Sports

Mother Nature dumped several inches of snow on Friday, March 16. The late snow, coupled with below average temperatures kept the baseball and softball diamonds throughout the Tri-State region covered for several days.

Eventually the snow melted and we had a couple of warm, sunny days that allowed officials to prepare the diamonds for play. But, once again the weather failed to cooperate, as rain on both Friday and Saturday, of last week, prevented Berkeley Springs High School's softball and baseball teams from opening their respective seasons.

Here we go again

The problem with the National Invitational Tournament and preparing this column is timing. Three of the four games West Virginia has played in the tournament thus far have been played on Tuesday night while the paper was being printed. That includes last night's semi final against Mississippi State in Madison Square Garden.

Beilein will likely have options

Several high-profile men's Division 1 coaching jobs have come open within the past couple of weeks, none more attractive than the University of Kentucky. Michigan and Iowa, two other high-profile programs, also have current vacancies with others likely to open when the dominoes start to fall.

The Berkeley Springs Junior Wrestling team competed in the 24th Annual Mason Dixon League Championship on Saturday, March 10 in Greencastle, Pa. BSJW took 15 qualifying wrestlers to the event.

The tribe crowned two champions at the tournament: Matt Parkinson, competing in the Junior Unlimited weight division and Cody Gaither wrestling in the Intermediate 147 class. Parkinson dominated the field pinning his way to victory. In the first round, Parkinson disposed of Evan Windsor of Brunswick, Md. in the first period. He then secured his place in the finals by pinning Joshua Miller of Hagerstown PAL again in the first period. In the championship, Collin Schildt of Catoctin, Md. managed to take Parkinson into the second period before finding his shoulders firmly attached to the wrestling mat.

A year ago Berkeley Springs High School had its first winning baseball season since 1997. It was quite an accomplishment and second-year coach Trey Barcus is intent on maintaining the momentum. "We have to remember what this program accomplished last year," Barcus said. "We need to build from there and keep moving forward. Our goal is to reach Charleston (that is where the state tournament is held)."

In order to accomplish their goals, Berkeley Springs will have to find a replacement for second-team All-state catcher Jeff Keefer along with special mention All-state performers John Freels and Brad Rich. Two other graduates, who started and played major roles in 2006, Jeremy Brock and Cameron Clark, will also be missed.

An infusion of new talent should help the Berkeley Springs High School softball team, according to veteran head coach Greg Brown. "This is probably the best freshman class I've had in 10 years at Berkeley Springs," Brown said. "I am very excited about this year's potential. Of course potential doesn't win for you unless you reach it. That comes with hard work." If hard work is the recipe for success, then Brown has to like his team's chances.

"We have a total of 24 girls out and each and everyone has a positive attitude," said Brown. "I know there were some girls upset about not making varsity, but you could never tell by watching them. I really believe every girl is doing everything she can to get better."

Berkeley Springs track teams enter the 2007 season with much experience and high expectations. Both the girls and boys teams placed third at the 2006 Class AA State Championships and hope to build off of last year's success, as they begin the quest for team and individual goals.

Neither team is large in numbers, but both have outstanding talent.

Odds and ends

West Virginia played North Carolina State last night for the right to go to the semi finals of the National Invitational Tournament in New York City. No big deal to the masses of the college basketball world where the focus is on the field of 65 which has now been pared to the Sweet 16.

The Berkeley Springs Junior Wrestling Club traveled to North Hagerstown High School on Saturday, March 3 to compete in the annual Mason Dixon League Division A Qualifying Tournament. Teams competing at the tournament include Williamsport, Md., Greencastle, Pa., Tuscarora/Mercersburg, Pa., Willie Walters/Winchester, Va., Berkeley County and Hagerstown YMCA.

The tribe crowned six champions at the event including: Daniel Sherrard at Bantam 64 pounds, Steven Shade at Midget 85 pounds, Matthew Parkinson at Junior Unlimited, Damion Capper at Intermediate 119 pounds, Cody Gaither at Intermediate 147 pounds and Ricky Michael at Intermediate 152 pounds.

Students in Paw Paw High School's Art II class won the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's annual contest, "America Recycles." The winning students created a giant (64" x 72") painting/collage based on this theme. Their art teacher Lisa Wilder explained that the collage was influenced by two artists, Jasper Johns and Jaune Quick-to-see Smith. "This was a great honor for the students because the contest had over 5,000 entries," said Wilder