Spring Sports Preview

Dragons Have Plethora of Pitchers

By JOSH STROPE CAMERON — While many softball teams around the valley will have one dominant pitcher, Cameron will look to four girls to pace the Dragons. Injuries forced Julia Yocum into the circle last season despite not a lot of experience. She will counted on for a lot of innings this time around. Breanna Pekula and Emily Broughton shared pitching duties the first half of last season before injuries and they are back to contribute, as will senior Lindsay Paczewski. Paczewski, though, will see most of her time as the starting catcher, a role she has held since she was a ...

Spencer Will Pace Weir Boys

By TRACY WATSON With a huge roster, consisting of 35 athletes, and the return of senior speedster Donavan Spencer, Weir High track and field Coach Tom Taylor is anxiously looking forward to the start of another season. Spencer was a W.Va. Class AA state champion in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes as a junior while also taking part in the Red Riders’ 4X100-meter sprint relay squad which took home a third place finish. Junior Jaylon Bridges is also back, and the only other returning member of that relay quartet, and the only other state placer for Weir. However, there were six ...

Can Oak Glen Finish the Job?

By CODY TOMER Staff Writer NEW MANCHESTER — The 2016 season for Oak Glen softball was one to remember. The Golden Bears (14-14) were regional champions and made it to the state tournament, falling just short of a state title. However, the senior class of six talented athletes had a moment to remember. Maryssa Durante, Christina Gailey, Kami Koper, Mikayla Crane, Mackenzie Jacobs and Logan Andrews were all at the state tournament and missed graduation but fourth-year head coach Morgan Martin made sure it was still a special memory for the graduates. “It was a cool ...

Bishops Eyeing OVAC Title, Return to State

By CODY TOMER MCMECHEN — Bishop Donahue’s baseball program has achieved many great feats in recent years. The Bishops are just two years removed from a trip to the state tournament, where they fell in the semifinals and they have won OVAC titles in five of the last six seasons. Last year, Bishop Donahue dropped its sectional final contest to Wheeling Central and lost three seniors to graduation but coach Bob Kleeh, who is in his ninth year with the program and sixth as the head coach, is setting his sights on a fresh season with talented players. “I want to compete for ...

BD’s Mele Feels He Has the Right Mix

By CODY TOMER Staff Writer MCMECHEN — A year removed from tough sectional losses to Wheeling Central and Madonna, Bishop Donahue ninth-year coach Curt Mele believes he has the right players to make a run for a state title. “Our goal is to compete and play for a state championship and win the OVAC,” Curt Mele said. “Our section is one of the toughest in the state in Single A but our tough schedule will help us get ready for the postseason.” The Bishops finished the 2016 season with a 12-14 record and enter the upcoming campaign without their two senior leaders from last ...

Tyler Softball Looking for More

By CODY TOMER Staff Writer SISTERSVILLE — The Tyler Consolidated softball team is gearing up for what could be a stellar season. The Silver Knights claimed the sectional title a season ago and fell in the regionals, but they did not lose any seniors to graduation and bring back five seniors to this year’s squad, which fifth-year head coach Samantha Livingston is psyched about. “We have five returning seniors, three of which have been my captains for three year,” Livingston said. “This is the largest number of seniors I have had on the team in two years and we didn’t ...