The final game of the Class A baseball championship unfolded under bright lights, with Sherman High School emerging victorious after a tightly contested match.
Tagliente’s Masterful Shutout
Senior right-hander Luke Tagliente delivered a two-hit shutout on 98 pitches, striking out nine batters and allowing just four unearned runs, a performance that capped a season in which he finished 13-0 with a 0.68 ERA.
His dominance on the mound was reflected in a season-long record of 13 wins without a loss, 99 strikeouts in 67⅔ innings and a microscopic .090 opponent batting average.
At the plate, Tagliente contributed three hits and two runs in the semifinal win over Pendleton County, underscoring his all-round impact.
A Balanced Offensive Attack
East Hardy’s Evan Hamilton, a three-peat honoree, posted a .573 average, stole 45 bases and drove in 30 runs, while Gilmer County’s Kolten Holbert combined a .450 batting average with 50 hits, 32 stolen bases and a 2.27 ERA on the mound.
Cameron’s Kason Angel shifted to a utility role, hitting .359 and adding 30 stolen bases, and Parker Hopkins of Sherman posted a .491 average with a strong arm that resulted in 11 successful pickoffs.
Greater Beckley Christian’s Paul Fox batted .375 and drove in three home runs, while pitcher-hitter Casey Burkhammer posted a 0.68 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 61⅓ innings.
The second team was led by Gilmer County senior Jacob Stewart, who threw six innings of two-hit relief in the championship loss and finished the season with a 1.66 ERA and a .328 batting average.
West Virginia Sports Writers Association recognized the achievements, highlighting the depth of talent across the state and celebrating the athletes who will continue their careers at the collegiate level.