MORGANTOWN — It’s not hard to find the source of the recent success of the University High School baseball program.
It’s the players.
The Hawks, who dropped a 3-1 decision to Hedgesville in the Class AAA state semifinals last year, sent five of their 10 seniors on to play college baseball from that team. This year, they are sending five more.
According to Virtual Dugout, a social media account that follows baseball recruiting, UHS has more college commits than any other program in the state.
“The credit has to go to the kids and their hard work,” UHS head coach Brad Comport said. “It’s their hard work as well as the community. I think the guys at Post 2 and Top Prospects do a great job of teaching these guys the game at a high level. The kids work tirelessly year around about getting stronger and getting better at the game. Their dedication goes a long way.”
Brodee Latocha and Mason Chaney have both committed to play at West Liberty, Wenkai Campbell is signed to play at the University of Charleston, Riley Anderson will play at Southeast Community College – Beatrice next year while Mason McDonald is signed to the University of South Carolina Lancaster.
Three of those players, Chaney, Anderson and McDonald, transferred to UHS this year. But the Hawks have had success with placing kids on college rosters in the past three years. Twelve of the 20 seniors during this span are now playing or signed to play college baseball. Two others are playing college football.
Assistant coach Donnie Gilbert has been a driving force behind recruiting, Comport said.
“Our whole motto is we will play anybody any time, anywhere,” Gilbert said. “Our kids honestly believe they are better than they really are and that starts with the hard work they put in during the off-season. They live in the weight room and play as many sports as they can. As soon as school starts, our kids are in the weight room. I think that is a big difference between our team and a lot of other teams. I think we look really imposing.”
Latocha, a three-year starter, has been around the UHS program since he was in middle school attending optional workouts with the Hawks. His dream of playing college baseball is realized and he said the coaching staff at UHS has helped that journey.
“The coaching staff has been great,” Latocha said. “They really pump us up and tell us what it will be like in college and what to be ready for. I have played baseball my whole life and I wanted to keep playing — UHS helped achieve that goal.”
Gilbert said the entire Morgantown community is enjoying a renaissance of baseball talent in the area.
“Baseball is at a peak right now in Morgantown,” Gilbert said. “(MHS head coach) Pat Sherald is an unbelievable coach and is doing great things with that program. Our JV team is playing everybody they can. The quality of baseball is amazing. The parents are getting kids involved earlier and it really shows.”
University’s staff is loaded with former college players, too. Comport played four years at Seton Hill University, assistant coaches Patrick Boyer (Seton Hill) and Seth Scoville (Heidelberg University) both played in college while the Hawks’ JV coach, Mitch Nordstrom, played at Alderson-Broaddus and Waynesburg University.
“It’s definitely beneficial to have a staff that played the game at a high level,” Comport said. “But that wasn’t my number one priority. Look no further than coach Gilbert, who was a really successful high school player in the state and has been teaching and coaching a long time. We are just really fortunate and really lucky to have these guys with us at the right time.”
Gilbert and Comport both said it has been beneficial that all but Scoville are teachers at UHS. They are in the building and are always accessible to the athletes.
“When you have a program, you want to look at the big picture,” Comport said. “Being able to help them academically and just to talk with them has been helpful and beneficial to us building a program.”
In 2022, UHS had Aaron Forbes, the 2022 OVAC 5A Player of the Year, sign with Salem and Chase George go to Davis & Elkins. From the 2023 team, Cody Thomas (Salem), Jett Walters (Davis & Elkins), Park Croyle (Davis & Elkins), Gabe Jansen (Indiana, Pa.) and Gabe Templeton (Potomac State) all signed with colleges.
Maybe the best player of the bunch was Noah Braham, who won the 2023 Lowery Award as the best baseball player in the state last season. He’s now playing tight end for WVU football. Fellow 2023 graduate Jake Croston is playing football for Fairmont State.
By ERIC HERTER
TWEET @DomPostSports
