HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brodee Lucas (13) pitches to Spring Valley during the Class AAAA Region 4 high school baseball finals on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Hurricane.
Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Gabe Chambers pursues a ball against Cabell Midland during a high school baseball game on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Cabell Midland High School in Ona.
HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brodee Lucas (13) pitches to Spring Valley during the Class AAAA Region 4 high school baseball finals on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Hurricane.
Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Gabe Chambers pursues a ball against Cabell Midland during a high school baseball game on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Cabell Midland High School in Ona.
HURRICANE, W.Va. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Weston Smith and Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Garrett Wagoner were expected to be the stars for their respective baseball teams heading into the Class AAAA Region 4 championship series.
Both seniors had their moments to shine in the best-of-three set, capped by HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 9-3 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday at Lola Meeks Field in Hurricane. However, underclassmen for both teams showed why they were varsity starters this season too.
Brodee Lucas, a sophomore, took the mound for Hurricane in the decisive game of the series. Lucas pitched five innings, allowed six hits and struck out three to help Hurricane earn its first trip to the state tournament since 2022.
Hurricane also had a sophomore on the mound for Game 2. Ryan Bowman pitched all six innings in Spring ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 5-0 win with Wagoner on the mound.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve had some guys step from that class,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hurricane coach Brian Sutphin said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThat sophomore class is a strong class. Not just pitching. ThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a lot of guys who havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t really got a whole lot of time on the varsity field yet who we think are more than capable.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Seniors regularly start in six of HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s nine spots on the field. That didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t leave many opportunities for many of the freshmen and sophomores.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI like our sophomore and junior class,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Sutphin said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOur freshman class, we have a lot of them and some guys that are going to get better.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt is hard to predict year-to-year,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ the coach continued. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSometimes guys, they develop ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” you usually donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t stay the same. I look forward to seeing them develop.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Tyler Baxter is another sophomore who has had a big year for Hurricane. In WednesdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s finale, Baxter was 2 for 3 at the plate with a single, a double and a team-high four RBIs.
Spring Valley is in a similar situation, with young talent set to return to replace the loss of several seniors.
Junior Brody Spencer was one of the TimberwolvesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ top pitchers, coach Austin Pratt said, before an injury prevented him from taking the mound for much of the season.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been fighting the injury bug all year,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Pratt said.
Cole Ferguson, a senior shortstop, tore his hamstring at the end of spring break, according to Pratt. In his place, sophomore Gabe Chambers filled in and performed well.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œGabe Chambers playing shortstop really saved our season,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Pratt said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe stepped up and made some unreal defensive plays. The future is bright for that kid.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The landscape of Class AAAA Region 4 will change next season as the Timberwolves drop to Class AAA. The strongest challenger to a Hurricane repeat is likely Cabell Midland, winner of the two previous Class AAA state championships in the old three-class format. Spring Valley eliminated the Knights this season in the sectional round.
Rick Elmore covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-5122 or relmore@hdmediallc.com. Follow @ElmoreSports on Twitter/X.
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