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By JOSH STROPE
WEIRTON -- Graduation parties are being moved and summer plans are being put on hold. For the Weir baseball team, it's Charleston or bust.
With 10 seniors returning from last season's Regional runner-up, the Red Riders have only one goal in mind: the state tournament.
"If there is a shot, this is it," Weir coach Jason Angle said. "This a team that can play and they have matured all the way through the program. This is their time."
For Weir, it is not just about seniors. It is about good seniors. Almost everyone on the team batted at least .300 last year and four batted over .400.
The pitching looks to be solid with Michael Mills, who was 8-0 with 43 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA as a junior. He could see time at third when he is not on the mound.
Angle feels he has a lot of good arms in Tyler and Matt Komoroski, Chris Gillette, Levi Mikula, Jake Rosnick, Matt Anderson and some promising freshmen.
But the name of the game at Weir will be the hitting.
"We are definitely going to hit the ball," Angle said. "We hit like crazy last year and had some astronomical on-base percentages. We are very good top to bottom."
Mikula had the best batting average at .471, followed by Mills (.456), Rosnick (.439) and Gillette (.417). Mills had a .606 on-base percentage.
Jordan Allen will be behind the plate with Tyler Komoroski and Ryan Bodrog also seeing some time.
Adam Cowden will get most of the innings at first base.
Gillette will be at second, along with Bodrog and Rosnick and Anderson will join them up the middle at shortstop.
Cody Enrietti was a big bat at third base last season, batting .357, but is coming off a knee injury in football season. Angle is hopeful he will be able to return but will look to Mills, Mikula or Dom Murphy to start the season.
The outfield will consist of Matt Komoroski, Donavan Spencer, Mikula, Bodrog and Reid Hoover.
March 21: at Oak Glen 5 p.m.
March 22: John Marshall 5 p.m.
March 23: at Linsly 5:30 p.m.
March 24: Wheeling Central 5 p.m.
March 25: Union Local (2) 4 p.m.
March 28: Crestview 5 p.m.
March 29: at Bishop Donahue 5:30 p.m.
April 1: at East Fairmont/North Marion noon
April 4: at Indian Creek 5 p.m.
April 5: at Steub. Catholic 5 p.m.
April 10: Brooke 5 p.m.
April 11: at John Marshall 5:30 p.m.
April 12: Steubenville Catholic 5 p.m.
April 14: at Ravenswood 6 p.m.
April 15: at Capital noon
April 17: at Madonna 6 p.m.
April 18: Linsly 5 p.m.
April 19: Oak Glen 7 p.m.
April 20: Beaver Local 5 p.m.
April 24: Bishop Donahue 5 p.m.
April 25: at Oak Glen 5 p.m.
April 26: at Beaver Local 5 p.m.
April 27: at Wheeling Central 5 p.m.
April 28: at Crestview 5:30 p.m.
April 29: East Liverpool (2) noon
May 1: at Brooke 5 p.m.
May 2: Indian Creek 5 p.m.
May 3: Fairmont Senior 6 p.m.
May 5: Madonna 7 p.m.