Wildcats, Cougars clash today in Class A state tourney
Quarterfinal matchup will be third meeting of year between PVC rivals
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HUNTINGTON -- The site and format of the high school state baseball tournament may have changed.
However, Pendleton County and East Hardy battling has a familiar feel.
The Potomac Valley Conference rivals meet at 5:30 p.m. today in Class A quarterfinal action at Marshall University Jack Cook Field.
The tournament, which traditionally had been held in Charleston, now includes eight teams in each of the four classes.
The seventh-seeded Wildcats are making their first appearance in the state tourney since 2016.
Coach Sam Yokum said his team's 16-16 record is deceiving to most.
"We played a very tough schedule and I think too much can be made of a team's record and by looking at the power index in terms of seeding." said Yokum, who guided Pendleton County to a state title in 2004. "(The schedule) prepared us (for the postseason) and made us a stronger team."
The Wildcats dropped both regular-season meetings to East Hardy, but Yokum said the Cougars will see a different team today.
"We're playing our best ball right now and I contribute that to the scheduled we played," he said. "We played five quad-A schools, six or seven triple-A teams and a bunch of double-A teams."
"We played Jefferson, whose seeded fifth in quad-A, the other night and lost 9-2, but we were only down 4-2 and they ended up scoring five runs after an error with two outs to pull away from us."
Yokum acknowledged his team is in for a fight against East Hardy -- the defending state champion.
"It would have been nice to see a different opponent (at states) but it is what it is," Yokum said. "To win a state championship you have to beat people in your way. East Hardy has a very good team and returns nearly its entire roster from last year and should be the favorite to win it again this year."
The Wildcats faced a grueling regional tourney, defeating Tygarts Valley in a pair of extra-inning contests.
"Tygarts Valley was a tough opponent and it was a hard-fought series. I was proud of the guys, they found a way to keep fighting."
Yokum praised two of his seniors -- Chase Owens and Cashton Kisamore -- for their efforts on and off the field.
"Those two are four-year starters and have stepped up as leaders for us," Yokum said. "I can count on them to bring their 'A' game every time we play.
"We're still a really young team and rely on a lot of freshman and sophomores, having very few seniors and juniors."
The second-seeded Cougars enter the tournament with a 21-11 mark.
The winner of today's contest faces the victor between third-seed Sherman and sixth-seed Madonna in Thursday's semifinals.
State tournament schedule
Jack Cook Field
Huntington
Class AAAA
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, June 10
No. 1 George Washington (27-5) vs. No. 8 Huntington (18-15), 10 a.m.
No. 4 Washington (23-10) vs. No. 5 Jefferson (27-7), 50 minutes after first game
No. 2 Morgantown (28-5) vs. No. 7 Cabell Midland (20-15), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Hurricane (24-8) vs. No. 6 Martinsburg (25-11), 50 minutes after Morgantown-Cabell Midland game
Semifinals
Friday, June 12
George Washington-Huntington winner vs. Washington-Jefferson winner, 5 p.m.
Morgantown-Cabell Midland winner vs. Hurricane-Martinsburg winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal
Championship
Saturday, June 13
Semifinal winners, 50 minutes after Class AAA final
Class AAA
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, June 9
No. 1 Bridgeport (31-3) vs. No. 8 East Fairmont (21-9), 10 a.m.
No. 4 Ripley (23-10) vs. No. 5 Spring Valley (25-9), 50 minutes after first game
No. 2 St. Albans (29-5) vs. No. 7 John Marshall (22-11), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Shady Spring (26-6) vs. No. 6 Robert C. Byrd (22-11), 50 minutes after St. Albans-John Marshall game
Semifinals
Friday, June 12
Bridgeport-East Fairmont winner vs. Ripley-Spring Valley winner,10 a.m.
St. Albans-John Marshall winner vs. Shady Spring-Robert C. Byrd winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal
Championship
Saturday, June 13
Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.
Class AA
Quarterfinals
Monday, June 8
No. 1 Wheeling Central Catholic (27-4) vs. No. 8 James Monroe (20-15), 10 a.m.
No. 4 Logan (20-11) vs. No. 5 Doddridge County (26-8), 50 minutes after first game
No. 2 Frankfort (22-7) vs. No. 7 Lincoln (21-13), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Independence (27-9) vs. No. 6 Buffalo (20-13), 50 minutes after Frankfort-Lincoln game
Semifinals
Thursday, June 11
Wheeling Central Catholic-James Monroe winner vs. Logan-Doddridge County winner, 5 p.m.
Frankfort-Lincoln winner vs. Independence-Buffalo winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal
Championship
Saturday, June 13
Semifinal winners, 50 minutes after Class A final
Class A
Quarterfinals
Today
No. 1 Huntington St. Joseph's (31-3) vs. No. 8 Trinity (13-12), 10 a.m.
No. 4 Gilmer County (27-6) vs. No. 5 Greater Beckley Christian (23-12), 50 minutes after first game
No. 2 East Hardy (21-11) vs. No. 7 Pendleton County (16-16), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Sherman (24-8) vs. No. 6 Madonna (16-13), 50 minutes after East Hardy-Pendleton County game
Semifinals
Thursday, June 11
Huntington St. Joseph's-Trinity winner vs. Gilmer County-Greater Beckley Christian winner, 10 a.m.
East Hardy-Pendleton County winner vs. Sherman-Madonna winner, 50 minutes after first semifinal
Championship
Saturday, June 13
Semifinal winners, 10 a.m.