winners at higher seed; losers at higher seed

Class AA

Region 2 Section 2

Monday – No. 5 Braxton County at No. 4 Herbert Hoover, 6 p.m.; No. 6 Roane County at No. 3 Clay County, 6 p.m.

Tuesday – Hoover-Braxton winner at No. 1 Lewis County, 6 p.m.; Clay-Roane winner at No. 2 Nicholas County, 6 p.m.

Wednesday – Losers bracket games

Region 4 Section 1

All games 6 p.m. at higher seed

Monday – No. 6 Poca at No. 3 Nitro, 6 p.m.; No. 5 Point Pleasant at No. 4 Sissonville

Tuesday – Sissonville-Point winner at No. 1 Winfield; Nitro-Poca winner at Wayne

Wednesday – Poca-Nitro loser vs. TBA; Point-Sissonville loser vs. TBA

Region 4 Section 2

Monday – No. 6 Mingo Central at No. 3 Logan; No. 5 Man at No. 4 Lincoln County

Tuesday – Man-Lincoln County winner at No. 1 Chapmanville Regional; Logan-Mingo Central winner at No. 2 Scott

Class A

Region 3 Section 1

Monday – No. 5 Webster County at No. 4 Midland Trail, 6 p.m.; No. 6 Richwood at No. 3 Valley, 5:30 p.m.; No. 7 Pocahontas County at No. 2 Fayetteville, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Midland Trail-Webster winner at No. 1 Charleston Catholic, 6 p.m.; Valley-Richwood winner vs. Fayetteville-Pocahontas winner at higher seed

Region 4 Section 2

Monday – No. 5 Van at No. 4 St. Joseph; No. 6 Tug Valley at No. 3 Tolsia; No. 7 Hannan at No. 2 Sherman

Tuesday – St. Joseph-Van winner at No. 1 Buffalo; Tolsia-Tug Valley winner vs. Sherman-Hannan winner at higher seed

May 4, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Undefeated Huskies Title Defense Starts Tuesday

The Lady Huskies finished the regular season 23-0 landing them the top seed to begin the sectionals on Tuesday.

Hoover will play the winner of Braxton and Nicholas at approximately 7:00 p.m. Roane County, the number two seed, will face the winner of Lewis and Clay.

The teams emerging from Tuesday’s contests will face each other on Thursday, May 3rd.

All games will be played at the higher seed.

April 30, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, Sports News

Kanawha Valley teams begin pursuit of state tournaments as sectional play opens

Poca pitcher Taylor Bonnett will look to lead the top-seeded Dots to a Class AA Region 4 Section 1 championship this week – F. Brian Ferguson, Gazette-Mail

By: Ryan Pritt, Staff Writer | Posted: April 29, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

The Kanawha Valley’s contingent of 13 softball teams will largely go their separate ways this week with those squads competing in seven sectional tournaments as the chase for the state tournament begins.

(more…)

April 29, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, Sports News

Hoover Huskies march at Magic Kingdom

The Herbert Hoover High School Huskies marching band led the morning parade at Walt Disney World in Orlanda, Florida, on April 3. Photo courtesy Kanawha County Schools.

By: Clint Thomas, Metro Staff | Posted: April 23, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail Kanawha Metro

In June 2016, as torrential floodwaters annihilated the band room, its contents and, in fact, the entirety of Herbert Hoover High School along the banks of the Elk River, no band member probably considered the ebullient saying/slogan “I’m going to Disney World!” as a serious reply to what he or she would do after the ruinous waters subsided. (more…)

April 23, 2018 in Education News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Kanawha Valley prep softball standings, leaders — April 23

By: Ryan Pritt, Staff Writer | Posted: April 23, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

TEAM RECORDS

Team W L Pct.
 Herbert Hoover 22  0  1.000 
 Hurricane 15 1 .938
 Nitro 19 4 .826
 George Washington 14 4 .778
 Cross Lanes Christian 15 8 .652
 St. Albans 13 7 .650
 Riverside 11 6 .647
 Buffalo 16 9 .640
 Poca 14 8 .636
 Winfield 10 12 .455
 Sissonville 7 15 .318
 South Charleston 5 12 .294
 Charleston Catholic 3 12 .250
 Capital 4 19 .174

BATTING AVERAGE

(Minimum 2 plate appearances per team game)

Player, school AB H Avg.
 Caiti Mathes, Hurr. 43 25 .581
 Kirsten Belcher, HH 56  31  .554 
 Lydia Sweat, Nitro 58 32 .552
 Jenna Thomas, Siss. 69 37 .536
 Emma Groe, GW 48 25 .521
 Madison Ramirez, Riv. 48 24 .500
 Rebekah Woody, HH 69  34  .493 
 Gracie Donato, Riv. 45 22 .489
 Hannah Pullen, Riv. 47 23 .489
 Haley Stepp, CLC 50 24 .480
 Kalissa Lacy, GW 44 21 .477
 Jayme Bailey, Hurr. 36 18 .472
 Kiersten Landers, Hurr. 53 25 .472
 Hannah McDermitt, Riv. 49 23 .469
 Katlynn Rasnake, Buff. 71 33 .465
 Grace Smith, GW 56 26 .464
 Jasmine Symns, Riv. 50 23 .460
 Kinsey Hudson, SA 61 28 .459
 Charity Stepp, CLC 62 28 .452
 Kenzie Hale, Winf. 73 33 .452
 Cortney Fizer, HH 49  22  .449 
 Bella Savilla, Nitro 65 29 .446
 Lauren Pauley, Riv. 61 27 .443
 Fran George, Catholic 25 11 .440
 Gracie Payne, SA 57 25 .439
 Morgan Larch, SC 44 19 .432
 Lindsey Russell, Buff. 70 30 .429
 Sara Stepp, CLC 70 30 .429
 Lindsey Phares, Hurr. 42 18 .429
 Kiersten Witters, CLC 54 23 .426
 Sydney Houck, Winf. 68 29 .426
 Presley McGee, HH 59 25 .424
 Jillian Holley, SA 57 24 .421
 Delani Buckner, HH 50 21 .420
 Elyssa Medley, Winf. 58 24 .414
 Kelsie Lanham, Riv. 39 16 .410
 Taylor Long, Siss. 66 27 .409
 Brianna McCown, GW 49 20 .408
 Aly Soblit, Siss. 49 20 .408
 Jess Canterbury, HH 52  21  .404 
 Hailey Harr, Nitro 57 23 .404
 Megan Seafler, HH 72  29  .403 
 Morgan Jennings, Siss. 63 25 .397
 Taylor Bonnett, Poca 61 24 .393
 Lauren Price, GW 49 19 .388
 Taylor McCray, Hurr. 47 18 .383
 Katy Darnell, GW 51 19 .373
 Zoey Dunlap, Hurr. 43 16 .372
 Mallori Chapman, HH 62  23  .371 
 Grace Denison, Winf. 68 25 .368
 K.K. Short, Winf. 57 21 .368
 Tori Green, Hurr. 41 15 .366
 Kayla Letart, SA 58 21 .362
 Maggie Bird, Buff. 61 22 .361
 Kennedy Buckley, Riv. 42 15 .357
 Brooke Persinger, Buff. 62 22 .355
 Mercedes Bush, Poca 65 23 .354
 Anna Falbo, SC 48 17 .354
 Jaelyn Beane, Siss. 54 19 .352

HOME RUNS

11: Thomas, Sissonville

9: Mathes, Hurricane

6: Payne, SA

5: Ramirez, Riverside

4: Holley, SA; Donato, Riverside; Pullen, Riverside; Hale, Winfield; Medley, Winfield

3: Belcher, Hoover; Bailey, Hurricane; Soblit, Sissonville

2: Russell, Buffalo; C. Stepp, CLC; Groe, GW; Smith, GW; Darnell, GW; Fizer, Hoover; McGee, Hoover; Woody, Hoover; Savilla, Nitro; Bonnett, Poca; Tori Gibeaut, Poca; Honesty Bragg, Sissonville; Houck, Winfield; Denison, Winfield

RBI

38: Mathes, Hurricane

37: Belcher, Hoover

36: Thomas, Sissonville

33: Sweat, Nitro

30: Payne, SA

29: C. Stepp, CLC

25: Woody, Hoover; Holley, SA

24: H. Stepp, CLC; Groe, GW; Savilla, Nitro

23: Hale, Winfield

22: Fizer, Hoover

21: McCown, GW; Ramirez, Riverside

20: Persinger, Buffalo; Donato, Riverside

Triples

6: H. Stepp, CLC

5: C. Stepp, CLC

4: Darnell, GW

3: Falbo, SC

2: Smith, GW; Fizer, Hoover; Chapman, Hoover; Pauley, Riverside; Symns, Riverside; Buckley, Riverside; McDermitt, Riverside; Emily Taylor, Sissonville; Medley, Winfield

Doubles

11: Sweat, Nitro

9: Groe, GW; Houck, Winfield; Medley, Winfield; Hale, Winfield

8: S. Stepp, CLC; Price, GW; Chapman, Hoover; McCray, Hurricane; Savilla, Nitro; Bonnett, Poca; Hudson, SA; Thomas, Sissonville

7: Belcher, Hoover

6: McCown, GW; Smith, GW; Jaelin Overton, GW; Fizer, Hoover; Bailey, Hurricane; Harlie Vannatter, Hurricane; Molly Collins, Poca; Donato, Riverside; Payne, SA

Stolen bases

31: Kerigan Moore, Nitro

28: Rasnake, Buffalo

25: Morgan Burdette, Nitro

18: Symns, Riverside

17: Landers, Hurricane

16: Bush, Poca

14: S. Stepp, CLC

13: C. Stepp, CLC; Gibeaut, Poca

10: Bailey, Hurricane; Jennings, Sissonville

Pitching wins

17-4: Savilla, Nitro

13-0: Buckner, Hoover

11-1: Vannatter, Hurricane

11-4: Bonnett, Poca

10-5: Hudson, SA

10-6: Russell, Buffalo

9-0: McGee, Hoover

9-2: McCown, GW

8-2: Pauley, Riverside

7-5: Elizabeth Witzke, CLC

6-3: Bird, Buffalo

5-2: Smith, GW

5-4: Aly Grover, SC

5-6: Faith Gaylor, Winfield

ERA

0.38: Buckner, Hoover

1.08: Vannatter, Hurricane

1.20: McCown, GW

1.36: McGee, Hoover

1.57: Bonnett, Poca

2.06: Witzke, CLC

2.31: Savilla, Nitro

3.06: Pauley, Riverside

3.24: Hudson, SA

3.97: Smith, GW

4.61: Grover, SC

4.70: Gaylor, Winfield

4.75: Medley, Winfield

Strikeouts

156: Buckner, Hoover

144: Savilla, Nitro

128: Bonnett, Poca

114: Hudson, SA

107: Witzke, CLC

101: McCown, GW

99: Russell, Buffalo

89: Vannatter, Hurricane

87: Olivia Corbett, Catholic

72: McGee, Hoover

53: Alexis Bailey, Sissonville

48: Bird, Buffalo

44: Gaylor, Winfield

41: Pauley, Riverside

Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com or follow him @RPritt on Twitter

April 23, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, Sports News

Kanawha Valley prep softball leaders, April 16

By: Ryan Pritt | Posted: April 16, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

TEAM RECORDS

Team W L Pct.
 Herbert Hoover 16 0 1.000
 Hurricane 12 0 1.000
 Nitro 14 3 .824
 George Washington 10 3 .769
 Poca 12 5 .706
 St. Albans 11 6 .647
 Buffalo 12 7 .632
 Cross Lanes Christian 12 8 .600
 Riverside 8 6 .571
 Winfield 8 10 .444
 Sissonville 6 12 .333
 South Charleston 3 10 .231
 Capital 4 15 .211
 Charleston Catholic 1 10 .091

BATTING AVERAGE

(Minimum 2 plate appearances per team game)

Player, school AB H Avg.
 Caiti Mathes, Hurr. 28 17 .607
 Kalissa Lacy, GW 31 18 .581
 Kirsten Belcher, Hoover 38 22 .579
 Lydia Sweat, Nitro 45 25 .556
 Jayme Bailey, Hurr. 24 13 .542
 Rebekah Woody, Hoover 50 26 .520
 Kiersten Landers, Hurr. 35 18 .514
 Jenna Thomas, Siss. 55 28 .509
 Hannah McDermitt, Riv. 41 20 .488
 Kiersten Witters, CLC 39 19 .487
 Emma Groe, GW 35 17 .486
 Hannah Pullen, Riv. 39 17 .483
 Madison Ramirez, Riv. 42 20 .476
 Grace Smith, GW 40 19 .475
 Cortney Fizer, Hoover 36 17 .472
 Gracie Donato, Riv. 36 17 .472
 Kinsey Hudson, SA 53 25 .472
 Taylor McCray, Hurr. 30 14 .467
 Lindsey Phares, Hurr. 28 13 .464
 Bella Savilla, Nitro 50 23 .460
 Jess Canterbury, Hoover 37 17 .459
 Charity Stepp, CLC 46 21 .457
 Katlyn Rasnake, Buffalo 55 25 .455
 Sara Stepp, CLC 56 25 .446
 Sydney Houck, Winfield 54 24 .444
 Megan Seafler, Hoover 52 23 .442
 Hailey Harr, Nitro 43 19 .442
 Lauren Pauley, Riv. 52 23 .442
 Jillian Holley, SA 46 20 .435
 Jasmine Symns, Riv. 42 18 .429
 Elyssa Medley, Winfield 42 18 .429
 Haley Stepp, CLC 33 14 .424
 Kelsie Lanham, Riv. 33 14 .424
 Delani Buckner, Hoover 38 16 .421
 Brianna McCown, GW 36 15 .417
 Morgan Jennings, Siss. 48 20 .417
 Lindsey Russell, Buffalo 53 22 .415
 Presley McGee, Hoover 41 17 .415
 Kenzie Hale, Winfield 56 23 .411
 Aly Soblit, Siss. 49 20 .408
 Gracie Payne, SA 47 19 .404
 Fran George, Catholic 20 8 .400
 Lauren Price, GW 35 14 .400
 Harlie Vannatter, Hurr. 25 10 .400
 Jaylyn Beane, Siss. 40 16 .400
 Taylor Bonnett, Poca 46 18 .391
 Emily Taylor, Siss. 49 19 .388
 Taylor Long, Siss. 52 20 .385
 Mercedes Bush, Poca 50 19 .380
 Zoey Dunlap, Hurr. 29 11 .379
 Brooke Persinger, Buffalo 45 17 .378
 Mallori Chapman, Hoover 43 16 .372
 Tori Green, Hurr. 27 10 .370
 Grace McCallister, CLC 38 14 .368
 K.K. Short, Winfield 57 21 .368
 Morgan Larch, SC 30 11 .367
 Grace Denison, Winfield 52 19 .365
 Olivia Corbett, Catholic 22 8 .364
 Molly Collins, Poca 58 21 .362
 Kayla Letart, SA 50 18 .360
 Rachel Walton, SC 25 9 .360
 Karlie Hill, Poca 51 18 .353
 Anna Falbo, SC 34 12 .352
 Katy Darnell, GW 37 13 .351

HOME RUNS

8: Thomas, Sissonville

6: Mathes, Hurricane

4: Pullen, Riverside; Ramirez, Riverside; Payne, SA

3: Donato, Riverside; Soblit, Sissonville; Medley, Winfield; Hale, Winfield

2: C. Stepp, CLC; Groe, GW; Smith, GW; Belcher, Hoover; Fizer, Hoover; Woody, Hoover; McGee, Hoover; Bailey, Hurricane; Tori Gibeaut, Poca; Holley, SA; Houck, Winfield

RBI

31: Mathes, Hurricane; Sweat, Nitro

29: Belcher, Hoover

25: C. Stepp, CLC; Payne, SA; Thomas, Sissonville

22: Holley, SA

20: H. Stepp, CLC; Savilla, Nitro

18: Fizer, Hoover; Woody, Hoover; Groe, GW; Pullen, Riverside

17: Elizabeth Witzke, CLC; Witters, CLC; Hale, Winfield

16: McCown, GW; Ramirez, Riverside

15: Russell, Buffalo; Smith, GW; McCray, Hurricane; Donato, Riverside; Honesty Bragg, Sissonville

Triples

4: H. Stepp, CLC

3: C. Stepp, CLC

2: Fizer, Hoover; Chapman, Hoover; Pauley, Riverside; McDermitt, Riverside; Kennedy Buckley, Riverside; Medley, Winfield

Doubles

9: Sweat, Nitro

8: S. Stepp, CLC; Medley, Winfield; Houck, Winfield

7: Chapman, Hoover; Savilla, Nitro; Bonnett, Poca; Hudson, SA; Hale, Winfield

6: McCray, Hurricane; Vannatter, Hurricane; Collins, Poca; Donato, Riverside

5: Fizer, Hoover; Groe, GW; Belcher, Hoover; Woody, Hoover; Bailey, Hurricane; Walton, SC; Taylor, Sissonville; Short, Winfield

Stolen bases

28: Kerigan Moore, Nitro

23: Morgan Burdette, Nitro

20: Rasnake, Buffalo

14: Landers, Hurricane

13: Symns, Riverside

12: Gibeaut, Poca

10: Bush, Poca

8: S. Stepp, CLC; C. Stepp, CLC; Bailey, Hurricane

7: Witters, CLC; Seafler, Hoover; Jennings, Sissonville

6: Canterbury, Hoover; Soblit, Sissonville

5: Woody, Hoover; Phares, Hurricane; Pauley, Riverside; Haley Carroll, Riverside; Short, Winfield

Pitching wins

14-3: Savilla, Nitro

9-0: Buckner, Hoover; Vannatter, Hurricane

9-2: Bonnett, Poca

9-5: Hudson, SA

8-4: Russell, Buffalo

7-0: McGee, Hoover

6-2: C. Stepp, CLC; McCown, GW

5-2: Pauley, Riverside

5-5: Witzke, CLC

4-1: Smith, GW

4-3: Maggie Bird, Buffalo

ERA

0.30: Buckner, Hoover

0.33: Vannatter, Hurricane

1.33: McCown, GW

1.69: Bonnett, Poca

1.73: McGee, Hoover

1.99: Savilla, Nitro

3.13: Hudson, SA

3.56: Pauley, Riverside

3.66: Collins, Poca

3.84: Smith, GW

4.02: C. Stepp, CLC

4.45: Aly Grover, SC

4.94: Medley, Winfield

4.99: Faith Gaylor, Winfield

Strikeouts

118: Savilla, Nitro

104: Hudson, SA

99: Bonnett, Poca

98: Buckner, Hoover

78: Witzke, CLC

75: Russell, Buffalo

74: Vannatter, Hurricane

62: McCown, GW

61: Corbett, Catholic

55: McGee, Hoover

40: Bird, Buffalo

36: Gaylor, Winfield

32: Alexis Bailey, Sissonville

31: Pauley, Riverside

Note: Statistics not provided for Capital

Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com or follow him @RPritt on Twitter

April 16, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Herbert Hoover sweeps softball doubleheader from upstart Nitro

Herbert Hoover’s Jessica Canterbury lays down a sacrifice bunt against Nitro. F. Brian Ferguson | Gazette-Mail

By: Ryan Pritt, Staff Writer | Posted: April 12, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Over the course of three games in two days against both Class AA state title game combatants from a year ago, Nitro coach Greg Garber learned a lot about just how far his team had come.

(more…)

April 12, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, Sports News

Herbert Hoover marching band performs in Disney’s Performing Arts Parade

The Herbert Hoover High School Marching Huskies take to the streets on the magic kingdom during Disney’s Performing Arts Parade. (Photo: Hoover High)

By: Jessi Starkey | Posted: April 12, 2018 | Source: WVAH

ELKVIEW, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — For the Herbert Hoover High School Marching Huskies, the road to Disney World has not been magical.

This June will mark two years since the band members lost everything in the 2016 flood. Senior Shelby Bowles said she will never forget the feeling of that summer afternoon.

“I just thought it was going to be a normal marching band year,” Bowles said. “All of a sudden we had no instruments, no uniforms and we had nowhere to practice. We didn’t even know if we were going to be able to stay together as a school. We didn’t think we would be able to have a band on the field that year.”

The days that followed were filled with hard work and perseverance. The students started practicing in church parking lots, open fields and the outside hallways of their portable classrooms. If there was a space large enough, they were determined to march.

“We had to find a way,” Band Director Maleah Fisher said. “They are good kids. They have a good work ethic. We just had to be resourceful.”

After submitting an audition tape, the marching huskies were hand selected to march in the Disney Performing Arts Parade. Fisher said at the time of the submission the band still didn’t have uniforms. Fisher submitted a photo of what the uniforms would look like, and reassured the parade staff they would be ready to march.

“When we found out we had been selected the celebration just spread,” Fisher said. “We announced it at the football game and everyone in the stand just got so excited. We knew at that time, it was game on. We formed a fundraising committee just for this trip.”

The students got to work fundraising by group and individually. Band members raised thousands of dollars to make the trip possible. Their story even reached people across the country, and Fisher said they received donations from people out of state who wanted to help.

“It was a great opportunity,” Morgan Henry said. “Looking back we were horrified after the flood. Once we started helping each other and cleaning up, the community came together. It’s hard to put into words what it was like performing at Disney. I know everyone’s adrenaline was up.”

The marching huskies’ story even started to spread around the magic kingdom. Fisher said many people reached out to them to ask more about their journey.

“I had a talk with them before we performed,” Fisher said. “I reminded them, you’re representing a small town that has been through a hard situation. You can show these people there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

April 12, 2018 in Education News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News, Students

Hurricane, Hoover off to hot starts in title defenses

Herbert Hoover pitcher Delani Buckner (11) is back for her sophomore season after helping the Huskies earn a Classs AA state championship as a freshman last year. Craig Hudson Gazette-Mail

By: Ryan Pritt, Staff Writer | Posted: Mar. 29, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Any conversation of Kanawha Valley prep softball begins with Hurricane.

And why not, after the Redskins were tagged with a sparkly national ranking of No. 8 by maxpreps.com in the preseason?

Hurricane returned seven of nine starters from last year and has plenty of weapons to make a run at yet another Class AAA state championship, which would be the Redskins’ fourth in a row and fifth in six years.

But the Redskins aren’t the only Kanawha Valley team defending some hardware.

Herbert Hoover returns six starters from a squad that peaked late in winning a Class AA crown, its second since 2014. And with plenty of experience, both are off to rip-roaring starts in 2018, with Hurricane having won its first seven games and Hoover also starting the season undefeated at 3-0.

The Redskins’ Meghan Stevens is in her first year as head coach after serving as an assistant under Josh Caldwell for nine years. There’s plenty of familiarity and continuity with the team, and Stevens said she will simply try to keep the ball rolling.

“It’s pretty much keeping things business as usual, because why change?” Stevens said. “If it’s not broke, I don’t want to fool with it too much.”

Even after losing the two-time state player of the year Katie Adams and outfielder Paige Scruggs — both of whom are continuing their careers on the college level at Marshall and Morehead State, respectively — Stevens has quite an arsenal at her disposal. Seven of the nine players in Hurricane’s lineup are currently committed to play college softball.

Highlighting that list are outfielder Kiersten Landers and third baseman Jayme Bailey, both seniors who will go to Florida State and Virginia Tech, respectively, next year. Junior shortstop Caiti Mathes is also committed to play for the Hokies.

Junior catcher Zoey Dunlap will attend Youngstown State after high school with junior first baseman Taylor McCray heading to St. Leo. Sophomores Harlie Vannatter (pitcher) and Lindsey Phares (second base) will attend Bowling Green and Wisconsin-Green Bay, respectively.

Landers (.558, 37 steals, 55 runs in 2017), Bailey (.495, five home runs, 10 doubles, 44 RBIs, 19 steals) and Vannatter (20-1, 1.09 ERA, 11 shutouts) were all first-team All-State selections last year, with Mathes (seven home runs, 37 RBIs) making the second team a year after being a first-team selection as a freshman.

As talented as the Redskins are, and with as much success as the team has had in recent years, Stevens said the leadership of players like Bailey is as paramount as her contributions on the field, especially when it comes to helping the program maintain its lofty perch for years to come.

“Making them understand that this is who we are and we can’t take it for granted,” Stevens said of her younger players. “We need to bring it every day and focus — we can’t just show up. Leaders like Jayme make that a lot easier for us. She leads by example, she leads with words … she’s just an awesome teammate.”

Landers is assuming some of the pitching load after Vannatter threw a bulk of Hurricane’s innings a year ago, spelled by Adams and, occasionally, Torie Green.

Hoover also had a senior/freshmen split in the circle a year ago with Dellani Fix and Delani Buckner tossing most of the innings for the Huskies.

Buckner, a returning sophomore, seemed to grow more comfortable throughout the season and was paramount in the Huskies’ run in Vienna last year, striking out 10 in the final five innings of the Class AA title game against Chapmanville.

That kind of experience should serve the Huskies well as they try to find their way without Fix, outfielder Kelsey Naylor (both first-team All-State selections) and catcher Madison Bowles (a second-team selection).

But while the Redskins are used to wearing a bright, red target on their backs, it’s a bit new for the Huskies.

“You have to take it for what it is and know you’re a state champion, but it doesn’t come easy and each season you have to put in the work,” Buckner said after a season-opening win over Poca. “Nerves are really hard, but when you have a team like mine they’re easy to get rid of.”

“It’s not a secret what happened at the end of last year and we all feel some pressure because of that,” Hoover coach Missy Smith added. “But once the game got going, it turned in to the game we’ve played and loved for years and they settled in.”

Junior third baseman Rebekah Woody returns after receiving a second-team All-State nod last year after hitting .455, driving in 25 runs and scoring 28 times a year ago. Seniors Kirsten Belcher, Ava Young, Mallori Chapman and Mandy Parrish were all integral parts of last year’s success and should continue what Smith praised as a great tradition of leaders over the years.

“We’ve been blessed with good seniors for years,” Smith said. “They had them in the cages all winter long. When we started practice, all the freshmen knew what I expected and the drills we do in the beginning and how to handle things because the seniors had taken them all winter and mentored them.”

Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com or follow him @RPritt on Twitter.

March 29, 2018 in Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News