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PSHS’ Burner to play for Wesleyan College

Signs up to compete as a Bobcat

Photo by Dominic Catacora Todd Burner (center) sits with his parents Todd Burner (father, left) and Amy Burner (mother, right) as he signs up to play baseball at West Virginia Wesleyan college.

PARKERSBURG — Todd Burner, a baseball player from Parkersburg South High School, has signed on to compete for West Virginia Wesleyan College’s baseball team.

“It’s always been a dream to play at the next level,” said Burner. “I just thought it [Wesleyan] was the best fit. It’s a small campus. I didn’t want to go to a big college. I like smaller campuses and smaller class sizes.”

Burner has been throwing a baseball since around the age of 6, and by the time he got to high school he already had the skill set to compete as a freshman.

“He started a couple games his freshman year but, from his sophomore year on he started every game,” said his coach and father Todd Burner.

Throughout his high school career Burner played in various positions, but middle infield is where he decided show up for his team.

“He’s played shortstop the last two years, but he can play second base,” said coach Burner.

During this past season, Burner and his fellow Patriots had finished with a regular season record of 17-6, making it all the way to regionals.

“We made it to regionals and got beat by Hurricane, which they won the state championship,” said Burner.

His team’s season would finish at regionals and this marked the end to Burner’s high school career. Even though he knew that he wanted to continue his baseball career at the next level, he was surprised by how fast his time competing for South came and went.

“It flew by,” said Burner. “It was probably the best four years of my life and it flew by. I didn’t think it would, but it did.”

After the high school baseball season ended, Burner started looking for a higher-ed school where he could study education (his chosen field of study), and a school that would allow him to compete in the game he knows so well. Burner had a couple of offers from different schools and eventually Wesleyan College contacted him.

“They called and wanted us to come up for a visit,” said coach Burner. “So we came up and he really enjoyed the campus and really liked coach Ripley from up there in Wesley.”

After the visit and meeting the baseball coach at Wesleyan, Burner knew he found a school and a home.

“We had orientation last Saturday and I went down there to pick all my classes,” said Burner. “It was kind of overwhelming, but I got to see my roommate.”

Burner goes to school in August and once he gets there he will be competing in inter-squad games.

“They’ll have four games a week up until the weather breaks,” said coach Burner.

Burner ended his high school career as one of the top seniors in his class, making first team all-state this year. As he moves to college he’ll be bringing all the game time experience with him, which will pay dividends when he begins to compete as a Bobcat. Burner’s ultimate goal is to one day be a coach.

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