By Bill Nestor
Now that the 2023-24 year of high school sporting events is finally in the books, it’s encore time. We are not looking for a rendition of “Free Bird” or for anyone to come back out on stage and take a bow.
It’s North-South time in the great State of West Virginia.
North-South games provide two fantastic opportunities; one is for athletes and the other is for the entire state. Senior players get one last chance to play the sport they love – a swan song if you will. The very best of the best are selected to compete and it provides bragging rights to the Northern or Southern part of the Mountain State – depending on the winner.
The North-South football game will be played on June 15 at South Charleston High School and will tee off at high noon. Lincoln’s Brayden Edgell and Maddox Perine are Harrison County’s lone representatives. Other North Central West Virginia participants include Lewis County’s Brayden Carder, Tyler Carson, and Drew Clayton; North Marion’s Landon Frey, Aaron Hoffman, Nathan Miller, and Casey Minor; East Fairmont’s Avery Brown and Ian Crookshanks; Morgantown’s Braylon Brown and Jaylon Hill; Fairmont Senior’s Gavin Mitchell and Dylan Ours; Phillip Barbour is represented by Keaton McDermott; and Tyler Consolidated sends prolific running back Sean Winfrey to the all-star affair.
Area coaches represented are Lewis County’s Dustin Cogar and North Marion’s Daran Hayes will serve as assistants to Head Coach Marcus Law from Spring Mills. The players will report on June 9 to prepare for the epic battle.
On the diamond, the North-South battle involved a two part series. The most famous words that surround America’s Pastime (let’s play two) came into effect with this showcase. Approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one, two was set to start.
Bridgeport placed the most players on the North roster, which was no real surprise, considering the Indians’ successful campaign. Brody Pierce, Dylan Duvall, and Rowan Michaelis were the key contributors all season and they represented the Tribe on this all-star roster. Notre Dame was represented by Preston Heslep. East Fairmont had a pair of reps on the squad in in Donny Raddish and Ian Griffius. Lewis County had Trenton Hunt and Joey Aman named to the squad.
Also, Grafton’s Issac Lough and Phillip Barbour’s Albert Gonzales round out the area selections.
Recently, one of the best known boys high school basketball coaches in North Central West Virginia retired. East Fairmont’s Tyrone Asterino has hung up his whistle after 20 years as the head man of the Bees program. Astorino amassed 226 wins during his tenure and went out on top. This past year, Astorino guided East Fairmont to the Class AAA boys basketball state semifinals.
Asterino has long been known for developing talent. Case in point is Jackson Caruso, a star on last year’s team that has extended his playing career by signing with West Virginia Wesleyan University.
Astorino is leaving the Bee basketball program in a great place!
That will do for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!