Latest news with #ClassAAAA
Dominion Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Preston High quarterback Slaton Manko excited for senior season after a breakout 2024 campaign
KINGWOOD – Preston High School quarterback Slaton Manko was one of the top breakout stars of the 2024 WV high school football season after an impressive campaign for the Knights. The rising senior amassed 2,428 total yards and 27 touchdowns offensively under center for the Knights last season, while also playing a role on defense with 24 tackles. His efforts earned him a spot on the Class AAA all-state second-team as a utility player, and Manko returns this season with renewed confidence and a clear mindset as he prepares to lead PHS in the fall. 'The experience I gained from my freshman and sophomore years playing varsity helped my confidence a ton going into last season,' Manko said. 'I've also had some great playmakers and a good offensive scheme and game plan from Coach Sims. I've always tried to lead by example, and being an upperclassman helped me take that to a new level.' Manko led the Knights with 1,744 yards through the air at a 53% completion percentage and 18 touchdowns to only six interceptions. He was also the leading rusher on the team, with 684 yards and nine touchdowns on 154 carries. His breakout game came against East Fairmont in the Buckwheat Bowl, a 48-20 victory, in which Manko totaled 487 yards of offense and six touchdowns. That came a week after he rushed for 100 yards and threw for 199 yards with three scores against Robert C. Byrd. Heading into summer, Manko says there isn't an aspect of his game he isn't trying to improve continually. 'I just want to continue to get better,' he said. 'Whether it's faster, stronger, or more knowledgeable, the goal is for the team to put out a product on the field that we and Preston County can be proud of. There's nothing like playing on Friday night, and with this being my senior season, I'm excited to battle week in and week out with my brother and give my all for our team.' The Knights competed in Class AAA in 2024, but will move back to Class AAAA with the newly implemented class realignment, which is strictly based on enrollment. PHS sits less than 10 students above the cutoff for Class AAA. Still, Manko believes he and his team have what it takes to succeed at the highest level of high school football in the state, and their confidence remains unwavering despite the competition. 'We don't always have the same number of players the other team has on the roster, but we have the same amount of effort and drive to compete at the highest level,' Manko said. 'I just want to be able to get the most out of my teammates and coaches, and hopefully the results will take care of themselves with the work we put in. I think we have a lot of talent, but we will have some new starters on both sides of the ball. It's about giving our maximum effort every play. If we do that, I think we will be successful.' Manko and the Knights will open the 2025 season by visiting Hampshire in Week 1.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Clemson running back dismissed from team announces transfer destination
Former Clemson athlete Marquise Henderson has officially found a new home, announcing on Wednesday that he's transferring to Liberty following his dismissal from the Tigers' program last week. Henderson, a four-star prospect out of Belton-Honea Path High School in South Carolina, was a member of Clemson's 2024 signing class and one of the early enrollees this spring. Unfortunately, injuries limited his ability to participate in practices, and he was never able to make an on-field impact during his short time with the program. Clemson originally signed Henderson as an athlete with plans to start him at wide receiver. His versatility made him an intriguing addition, as he had excelled on both sides of the ball and on special teams during his prep career. He was best known for his explosive play at running back, where he racked up eye-popping stats at Belton-Honea Path. Over 47 games, Henderson rushed for a school-record 6,369 yards on 577 carries—an average of 11 yards per rush—and totaled nearly 8,000 all-purpose yards. He also returned kicks and played a key role in leading his team to the Class AAAA state semifinals in 2024. Though his time at Clemson didn't pan out, Henderson now gets a fresh start with Liberty, where he'll look to reignite the promise he showed as one of the top in-state recruits in the 2024 class. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Dominion Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Morgantown falls to Hurricane in Class AAAA state championship, 6-1
CHARLESTON – The Morgantown High School baseball team fell to top-seeded Hurricane 6-1 in the inaugural Class AAAA state baseball championship on Saturday night at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston. Hurricane starting pitcher Weston Smith struck out 13 batters, allowing only three hits and one unearned run in the contest after a shaky start. But the 2025 WV Gatorade Player of the Year settled in and led his team to a fifth state title for the Redskins, and the first Class AAAA state title ever. 'Whenever the defense steps up and when your team is swinging the bat pretty well, it makes it pretty easy to settle in for your guys,' Smith said. 'That's what you prepare for all season. All winter, we are working, trying to get ready. It showed today.' 'Listen, I love this group,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'I'm just so proud of them. They're a very mature group of young men who showed up every day and did everything we asked while working their butts off. Unfortunately, we came up short today against a very talented team and pitcher. We knew we would have to scratch and claw for every opportunity, and we played this year with that mentality.' MHS jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning after a pair of defensive miscues and an infield single made way for Vinnie Aloi's groundout that brought Weston Mazey home for a 1–0 advantage. Hurricane responded in the bottom of the second as Braylan Hutchison tied the game with an RBI double, and Brady Rigney followed with a run-scoring groundout to give the Redskins a 2–1 lead. The Redskins loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, threatening to extend the lead. Tyler Baxter lofted a high fly ball to left field, but a miscommunication in the outfield allowed it to drop, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 5–1. Hurricane added a sixth before the end of the inning to lead 6-1 after four innings. Morgantown threatened in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Smith responded once again and escaped the jam with another strikeout to keep the advantage at five runs. Morgantown finishes its 2025 campaign with 27 wins as Region I and OVAC 5A champions. It was the first appearance for MHS in a state title game since 1976. 'This program has taken incremental steps all season,' Sherald said. 'If we keep playing for the name on the front of our jersey and keep a team-first mentality, I really like the direction we are trending in. This senior class is outstanding, and we will miss their impact on our team and program. I know the players see what our coaching staff sees and if we stay focused and keep working hard, we will get there one day.' BOX SCORE Hurricane 6, Morgantown 1 MHS 100 000 0 – 1 3 2 HHS 020 400 X – 6 8 2 Morgantown (27-11) – Mazey 3100 Bowers 3010 Silvers 2010 Bredeson 3000 Aloi 3001 Thornton 1000 Joseph 3000 Henkins 3010 Nipper 3000 Hurricane (29-7) – Shirkey 3100 Baxter 4113 Smith 4000 Ocheltree 3120 Fleece 3120 Hutchison 3011 Rigney 3111 Sutton 2110 2B: Hutchison, Rigney, Baxter (W) Smith: 7.0ip 3h 1r 1bb 13k (L) Boggs: 6.0ip 8h 6r 3bb 3k
Dominion Post
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Messerly's relief effort sees Morgantown through to Class AAAA state title game with 7-5 semifinal victory over George Washington
CHARLESTON – The Morgantown High School baseball team earned its spot in the Class AAAA state championship game with a gritty 7-5 victory in the semifinals of the 2025 WVSSAC state baseball tournament on Friday night at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston. Senior relief pitcher Judd Messerly entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and a 6-5 lead as the Patriots had scored five runs in the frame. Messerly finished the game on the bump for the Mohigans, allowing only one hit in 3.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts in 45 pitches. His effort, combined with a five-run second inning, propelled the Mohigans into the Class AAAA state championship game to battle top-seeded Hurricane Saturday night. The Redskins defeated Hedgesville 5-3 in the other AAAA semifinal. 'We came into a tough environment tonight against a very talented team and showed a high level of maturity to pull that win out,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'I can't tell you how proud I am of their effort tonight. Our mission was to come down here, compete, have fun, and give ourselves a chance to win a championship. They've answered that call, so now it's time to go back and rest up and come out prepared to face another very talented team.' Offensively, senior Vinnie Aloi was the difference for MHS as he drove in four runs in the contest, including a bases-clearing double that capped a five-run second inning. His sacrifice fly in the first inning opened the scoring. Sammy Watson reached on an infield single, followed by a walk to Kai Henkins. After two strikeouts, a pitch hit Bowers to load the bases, and a walk to Koa Silvers forced in a run, doubling the lead. Just three pitches later, Jackson Bredeson was also hit by a pitch, bringing in another run. With the bases still loaded, Aloi stepped up and delivered a massive blow with his double off the left field wall that cleared the bases and brought all three runners home, extending the lead to 6-0. George Washington punched back in the fourth with a five-run inning of its own, including a three-run double by Corbin Dixon off the left field wall. Messerly then entered the game for MHS and stopped the bleeding, making way for his offense to add an insurance run in the top half of the sixth. 'I literally told them 'thank you' after that happened,' Messerly said. 'That was such a huge run and helped me settle down in that seventh inning when my nerves started to set in. My heart started beating pretty fast in that last inning.' Sherald says Messerly has earned the nickname 'The Fireman'. 'When everything's burning down around, we call on him to come in and put out the fire for us, and that's exactly what he did,' Sherald said. He competed for us. We've put him in every high-leverage situation that we've had this season, and he's gone out and just competed for us.' Morgantown and Hurricane will battle for the Class AAAA state championship in the nightcap of Championship Saturday, with first pitch being scheduled for 50 minutes after the conclusion of the Class AAA championship, slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. BOX SCORE Morgantown 7, George Washington 5 MHS 150 001 0 – 7 4 1 GWHS 000 500 0 – 5 6 1 Morgantown – Mazey 3100 Bowers 2211 Silvers 2101 Bredeson 2101 Aloi 2014 Boggs 4000 Watson 3020 Henkins 3100 Nipper 2000 2B: Aloi 3B: Bowers George Washington – Fala 2111 Dixon 4013 Smith 3000 Kelley 4000 Gordon 2000 Barton 4110 Nelson 3120 Ellis 2100 Stewart 2100 2B: Dixon 3B: Nelson (W) Messerly: 3.1ip 1h 0r 2bb 2k (L) Barton 1.2ip 2h 6er 5bb 3k
Dominion Post
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
University softball bows out of 2025 state tournament with 5-1 defeat to Jefferson
SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team saw its 2025 season come to a close in the WVSSAC state softball tournament at Little Creek Park on Saturday morning with a 5-1 defeat to Jefferson in an elimination game to kick off Day 2 of action. The Cougars used a strong outing in the circle from Jersey Rummel and some sound defense behind her to stifle the Hawks' normally potent offense and earn their way into the Class AAAA championship series later this afternoon against Cabell Midland. 'We just didn't get the hits we needed when we needed them,' MHS head coach Mindy Parks said. 'It was a very situational game, and things just didn't go our way. It happens that way sometimes, and we know that.' Eight hits yielded only one run as the Hawks stranded eight runners on base. Three of those hits came in the top of the first inning as it seemed UHS had momentum early, loading the bases with only one out. Lexi Elza hit a bouncer to the pitcher that allowed Maddie Campbell to score the game's opening run, but the Hawks wouldn't cross the plate again in the contest. A four-run third inning gave Jefferson the boost it needed to take control and never look back in a key postseason matchup against University High School. The Cougars strung together five consecutive hits to open the third, starting with a run-scoring double from Brooke Allen. Grace Dodson and Savannah Smith followed with RBI singles, and Caroline Abe capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Jefferson a 4–1 lead. From that point on, Rummel settled in, allowing just one hit per inning from the second through the sixth. With a comfortable lead behind her, she pitched confidently, trusting her defense. Jefferson added another run in the sixth when Ainsley Phillips led off with a triple and scored on Madison Clark's double, giving Rummel a four-run cushion to finish the final two frames. The Cougars finished with 13 hits, led by Allen, who went 3-for-4. Rummel, Smith, and Clark each had two hits. For UHS, Sophia Lehosit allowed four runs over two innings, while Maddie Campbell delivered five strong innings in relief, giving up just one run on five hits. University High, last year's Class AAA state champion, ended the season 24-7-1. A tough 6–5 loss to Cabell Midland on Friday night pushed them into the losers' bracket, making their path back to the title an uphill battle. 'We know what it's like to be in the winner's bracket, and we said last night this is going to be hard,' said head coach Parks. 'We didn't get in bed until midnight, and then we're up early, but that's just part of the game. Yesterday was a very long day for everybody.' UHS will say goodbye to a lone senior in Kelsey Park, whose impact will be missed, but will return key players on the team next season as the Hawks aim to return to Little Creek Park to fight for a state championship. 'We'll be back,' Parks said. 'I'm confident in that. These girls will be hungry next season. BOX SCORE Jefferson 5, University 1 UHS 100 000 0 – 1 8 0 JHS 004 001 0 – 5 13 1 University (1-2) – Park 4020 Campbell 4100 Lehosit 3010 Masoner 3010 Elza 3021 Cox 3000 Brown 3010 Shaver 2010 Royce 2000 Jefferson (2-1) – Cowan 4010 Rummel 4120 Munslow 4110 Allen 4131 Dodson 4111 Smith 3021 Abe 2001 Phillips 3110 Clark 3021 3B: Phillips (W) Rummel 7.0ip 9h 1r 1bb 1k (L) Lehosit 2.0ip 8h 4r 1bb 2k
