Mid-Ohio Valley Spring Sports 2026: Parkersburg South baseball to have ‘small ball’ identity
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PARKERSBURG -- It's all about next man up for the Parkersburg South baseball team.
Of the 11 seniors who graduated from a 19-13 season, the trio of Dylan Holliday, Carter McLain and Ty Davis each collected more than 100 hits during their career as a Patriot.
"This year, we are young," said South coach Bryan Youngblood, who enters his third season with the program. "We have seasoned players in Eli Davis - a four-year starter at shortstop, and senior Easton Walker, who is also a multi-year starter. As far as pitching, we do have a lot of arms, so we will see how this will play out.
"Our identity is small ball. Put the ball in play and force the defense to make plays. We will steal here and there. We have to use our speed and use small ball to manufacture runs."
A harsh winter delayed the progress on the new softball-softball complex at Erickson All-Sports Complex. South's approach continues to cater to the vast dimensions at Hank Greenberg Field where the Patriots will continue to host games until further notice.
"I love winter, I love snow and the Christmas season for something different - but I was hoping for not a lot of snow," Youngblood said."We had a parents meeting and I told them I was sorry I jinxed it because we got a lot of snow. The construction workers have been doing their absolute best at the new field. They have been making a lot of progress.
"But we do have the Hank ready to go. Some of the parents have done a lot of work on it. The parents helped me out and were proactive about using the Hank this year."
In addition to Davis and Walker, seniors Drew VanFossen andJosh Benson provide experience. Out of the junior class, Seth Menarchek keeps the family tree intact at South after watching several brothers play for the Patriots.
Coach Youngblood is high on Easton Miller and the offseason work he put in at catcher.
"Easton is a left-handed hitting catcher - he really worked on his release and catching skills," Youngblood said. "He looks good in the cage and hits the ball hard. Probably a middle-of-the-lineup hitter for us."
Twin brothers Logan and Jackson McVey figure to see plenty of work in the outfield. Brandon Forshey is a left-handed pitcher who will start and come out of the bullpen. Ben Howell is another member on the pitching staff.
Returning for their sophomore year are CJ McCartney and Peyton West. West pitched through several clutch situations last season.
"It's tough to lose guys like Parker Vannoy and Dyland Holliday - those guys were always consistent," Youngblood said. "We do have consistency again in what we have this year."
Youngblood mentioned how Walker grew as a player during Beverly-Lowell's American Legion state title run last summer.
"Easton had real good success playing for Beverly-Lowell," Youngblood said. "He threw a combined no-hitter and was the winning pitcher in the state title game that beat a legion team from Cincinnati who were all college kids."
Coach Youngblood is excited about the new postseason format which divides Class AAAA into a North and South region. Four teams from each region advance to state.
Last season, South gave eventual state champion Hurricane all it could handle in the postseason.
"We were right there," Youngblood said."Hurricane has that championship pedigree, which is something we don't have right now but we are trying to build. We are starting to get more and more multi-sport athletes on the team. Competing in multi-sports in pressure and championship situations will do nothing but help the baseball program."
SOFTBALL
Parkersburg South softball has been chomping at the bit ever since the eventual Class AAAA state champion ended the Patriots' season.
South completed a 19-8 campaign and ranked as one of the top teams in the state - only to be joined in the same regional by a Cabell Midland team which rolled through the state field without a loss.
"I was very anxious to get this season going again knowing we competed against a great Cabell Midland team," said South coach Tim Burch, who enters his ninth season with the program. "We wanted to see what we could do and make some noise at a state tournament. However, one of the top teams in the state wasn't there."
The postseason format has changed for the upcoming season. Class AAAA has been divided into a North and South region. The likes of Cabell Midland and Hurricane remain in South's region, but four teams from each region advance to the state tournament.
"Our region will be battling and knocking heads again this year," Burch said.
Another change - South shifts into the Mountain State Athletic Conference, playing schools traditionally on its schedule.
"Now it means something," Burtch said. "It's a league that is a better fit for us. We are the new kids on the block and we plan to win it."
One of the top arms in the state returns to South for her sophomore year. Annistin Shelton, who was already receiving serious looks from the elite Division I college programs throughout the country entering her freshman year, is again the Patriots' main threat on the mound.
"Annie's work ethic has definitely not changed through the offseason - she is a work horse," Burch said. "I have noticed she is relaxed a little more and settled into the high school softball season. You can see it in every aspect of her game. It will only be good for us and bad for everybody else."
Burch has seen his senior class, most noticeably Shyanne Hays and Payton Macker, welcome the underclassmen into the program and make everyone feel part of the family.
"The seniors are showing what leadership can be,"Burch said. "With the younger girls, we are hoping to develop and get them to a point where the game slows down and their heart is not pounding.
"We will be playing some younger kids and I expect them to do well. The veterans are getting them to where they are supposed to be and knowing what they are supposed to do."
Also back from a year ago are catcher Addison Moon and second baseman Kailey Lockhart. Freshman Abbie Corbin has opened a few eyes as someone who can play catcher and the outfield.
"The freshmen are settling in," Burch said. "Girls who play travel ball, playing high school ball makes a big difference. In travel ball, you may practice twice a week and play on Saturday. In high school, you play every single day, so there will be a transition on their bodies."
Waiting in the wings behind Shelton and figured to receive their share of innings this season are junior Aubrey Titus, and freshmen Bryleigh Pickens and MacKenzie Inman.
"We are like the Ohio State Buckeyes - we don't rebuild, we reload," Burch said. "We are able to maintain consistency because of the support from the administration. We keep the girls moving as soon as school is over. In our program, we use flex days from summer to fall to winter."
TENNIS
The Parkersburg South tennis program acquired a host of freshmen for the girls team in the offseason, but on the flip side the boys are seeking to retool after graduating five seniors.
The Patriots return their No. 1 singles player from a year in sophomore Max Boyd and have a solid top three atop both lineups.
"Max has improved a lot since last season - he has been working hard," South coach Lucy Holland said. "He has been going to clinics and is very serious about the sport. He is still young."
Boys is followed by senior Zach Farnsworth and junior Jackson Carmicle.
Carmicle has held steady at the No. 3 position after enjoying success in middle school in both singles and doubles.
"Jackson is a hustler and that's why he has worked his way to No. 3," Holland said.
On the girls side, Audrey Smith starts the season at No. 1 followed by fellow senior Hannah Raper and sophomore Bella Metz. Metz is a human backboard, usually keeping opponents on the court as the last match.
"Personality-wise, Audrey and Hannah are so calm," Holland said. "Bella is like a wolf - she is very consistent. Off all the matches we play, hers is the last match because she keeps the ball in play."
South switches over to the Mountain State Athletic Conference for the first time in Holland's 18 years spent within the Patriots tennis program both as an assistant and head coach. As a member of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, South claimed three team titles.
"We are going to miss going to the OVAC Tournament," Holland said. "The MSAC will be something new for us."
TRACK
Delegate is a term which carries extra meaning when the topic is Parkersburg South track and field.
After overseeing the girls team for several years, Jones takes on added responsibility and oversees South's boys and girls teams.
"I may have 'head coach' by my name, but it's a team of dedicated coaches that truly makes our team special," Jones said. "I'm blessed to have some great assistant coaches to take some of the stress off me."
South will be looking at Kymani Prince to provide points on the girls side, while Jordan Foster will cover the same responsibilities on the boys side.
Last year at the state meet, Foster placed sixth in the 110 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles.
"Jordan has been successful at the state track meet in years past," Jones said. "He has lifted in the offseason and seems stronger. He is working on getting faster and getting over the hurdles faster. We are looking forward to what he will do his senior season."
News that she was ranked preseason No.1 in the long jump has motivated Prince for her senior year. She placed at the state meet a year ago.
"My goal this year is to win at the state meet," Prince said. "Since last season, I've done a lot of college tours, which has motivated me to run track in college. So that has kind of kept me on track.
"Now I actually have to work out.I have to get good. I'm going to the gym trying to strengthen my legs and doing other things to prevent further injuries. Really, I'm prioritizing the long jump because typically I was a hurdler."
South girls qualified in four relays last season. The goal is to duplicate that number if not extend by one.
"Our girls did gain some great experience last year," Jones said. "When you have experienced athletes, it makes it easier to teach and motivate newcomers to learn and succeed. We have some new faces we are trying out in our relays. Can't wait to see what they can do."
The roster features a combined 15 incoming freshmen
"The freshmen have come in with great attitudes and have worked hard so far this season," Jones said. "We have a great group of distance runners who are ready to make their mark, and some sprinters and hurdlers ready to contribute to our relays."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com