Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Weston Smith bats during the WVSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament semifinals against Hedgesville on Friday, June 6, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Weston Smith bats during the WVSSAC Class AAAA state baseball tournament semifinals against Hedgesville on Friday, June 6, 2025 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
CHARLESTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Weston Smith stood just outside HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s dugout signing autographs for children on Friday after the Redskins defeated Hedgesville 5-3 in the WVSSAC state baseball tournament semifinals.
One little boy was left holding a baseball, but someone had walked off with the pen Smith was using.
Rather than disappoint the youngster, Smith asked assistant coach Eric Brookes if he had another pen. Brookes did. Smith signed the kidÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s baseball and sent him off smiling to show his friends the newly acquired treasure.
Such behavior is one of the reasons Smith was named Gatorade baseball player of the year in West Virginia. The award takes into account on-field and off-field accolades. Smith didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t desire praise for signing the baseballs or talking with the kids. It was just a genuine part of who he is.
A member of the National Honor Society with a 4.03 weighted grade point average, Smith volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and coaches youth baseball.
The on-field stuff, too, is impressive. At the time of his selection, the West Virginia University signee was 10-0 with a 1.36 earned run average and 88 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings.
Opponents were batting a meager .097. Smith also batted .371 with 35 runs batted in and a 1.033 OPS.
Amazing Stats of the Week
Wheelersburg won its fourth state softball title, smacking 33 hits in 11 innings of two games.
The Pirates senior class went 108-4 and won four Southern Ohio Conference titles, four district championships, three regional crowns and three state championships.
South WebsterÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s baseball team set a program record for victories with 20. Logan smacked three triples in a state tournament semifinal and still lost to Philip Barbour, which had no extra-base hits.
Nine of HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 12 runs in the state baseball tournament scored with two outs.
Coach Speak
South Point volleyball coach Kymbria Coleman is the new coach at Hocking College.
Recruiting roundup
OFFERS: Ironton footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Zayne Williams (Toledo). Portsmouth girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Sienna Allen (James Madison). Phoenix Brophy Prep footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jaylen Fitzgerald, son of former Marshall wide receiver Marcus Fitzgerald (Marshall).
VISITS: Huntington High footballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tayveon Wilson (Clemson) and Mason Ramsey (Army).
Notes, Quotes, Anecdotes
Former Ironton basketball standout Samantha LaFon is the new director of student-athlete development at Appalachian State, her alma mater.
Ironton scheduled a football game at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Uniontown (Pennsylvania). The contest replaces a game with Cabell Midland, which will play Columbus DeSales in Ona that weekend.
Offensive lineman Ben Guilliams, son of former Marshall University star Mike Guilliams, transferred from Cabell Midland to Ironton. Portsmouth Notre Dame won the Ohio Division VII softball state championship, outscoring opponents 18-3.
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