By Austin Moore
MORGANTOWN — Morgantown High senior Quincy Thornton can do it all.
During his weekly routine with the Mohigans baseball team, Thornton works on weight and conditioning training then heads to Top Prospects training facility for pregame batting practice. He keeps this batting practice in his routine even on non-game days, where after organized practice, he returns to the training facility for an evening session.
Thornton has proven to be a useful team addition throughout his baseball career. Before reaching high school, he spent a lot of time in the outfield, but now is mostly seen in the infield. While spending time on the mound, it is in the shortstop position that he feels at his best.
Which is saying a lot, considering he threw a seven-inning no-hitter May 1 in the OVAC semifinal against Warren (Ohio).
Head coach Pat Sherald has been nothing short of enthused for Thornton this season.
“First and foremost, he’s taken a leadership role as far as being a senior. He has demonstrated our cultural value within our program that we lean on. Really it’s about the respect he’s shown and earned with his teammates,” Sherald said of Thornton. “He’s shown resilience in response to COVID and facing adversity. He lost his season last year and basically lost his sophomore year to injury. He continues to work everyday to compete and perform on the field for us.”
But Thornton’s impact on the team doesn’t end in the dugout.
“He’s been outstanding,” Sherald said. “Really competing for us at the highest level we can ask for. He’s been playing great defense for us at shortstop and has had really big at-bats to drive in runs that have really made a difference in some games.”
In 22 games, Thornton is tied for the team lead with 25 runs scored and he’s also driven in 15 runs and two home runs at the plate.
On the mound, Thornton has thrown the most innings of any Mohigan at 37 1/3 and posted an impressive 1.21 ERA, giving up just five earned runs all season. He’s also struck out 52 batters compared to just 12 walks.
This season has had its obstacles for Thornton and the Mohigans. Outside of staying healthy, the team had to stay conscious of limiting any possible exposure to COVID-19 and the contact tracing investigation that followed.
MHS finished the regular season at 18-4 and will open the postseason at 5 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Brooke in the sectional semifinal.
Thornton doesn’t play baseball just for his love of the sport. He also tributes his play to his family.
“This season it’s for my sister. She was diagnosed with aplastic anemia last year and I wasn’t able to play for her, but this year, it’s for her,” he said. “She’s my motivation for this season. She has really shown me that we can get through anything.”
Thornton holds high hopes for the upcoming postseason.
“We’ve had a target on our back since being ranked first in week one,” he said. “I see us making a trip to Charleston for the state championship, but it’s going to be a tough way there. We have a lot of good teams in our region, but we have to play our best and take it one team at a time.”
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