Road to Wheeling starts now

August 3, 2018

While West Virginia is still 20 days away from the start of the high-school gridiron regular season, teams around the Mountain State started laying the ground work for an end-of-the-year trip to Wheeling Island Stadium this week. Ankles are being taped, helmets broken in, offensive linemen are taking their first real reps and pads started popping today as the foundations are laid for a hopefully successful season. Locally, there are several intriguing storylines for area teams during the 2018 campaign: What is in store for PHS in the second year of the Byus era? ...

Wright on the money

August 2, 2018

It’s always great when local student-athletes excel in their sport of choice. For Gilmer County High School graduate and now West Virginia University Mountaineer Sada Wright, that sport would be throwing. Wright’s two-day run at the AAU Junior Olympics came to a close on Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with her finishing 16th place in the shot put. On Tuesday morning the ex-Titan, who will compete for WVU head coach Sean Cleary, placed fourth in her 17-18 age division in the discus. “No. Obviously not,” Wright quipped when asked about not being pleased with ...

An out-of-the-ordinary trip to Charleston

July 16, 2018

A leisure excursion to the Mountain State’s capital this past weekend was enjoyable, but a bit strange if I am being completely honest. Outings to Charleston or anywhere else aren’t a common occurence for someone as busy as a sports editor. I prefer to stay close to home during the year so as not to miss out on potential story ideas. Coverage of the girls’ basketball, tennis and baseball high school state tournaments, as well quick hellos on my way to Beckley for state soccer activities and Huntington for regional tennis, well summarizes my annual travel log. Work always ...

Indeed a small world

July 15, 2018

Much like three-time All-American heavyweight wrestler Louden Haga of Parkersburg South, who recently gave his verbal commitment to join Robert Dutton Award winner Josh Humphreys at Lehigh University, I also have been out on vacation until returning the middle of this past week. While Haga was enjoying the sun for the last seven days with Ironman champ Braxton Amos in Florida, I had an interesting message left on my voicemail when I returned. Come to find out it was Charles Elliott of Ritchie County — and no he’s not related to Rebel fireballer Chloe Elliott, who made first team ...

‘Austin’ City Limits inside Fort press box

July 11, 2018

Austin Baumgartner’s got a new ‘do. The Fort Frye High senior is sporting a very cool-looking, short Mohawk. It’s kinda reddish in appearance or in that family of colors. It also kind of lights up the Cadet baseball press box, where Baumgartner has been stationed during Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 games this summer. Baumgartner is the voice of “BevLow” — sort of. He doesn’t actually do play-by-play. But he does announce over the PA (public address) system the starting line-ups for both the home and visiting teams. He also lets you know who’s batting, and what changes ...

Sports Talk with Ron Johnston: LeBron’s excellent adventure

July 4, 2018

What does Los Angeles have that Cleveland doesn’t? Well, the most obvious answer right now is National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James. But then, there are other things, too, and some are not so very pleasant, like.... Earthquakes. With $154 million in his pocket, LeBron should be able to afford the home insurance. Smog. I think all big cities have to deal with that but in the case of Los Angeles...do you know what happens when the smog clears? U.C.L.A. Probably didn’t see that one coming, did you? Moving right along... Melanoma. Yes, Los Angeles ...