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WVU Men’s Baseball Continues to Climb

WVU Men’s Baseball Continues to Climb

If you haven’t noticed, West Virginia University’s sports programs are evolving into a new era, gaining attention not only within the Big 12 Conference but also on the national stage. Whether it be the Rich Rod reunion, a nationally ranked women’s basketball team, or a totally rebuilt men’s basketball team, there is one program in particular that is riding just as high as all of them, and that is the baseball program. Read more WVU men’s baseball continues to climb. 

After reaching the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history, the baseball team is ranked 21st according to Perfect Game’s preseason poll. There’s a certain slogan that, when mentioned, could make you the target of the #1 ranked WVU rifle team: “Trust the Climb.” While this mantra may not have fully resonated with the football team — or its fans — over the last six years, it’s been the perfect embodiment of the WVU baseball program’s journey since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2012.

The Climb

And now the climb continues with Steve Sabins taking over for Randy Mazey after building up the program for the last 12 years. The new coach spoke about Mazey’s laid-back style and his own Type-A personality, but Sabins was “as cool as the other side of the pillow,” as the late, great Stuart Scott would say, during his press conference on Monday afternoon. 

“I’m a little bit more of an organizer and a planner and I’m pulling my hair out, and he (Mazey) would say, ‘Never make a decision until you have to,’” Sabin said. “I think about that quite a bit because there are so many decisions sitting in this seat and you want to let those things unfold, whether that’s naming a starter, picking staff members, locations, travel, buses, meals or whatever it is. You want to get as much information as you can to make quality decisions.”

Also, check out the Godzilla Wins Daily Staff Picks page for other best picks!

Pressure to Maintain

While there may be pressure to maintain the newfound status of the program, Sabins reiterated that it’s about sustaining the momentum.

“That’s the name of our game. It’s about recruiting momentum. It’s about season momentum,” he described. “It’s about getting the right coaches in place. It’s about getting the right players in place. When I first got here, we were scrapping for momentum.”

The WVU men’s baseball team has become a beacon of hope for other Mountaineer programs seeking a return to prominence or a shot at reaching new heights. Fully embracing the transfer portal and the NIL deals that have reshaped the landscape of college sports, they’ve managed to reload rather than rebuild. After losing what Sabins described as “75% of our innings to the (MLB) draft last year,” he added 14 new pitchers to the roster, including West Virginia native Ben McDougal, who joins the staff after two seasons at nearby Potomac State. 

 “Ben McDougal, I really like,” catcher Logan Sauve said Monday. “Super calm kid. Really hard worker. Kind of throws every pitch for strikes. So, being able to use him a couple times on the weekend, I think, will be pretty big for us.”

No Flash, All Substance

This program doesn’t lean on flashy slogans or mantras. Instead, it stands out as one of the few major programs at WVU — alongside the women’s basketball team — able to build on the momentum from a successful past season. Nowhere is that more evident than in the decision to elevate Sabins to the head coaching position, bypassing a national search and opting to build on the foundation he’s already helped establish. 

Here’s hoping that as the season kicks off on Valentine’s Day against Jacksonville U next week, there will be plenty of romanticizing this team’s potential and the exciting season ahead.

Author

  • Mitch Rogers is a contributor for Godzilla Wins covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. An avid Steelers fan since birth, he holds nothing back when covering his team riding the highs and feeling the lows. He has a journalism degree from West Virginia University and has worked professionally in print, television, radio/podcasting and is now a weekly contributor to Godzilla Wins.

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