SHORT GAP — Lanson Orndorf thought he’d already written the perfect ending. The Frankfort senior closed his high school career by throwing complete-game victories in both the state quarterfinals against Lincoln and the Class AA championship game against Logan, powering the Falcons to their second state title in three years.

Then came the curtain call.

Orndorf was named the 2026 Lowery Award winner by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, honoring him as the state’s top high school baseball player.

The award puts a second exclamation point on a senior season — and a career — defined by winning.

The award is named for Jefferson High School legend John Lowery, the winningest high school baseball coach in West Virginia history and the winningest active coach in the country.

“It’s really an honor to win anything with Coach Lowery’s name attached to it,” Orndorf said. “I need to thank my teammates and coaches. My teammates let me be free on the mound. We don’t make many errors, and when we do, we lift each other up. We’re super close. We treat each other like brothers.”

Lanson Orndorf was a Falcon from the start.

Orndorf’s Frankfort career began long before his freshman debut. At age four he was the team’s bat boy, watching from the dugout while his father, Mike Orndorf, served as a longtime assistant under head coach Matt Miller.

“I have a picture of me standing in the Frankfort dugout with a bat, and the bat is taller than me,” Orndorf said. “I’ve been a part of Frankfort baseball for my entire life. I grew up watching great Frankfort players like Zack and Brady Whitacre. My dad told me to just follow what they do, their work ethic, how they take rounds in the cage and field ground balls.”

He took those lessons to heart.

“To build on the foundation that guys like that laid here, to win and keep winning, that’s been the goal. Being able to keep that winning legacy at Frankfort alive, adding two state championships, that’s been so special for all of us,” Orndorf said.

Four years, three title games, two state championships. Mission accomplished!

Orndorf made an immediate impact as a freshman, both at the plate and on the mound. The Falcons’ run during his tenure is the most successful in program history: Class AA state champions in his sophomore year, Class AAA state runners-up last spring after a temporary reclassification, and Class AA champions again this season.

“Lanson has started every single game as our leadoff hitter from the time he was a freshman through all four years,” Miller said. “In addition, he’s been our number one pitcher from the time he was a freshman.”

Miller added: “For him to be a leader and a big part of us winning two state championships and this year, his individual statistics being good enough to win the player of the year, it’s extremely special. I’m very happy for him and very excited for the opportunities he’s been given.”

His physical skills and power built in the weight room and through countless reps. His mental toughness forged, believe it or not, while running cross-country in middle school.

After stints with other sports as an underclassman, Orndorf opted to become a baseball-only athlete as a junior. Still, those other sports, including basketball, weren’t all for naught. He credits middle school cross country for his mentality on the mound.

“Running helped with my mental toughness,” Orndorf explained. “My mentality on the mound basically comes from running, where it’s as much a battle with yourself and your time, not so much everybody else.”

Miller points to preparation as the key.

“He’s done the weight room work, he’s done the summer travel, the fall travel, all the extra winter workouts,” Miller said. “If you’re going to focus on one thing, you’ve got to actually put the work in. No moment is too big for him. His mental mindset is from knowing that he’s prepared and better than the guy he’s facing.”

All season long, for his entire career really, Lanson has been dominant on the mound, and clutch at the plate.

Orndorf took the ball 17 times this spring and finished 11-3 with an ultra-low 0.58 ERA. He threw 84 innings, struck out 112, and walked just 21. He won his final 10 starts, with eight complete games in that span, including those seven-inning wins in the quarterfinal and championship games in Huntington.

He was just as valuable in the leadoff spot. Orndorf hit .413 with 45 hits: one home run, one triple, 14 doubles, and 29 singles. The triple came in the state title game against Logan. He scored 27 runs, drove in 27, and posted a .532 on-base percentage with a 1.119 OPS.

After a summer of American Legion baseball, Orndorf will continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Charleston, where he plans to pitch and play in the infield.

For now, the bat boy who grew up in the Frankfort dugout leaves it as the best player in the state.

“It’s just awesome,” Orndorf said. “All I ever wanted to do was win state titles and bring attention to our school.”

PAST LOWERY AWARD WINNERS

(Top West Virginia high school baseball player)

The Lowery Award is named for Jefferson High School baseball coach John Lowery, a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame. Lowery is the winningest all-sport coach in state history with 1,500 victories and 12 championships through 2026. The recipient is selected by the WVSWA and the award is given to the state’s top high school baseball player.

2026 – Lanson Orndorf, Frankfort

2025 – Wes Smith, Hurricane

2024 – Carson Boober, Martinsburg

2023 – Noah Braham, University

2022 – Griffin Horowicz, Jefferson (pitcher); Nathaniel Junkins, Robert C. Byrd (hitter)

2021 – Nate Paulsen, Bridgeport

2020 – no award (no season; COVID-19)

2019 – Jake Carr, OF-P, St. Albans and Chase DeLauter, OF-P, Hedgesville

2018 – Chase DeLauter, P/OF, Hedgesville

2017 – Garrett Gress, P, Hurricane

2016 – Paul Witt, SS, Jefferson

2015 – Zach Minnick, SS-P, Logan

2014 – Seth Kinker, SS-P, Cabell Midland

2013 – Daniel Heliene, 1B, Hedgesville

2012 – Korey Dunbar, C-P, Nitro

2011 – Caleb Ross, 1B-P, Cabell Midland

2010 – J.R. Bradley, SS-P, Nitro

2009 – Brandon King, 1B, Martinsburg

2008 – Chase Pickering, CF-P, Nitro

2007 – Arik Sikula, SS-P, South Charleston

2006 – Bo Darby, C-P, Logan

2005 – Alex Wilson, SS-P, Hurricane

2004 – Josh Whitlock, SS-3B-P, Ripley

2003 – Anthony Whittington, SS-P, Buffalo

2002 – Daniel Carte, SS-2B-P, Hurricane

2001 – Brandon Chambers, RF-P, Logan

2000 – Jimmy Rhodes, OF-P, Jefferson

1999 – Josh Cenate, IF-P, Jefferson

1998 – John Gouzd, 1B-P, Fairmont Senior

1997 – Dwayne Smith, C, East Fairmont

1996 – Todd Neff, IF-P, Paden City

1995 – Jon Adkins, SS-1B-P, Wayne

1994 – Travis Harper, SS-P, Circleville

1993 – Jared Camp, P, Huntington East

1992 – Tim Adkins, P, Wayne

1991 – Jamie Conner, SS, Hedgesville

1990 – Ryan Williams, P, Elkins

1989 – David DeMoss, OF-P, North Marion

1988 – John Lowery, P, Jefferson

1987 – Doug Creek, P, Martinsburg