By Stephen Smoot
It’s early in the high school football season with several weeks remaining before playoff time, but there are some stories brewing. The reclassification issue picked ip momentum just before week one and it has been ever-changing since then with more movement than a busy elevator. Several teams are not happy with their landing spot and they have looked to change the narrative, causing a domino effect that leaves a devastating wake in their path.
Saturday morning after the opening night of gridiron action, news came out that Doddridge County judge Tim Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction the day prior, stopping the WVSSAC from moving Doddridge County High School to Class AA. The injunction restored the Bulldogs back to their familiar spot in Class A.
No one is sure if this move will stick or if there will be similar injunctions to follow, which has fans, players, and coaches on high alert waiting for the ball to once again drop. It feels like someone has indeed dropped the ball because the focus has shifted away from the players and their respective teams. Order needs to be restored soon so we can all get back to the business at hand.
Last week, I had the opportunity to check out the West Virginia Black Bears in their second to last home game of the season. It was the first time that I’ve been to one of their games since 2022. The two to one win was as exciting as it gets with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. The most noticeable difference between my trips to the Kendrick Family Ballpark was the decrease in fan support.
It has decreased dramatically inn such a short amount of time. It isn’t because of the team’s play, as the Black Bears were in the hunt for a post season bid with the thrilling win over Mahoning Valley. I wanted to offer a friendly public service announcement to all those hard ball fans in the Mountain State. You don’t know what you have got till it’s gone. In other words, if you like having the team in Morgantown, make plans to catch some games next year and for years to come.
It’s a great family tradition to develop and this opportunity shouldn”t be taken for granted.
In early May, Major League Baseball announced that the West Virginia Black Bears had committed to staying in Morgantown through 2030. The Black Bears are one of six teams that comprise the highly successful MLB Draft League. The League has been involved with over 200 player signings since 2021. There are plans in the works to grow the MLB Draft League by two more squads, which is a 33 percent growth.
As promising as this is for the League, it doesn’t guarantee that Morgantown will be home to one of these teams. Don’t make the mistake of assuming the Black Bears will always be here for you and your family to enjoy. Do your part by frequenting the ballpark. You will be making lifelong memories in the process. It is a win-win proposition. I’m glad that I made the trip last week and I will be making more next summer.
That will do it for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!