Crusaders Set to Compete in Historic State Tournament in Huntington

Blain Smith, the head coach of Greater Beckley Christian's baseball team, has long envisioned leading his squad to the state tournament. According to catcher Paul Fox, “I met Coach Blain at the end of my sophomore summer, and his vision for Greater Beckley has been going to the state tournament.” Fox added that the team’s hard work during the winter, despite being largely unseen, has now been recognized as they prepare for a historic moment.

Last week, the Crusaders secured their first-ever spot in the state tournament by edging out Webster County 7-6 in a nail-biting Class A Region 3 co-championship. With a record of 23-13, they earned the fifth seed and will face fourth-seeded Gilmer County this Saturday at approximately 1 p.m. at Marshall University's Jack Cook Field in Huntington.

Since their victory, the team has been basking in the excitement of their achievement. Coach Smith likened the feeling to “being a little kid on Christmas morning” after the team returned from a recent road game, which ended in a 9-3 loss against Class AA state tournament contender Logan. Senior pitcher and shortstop Eli Gunter expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m just honored to be a part of the team... I really need to win this one,” referring to his previous state tournament experiences in golf and basketball.

The Greater Beckley community has shown immense support for the team, organizing a spirited sendoff as they head to Huntington. Additionally, a successful GoFundMe campaign has contributed to funding their trip. Smith expressed his appreciation for the community's backing, remarking, “We’ve raised a lot of money this week to help bring these boys to have a great trip to Huntington.”

Gunter is a standout player, boasting a .479 batting average and 35 stolen bases, while Fox is batting .395 with 32 RBIs. Newcomer Carter Hajash, who transferred from Independence, has made a significant impact with a .417 average and 39 RBIs. On the pitching side, Hajash has an impressive record of 11-3 with a 1.90 ERA, striking out 82 batters in 73.2 innings.

The Crusaders previously faced Gilmer County on March 24, suffering a 12-6 defeat in colder conditions. Smith acknowledged the challenge posed by the Titans, who have a strong pitching lineup and a solid record of 27-6. “I think it’ll come down to doing the little things,” he stated. The winner of Saturday’s matchup will advance to the semifinals on Thursday at 10 a.m.

Smith concluded with pride in his team’s efforts, saying, “They’ve carried the sword, they’ve been family all year... I’m super excited to take that 111-mile journey to Huntington together.”