When Shady Spring laced up the spikes back in March, the goal was the same as in previous years. This time however, the expectations were vastly different.
After stunning county rival Independence last year to advance to the state baseball tournament, this year, Shady was the team with the target on its back.
Along with wearing that target, the Tigers also had to weather the added pressure of knowing anything short of a return trip to Charleston would have been viewed as disappointing.
Naturally, the target and the pressure grew as the year went along.
The target got a little bigger after the Tigers went undefeated in the regular season against the three sectional foes.
The pressure mounted during sectional play when Shady Spring dropped its first meeting against Nicholas County and was forced to battle its way back through the elimination round.
This veteran bunch of Tigers (21-11) however, thrived in the pressure cooker.
Powered by pitching performances that will live forever in Shady Spring baseball lore, the Tigers rebounded for three straight sectional wins, including two over the Grizzlies to capture the coveted title.
A pair of relatively easy wins over PikeView in the regional round punched Shady’s ticket to the big dance which starts Friday night for Class AA.
“These kids love each other. It’s a senior group and there is seven of them along with (junior) Jake (Meadows) who has played with them all his life,” Shady Spring head coach Jordan Meadows said. “They battle. They got down against Nicholas County, but found a way to win. The only thing the older guys thought about all season was getting back to Power Park, now Go-Mart Park. That is all they wanted to do.”
No. 1 seed Winfield (24-7) plays No. 4 seed Lewis County (15-9) at 5 p.m. Friday in the Class AA state tournament opener, while Shady Spring will battle No. 2 seed Keyser (20-6), 50 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
The Tigers have a senior heavy team that has some state tournament experience.
Future Fairmont State pitcher Cam Manns leads the pitching core for Shady with a 4-2 record and a 2.38 Earned Run Average. The hard throwing senior has recorded 89 strikeouts in 53 innings of work.
Manns was on the hill in last year’s state tournament appearance and although the Tigers did not win that game, the experience gained could be the key to success this year.
“The state tournament experience Cam now has really helps him on the mound. When he is dialed in, he is one of the best for sure,” Meadows said. “Cam lives for the pressure and he is smart on the mound. He knows what he needs to throw in each situation. He is dialed in and ready to go.”
Shady has shown during the postseason run over the last couple of weeks that it also has a staff to take some of the “must-win” heat off of Manns.
With the season on the line during sectional play, pitching gems from Colton Tate, Tyler Reed and Jake Meadows were the keys to victory.
Jake Meadows also leads the hitters batting .433 with a .589 on-base percentage and has been a menace on the base paths.
Hitting in the lead-off spot, Meadows has 39 hits and has worked 30 walks. He has 25 runs batted in, 23 stolen bases and has scored 42 times this season.
“Jake really puts it in play and we try to get him to second base anyway that we can,” Meadows said. “He will see five or six pitches to get a good pitch to hit. It’s what he has been taught.”
Manns has been another effective stick at the plate hitting .359 with 28 RBI.
Senior Adam Richmond averages .338 and has 24 RBI, while Tate also hits over .300 with 26 RBI and three home runs in his final season. Richmond has 23 stolen bases and Tate has 21.
Reed has not only been another solid arm on the hill in his senior campaign, he has also been a rock behind the plate for the Tigers with a knack for the clutch hit when his team needs it most.
Senior Parker Brown is just a tick under .300, but leads the team with 32 RBI and 10 doubles.
“All of the seniors are really putting it in play and making stuff happen,” Meadows said.
A trio of underclassmen have made the most of their opportunity this year and have been solid contributors in the postseason as well.
Junior Cash McCall has 19 RBI with a pair of long balls. Sophomore Brody Seabolt has 24 RBI and fellow sophomore Aiden Calvert has knocked in 19 runs, while scoring 28 times.
Keyser comes to Charleston having won 16 of its last 18 games, but Shady will have the edge in regards to the state tournament atmosphere. The Golden Tornado are making it first appearance in the state baseball tournament since 1997.
Besides a loss to Oak Glen in game two of the regional tournament, Keyser’s only setback over the win streak is a loss to AAA University. The Hawks are also in Charleston looking for a shot at the title among the big schools.
Class A opens the tournament with two games starting at 5 p.m. Thursday night, while the Class AAA semifinals will start at 10 a.m. Friday.