Mid-Ohio Valley Spring Sports 2026: Doddridge County girls track coming off state title
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WEST UNION -- Faith Ball takes over a position she always dreamed of doing ever since her senior year at Doddridge County High School.
After spending several years as an assistant coach at the high school and guiding the middle school program, the 1995 DCHS graduate is the school's new girls track coach.
"I can remember the specific date and time when I wanted to be a head coach," Ball said. "It was at the state meet and coach (Craig) Kellar said something to our team and I was like the answer was right there. I want to be a head coach."
Kellar stepped down in the offseason but still has his footprints on the current team.
"I actually spoke with him the other day - we see each other a lot because he still subs at the high school as a teacher," Ball said. "He knows me pretty well because I ran for him - he knows my temperament. He knows my work ethic and my mentality.
"He's definitely still involved. I've gone to him a few times and he's come to me with some great advice that I have stored up."
Kellar left with the girls program with plenty of experience returning from a team which claimed a Class A state title.
Payton Trent returns for her senior year after placing in a tie for fourth place as an individual point scorer. She placed second on the 100 and third in the 400 while also contributing a leg on the 4×100 relay which secured a state title.
Classmate Brooke Burnside seeks to defend her title in the shot put and improve upon a fifth-place showing in the discus.
Along with junior Brooke DeHaven and senior Jaycee LIpscomb, Coach Ball touched on leadership the upperclassmen have provided.
"The senior leadership is really good this year," Ball said. "They keep the girls on a positive level. They would love to come home with another state title. You ask them, and they say that's their goal. For me, it's to be on the podium. We'll see.
"I'm hoping that happens. We give them the tools and they just have to perform."
Each member of the boys and girls track programs have their specialty events. Ball works with the hurdles, long jump and high jump. With the new position as head coach, she is making the transition with the paperwork involved and filling out lineups.
"We have a lot of new athletes that are going to be very beneficial to the team," Ball said. "With the freshman class, they're good. I see a lot of potential in them. It's a little bit different of a program going from middle school to the high school level.
"We also have some new ones who have never run track before. They are getting it. All these kids are finding their way."
DCHS bumps up a class to double-A for the 2026 season.
"We have some new things we are trying that we don't want to leak out," Ball said. "But it's going to be interesting. I think we can definitely compete in Class AA."
"This team is very mature and very seasoned. Overall, I am pleased with how everything is going so far."
BOYS TRACK
After creating the perfect storm as Class A state champions last season, the Doddridge County boys track program attempts to duplicate those results at the Class AA level this season.
The Bulldogs have a bulk of the same athletes returning.
Now, it's just a matter of turning in times and distances which will put them in position for another podium experience.
"Last year, we were very fortunate to stay healthy for the most part - especially at the end of the season," DCHS boys track Bobby Burnside said. "Last year's state title gives us a lot of momentum going into this season. I've had some special teams - last year was one of my most special teams as far as having a tremendous season. We didn't lose a meet. We won conference and regional and had some really big performances at state."
Several members from the boys basketball team which qualified for the Class AA state tournament are acclimating their bodies to track.
"They are not anywhere close to being ready to get into track shape, but they will get there," Burnside said.
Tommy Walters-Hickman seeks to raise the bar as one of the fastest sprinters to ever walk the halls at DCHS. Last year as a freshman, he tied for fifth in individual scoring after placing second in both the 100 and 200.
His time in the 100 at the state meet became one of the 10 fastest times ever recorded in any class all-time.
"We are looking for Tommy to be even more productive," Burnside said.
Senior Jerod Trent gives DCHS a viable source after finishing in the top 5 in both the 200 and 400. Classmate Brycen Eidel is a medal contender in both hurdle events.
At state, DCHS swept the top three positions in the pole vault and all three individuals (Tristan Swiger, Trey McDonough and Nathanael Lloyd) are back for another go-round.
The Bulldogs scored major points in the throws behind the trio of Aaron Glaspell, Jacob Britton and Jaden Solomon.
Of the 18 events at the state meet, there were only three events where the Bulldogs did not score. Coach Burnside is tweaking the lineup to find candidates to fill those events.
"We had a lot of depth and scored multiple people in just about every event," Burnside said. "I am very excited to see if some athletes improve from last year. Multiple kids had really good seasons and had great performances. I hope they mature and beat their marks from last season. We have to stay healthy.
"The guys tasted success last year and they want to keep it going. They have very high goals."
SOFTBALL
Regional realignment didn't do Doddridge County softball any favors.
Granted, the Bulldogs won't have to contend with long-time nemesis Petersburg, which prevented DCHS from advancing to the state tournament on numerous occasions.
On the other hand, DCHS must deal with the likes of Oak Glen and Weir in Class AA, Region I. Last year, Oak Glen won the Class AA state title, while Weir finished third in Class AAA.
"It was disappointing last year - even though Petersburg beat us we felt we deserved to be there," DCHS coach Wes Ezell said. "I felt like we were one of the top four teams in the state.
"The SSAC switched the format and eight teams now qualify for state. But they switched us to another region and brought in Weir which is one of the largest double-A schools to go along with the likes of Oak Glen, Ravenswood and Williamstowns."
DCHS graduated only one player from a team which finished 27-7. It's a pivotal loss, to say the least, with leadoff hitter Olivia See who batted a team-leading .475 as a senior.
"You never think losing just one kid in the lineup is going to affect a lot," Ezell said. "But you move someone out of that spot and it typically mixes up the whole lineup.
"The kids will get used to it. A lot of times it works itself out. The kids will get over the anxiety of batting leadoff because usually it happens just that first time in a game."
DCHS brings back plenty of firepower with the likes of Brooke DeHaven (.438, 10 homers,46 RBIs), Isabella Holtz (.458, 40 RBIs), Hadley Ross (.345, 5 HRs, 27 RBIs) and Madison Curran (.372, 23 RBIs).
"We are really excited about the interest in softball here at Doddridge," Ezell said. "We had 18 kids come out, which is rare for us. Typically, we don't get a lot of kids to come out. We kept 11 - we lose five seniors after this season so we anticipate girls who tried to make it this year to return."
In addition to the two freshmen on the roster, DCHS is set in the pitching department. All three individuals (Tesa Mayle, Madelyn Barker and Kamryn Satterfield) enter their sophomore season.
"It's just amazing how far they have progressed," Ezell said. "Playing travel ball and high school ball is different and difficult. Travel ball provides great experiences and life-long friendships, while in high school ball you are doing it for your community. You are playing for that one elusive trophy."
During Easter Break at the high school, the softball team travels to Myrtle Beach for a week and plays games against schools typically larger in enrollment.
"We usually play better down there because we don't know these teams, so there is no intimidation factor," Ezell said.
DCHS is careful not to get caught up in the experience factor because opposing teams on its schedule could also improve during the offseason. Yet, it gives the Bulldogs a base to work from - almost as if they are in mid-season form when the schedule kicks off.
"Right now, everyone is comfortable with one another - we know we have to work individually to get better at what they do," Ezell said.
BASEBALL
If the season-opener is any indication, Doddridge County baseball fans can expect plenty of excitement for the upcoming season.
Caleb Hall's walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Bulldogs to a 4-2 win.
"We have an experienced group which played together all summer and into the fall," said Nathan Wright, who enters his fourth season as the head coach at DCHS. "We do have a pretty tough schedule which can only make us better come playoff time."
DCHS graduated only two seniors from a ballclub which accumulated 17 wins. The Bulldogs have won 60 games in Wright's first three seasons at the helm.
"My first year we won 24 games and advanced to regionals - before I took over it had been a long time since Doddridge County had winning seasons consistently. We are trending in the right direction. The boys have put in the time and worked hard during the offseason to prepare for this season."
DCHS shifts into Class AA this year and joins a region with the likes of Williamstown and Wheeling Central. The two teams from each region advance to the eight-team field at the state tournament - an increase of four teams from years past.
"We have a pretty tough region - to be honest we are ready to tackle this different format and feel we have a good opportunity to make states considering they are taking two teams.
"The biggest thing comes down to pitching. Do we have the pitching to throw strikes and give us an opportunity to win. You need timely hitting, but it starts with pitching."
DCHS boasts a strong senior class with Malachi Kelley, Josh DeHaven, Luke Rokisky and Hall. Hall (University of Charleston) and Rokisky (Potomac State) have signed to play at the next level. Both individuals are joined in the pitching staff by the likes of Tristan Swiger, Evan Kelley, Hunter Hayhurst, Josh DeHaven, Malachi Kelley and Brody Brocklemon.
DeHaven registered a 1.60 earned-run average while throwing 33 innings last season.
"We have options - I feel comfortable with any of those guys in tough situations," Wright said. Among the candidates to patrol the outfield depending on who is pitching, the Bulldogs have Rokisky, Hall, Evan Kelley, Hayhurst and DeHaven.
Infield positions will be covered by the likes of Brocklemon and Swiger and Malachi Kelley up the middle and Dayne Murphy and Malachi Kelley at third base.Malachi Kelley and DeHaven will occupy first base as well.
At catcher, the majority of the catching duties belong to sophomore Maxwell Nicholson. When needed, coach Wright won't hesitate to utilize Hall even though he throws left-handed.
"Maxwell spent 95% of the time as our catcher during his freshman year - he has a fair amount of experience playing over the summer and fall. He is willing to take control of a game. He is like our quarterback in a game.
"Caleb does throw left-handed, but to be honest I would not try to run on him."
During the offseason, DCHS used nearly a week's worth of flex days to work out at West Virginia University's indoor bio-mechanic center.
"That was a great experience for the guys," Wright said.
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com