By Bill Nestor
Don’t look now, but West Virginia University’s baseball team is back on top of the Big 12 Conference standings. The Mountaineers are looking to send off veteran mentor Randy Mazey out with a bang. Mazey will trade his view from the inside of the dugout as he will move into a senior advisor role with West Virginia for the 2025 and 2026 season. The good news is that, at least for the next two campaigns, Mazey could keep a seat in the dugout whenever he might choose, but he would enjoy it a little more if this season continues to trend in the right direction.
Heading into 2024, Mazey had spent the previous decade guiding the Mountaineers to the most consistent baseball the program has seen. During that span, WVU only suffered one losing season. Last year’s 40 win and 20 loss record was the best ever and they finished tied for first place in the Big 12, another first for the “Eers. They also made an NCAA regional appearance, the third in school history, with the trifecta all coming with Mazey as manager.
Recently, a three game road sweep of Kansas gave West Virginia a share of first place alongside Oklahoma. The bats were working for Mazey as his squad plated 31 runs in the series. Senior lefty Derek Clark stood out on the mound for the Mountaineers. Clark fired a complete game shutout on Saturday, allowing just three hits while striking out seven batters. Clark’s efforts earned him a pair of conference accomplishments. The Petersburg, Michigan native was dubbed the Big 12 pitcher of the week and newcomer of the week as well.
Clark has been a consistent force on the hill for MAzey since he arrived in Morgantown. The four to nothing win over the Jayhawks was the third consecutive outing that Clark has gone nine innings, with two of those being complete game efforts.
Mazey lad to navigate the first 25 games of the year without standout All-America infielder J.J. Wetherholt. Wetherholt is back and his presence both on the field and in the dugout has been crucial. True freshman and Morgantown native Aaron Jamison has benefited from the leadership provided by the seasoned vets like Wetherholt. Jamison has a .286 batting average with three home runs, a pair of doubles, and 14 runs batted in.
The long ball was the difference maker in the final game of the set versus Kansas. WVU belted a half-dozen homers en route to a season best 16 runs. It was one run better than the previous best 15 that the Mountaineers hung on both Oklahoma State and in-state rival Marshall University.
If you want to catch Mazey’s men in action , they will be hosting Baylor next weekend (April 26 – 28) WVU also has a lock-up with Backyard Brawl opponent Pittsburgh slated for April 30 at 6 PM at PNC Park.
Penn State comes to Mo-town on May 8 for the final non-conference tilt and Kansas State comes to town May 10-12. The series will be pivotal as the Wildcats are looming in the #3 spot.
The remaining three conference lock-ups with the Bears, Cincinnati, and Texas Christian University favor WVU. Baylor is 10th, the Bearcats are 5th, and the Horned Frogs are next to last in the standings. Mazey is looking good for a second consecutive top place finish and a tourney run.
That will do for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!