Wikipedia

West Virginia Mountaineers baseball

The West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. The program has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference since the start of the 2013 season. The program currently plays at Monongalia County Ballpark in the adjacent city of Granville. Steve Sabins has been the team's head coach since prior to the 2025 season. As of the end of the 2024 season, the program has appeared in 15 NCAA tournaments. It has won five conference tournament championships and 16 regular season conference and division titles.

West Virginia Mountaineers baseball
2024 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team
Founded1892; 132 years ago (1892)
Overall record2,305–1,632–18
UniversityWest Virginia University
Head coachSteve Sabins (1st season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationMorgantown, West Virginia
Home stadiumMonongalia County Ballpark
(Capacity: 3,500)
NicknameMountaineers
ColorsGold and blue[1]
   
NCAA regional champions
2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1955, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
A-10: 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994
Big East: 1996
Regular season conference champions
Southern: 1955, 1961, 1962
1963, 1964, 1967
A-10: 1981, 1982, 1984
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
Big 12: 2023
Conference division champions
1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997

History

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The program began varsity play in 1892 and had an above-.500 winning percentage in each season until 1920, when the team had a 10–11 record.[2] It adopted the nickname "Mountaineers" in 1905, when West Virginia instituted the state motto "Mountaineers are always free."[3]

After discontinuing the program for three seasons (1943–1945) because of World War II, the program began again prior to the 1946 season and qualified for its first NCAA tournament in 1955 under head coach Steve Harrick.[2]

On-campus venue Hawley Field opened in 1971 and was used for all home games until after the 2012 season, as the field did not meet the standards of the Big 12 Conference, to which West Virginia moved in summer 2012.[4][5] It remained in use for non-conference home games through the 2014 season, after which the team's current venue, Monongalia County Ballpark, opened.

As a member of the Southern Conference from 1951 to 1968, the team appeared in six NCAA tournaments. As a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1978 to 1995, the team appeared in four NCAA tournaments. However, as a member of the Big East Conference from 1995 to 2012, the team appeared in only one NCAA tournament.[2]

Conference affiliations

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  • Known as the Eastern Athletic Association, popularly the Eastern 8, from 1978–1982

Stadium

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Monongalia County Ballpark

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Main article: Monongalia County Ballpark

In 2013, plans were announced to build the program a new Morgantown venue.[6] Ground was broken for the new ballpark at University Town Centre, an off-campus shopping and entertainment complex in nearby Granville, on October 17, 2013. The ballpark will be a fan friendly design with 2,500 fixed seats with additional hillside and club seating, a fan amenity deck, and a park that will be open year-round.[7] The field will be a synthetic surface, other than the clay pitcher's mound.[8] Also using the new ballpark will be the class-A short-season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the West Virginia Black Bears.[9][10] The stadium, tentatively known as Monongalia County Ballpark, is set to open for the 2015 season.[7]

Head coaches

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The program's most successful coach is former head coach Dale Ramsburg, who had 540 career victories from 1968 to 1994. Ramsburg is also the program's longest tenured head coach, having led the program for 27 seasons.[2]

Year(s) Coach Seasons W-L-T Pct
1892–1893 None 2 4–3 .571
1894–1896 A. R. Stahlings 3 14–4 .778
1897–1898 J. E. B. Sweeney 2 8–7 .533
1899–1900 Owen Altman 2 28–9 .757
1901 H. Brown 1 11–7 .611
1902–1905 Lee Hutchinson 4 70–31–2 .693
1906–1908 Carl Forkum 3 61–26 .701
1909 Dick Nebinger 1 17–8 .680
1910 J. L. Core 1 14–11 .560
1911 L. L. McClure 1 17–5 .773
1912 John Gronninger 1 13–12 .520
1913, 1915–1917 Charlie Hickman 4 58–23–1 .716
1914 B. P. Pattison 1 12–8 .600
1918–1920 Skeeter Shelton 3 37–17–1 .685
1921–1942, 1946 Ira Rodgers 22 204–211–3 .489
1947 Charles Hockenberry 1 9–7 .563
1948–1967 Steve Harrick 20 333–161–1 .674
1968–1994 Dale Ramsburg 27 540–389–9 .581
1995–2012 Greg Van Zant 18 528–451–1 .539
2013–present Randy Mazey 11 336–250 .573
TOTALS 19 128 2305–1632–18 .585

Yearly record

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Below is a table of the program's yearly records.[2][11][12][13][14]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Independent (1892–1942)
1892 None 3–3
1893 None 1–0
1894 A. R. Stahlings 5–0
1895 A. R. Stahlings 4–1
1896 A. R. Stahlings 5–3
1897 J. E. B. Sweeney 3–2
1898 J. E. B. Sweeney 5–5
1899 Owen Altman 16–6
1900 Owen Altman 12–3
1901 H. Brown 11–7
1902 Lee Hutchinson 22–7
1903 Lee Hutchinson 14–9
1904 Lee Hutchinson 16–6–1
1905 Lee Hutchinson 19–9–1
1906 Carl Forkum 20–10
1907 Carl Forkum 17–11
1908 Carl Forkum 24–5
1909 Dick Nebinger 17–8
1910 J. L. Core 14–11
1911 L. L. McClure 17–5
1912 John Gronninger 13–12
1913 Charlie Hickman 12–4
1914 B. P. Pattison 12–8
1915 Charlie Hickman 19–7–1
1916 Charlie Hickman 17–6
1917 Charlie Hickman 10–6
1918 Skeeter Shelton 13–3
1919 Skeeter Shelton 14–3–1
1920 Skeeter Shelton 10–11
1921 Ira Rodgers 20–7
1922 Ira Rodgers 16–11
1923 Ira Rodgers 13–11
1924 Ira Rodgers 8–13
1925 Ira Rodgers 13–11
1926 Ira Rodgers 10–10
1927 Ira Rodgers 6–12–1
1928 Ira Rodgers 13–4
1929 Ira Rodgers 8–9
1930 Ira Rodgers 6–13–1
1931 Ira Rodgers 6–9–1
1932 Ira Rodgers 8–8
1933 Ira Rodgers 7–9
1934 Ira Rodgers 4–13
1935 Ira Rodgers 9–9
1936 Ira Rodgers 10–9
1937 Ira Rodgers 12–10
1938 Ira Rodgers 5–10
1939 Ira Rodgers 8–7
1940 Ira Rodgers 9–5
1941 Ira Rodgers 5–10
1942 Ira Rodgers 2–9
No program (1943–1945)
Independent (1946–1950)
1946 Ira Rodgers 6–2
1947 Charles Hockenberry 9–7
1948 Steve Harrick 16–6
1949 Steve Harrick 13–8
1950 Steve Harrick 8–14
Independent: 612–417–7
Southern Conference (1951–1968)
1951 Steve Harrick 17–6
1952 Steve Harrick 12–9 7–3 t–2nd (Northern)
1953 Steve Harrick 6–7 2–5 7th (Northern)
1954 Steve Harrick 13–7 5–4 6th
1955 Steve Harrick 20–6 7–2 1st District 3 Regionals
1956 Steve Harrick 16–9 6–3 2nd
1957 Steve Harrick 12–8 4–5 5th
1958 Steve Harrick 12–11 5–3 5th
1959 Steve Harrick 16–9 8–5 5th
1960 Steve Harrick 17–9 6–4 t–3rd
1961 Steve Harrick 17–10 8–2 1st District 3 Regionals
1962 Steve Harrick 17–9 9–2 1st District 3 Regionals
1963 Steve Harrick 30–3 13–1 1st District 3 Regionals
1964 Steve Harrick 24–5 14–2 1st District 3 Regionals
1965 Steve Harrick 19–9 10–4 2nd
1966 Steve Harrick 26–7–1 12–4 2nd
1967 Steve Harrick 22–9 13–3 1st District 3 Regionals
1968 Dale Ramsburg 9–8 4–4 5th
Southern Conference: 305–141–1 133–56
Independent (1969–1976)
1969 Dale Ramsburg 12–6–1
1970 Dale Ramsburg 12–5
1971 Dale Ramsburg 21–6
1972 Dale Ramsburg 10–10
1973 Dale Ramsburg 8–12–1
1974 Dale Ramsburg 12–13
1975 Dale Ramsburg 10–18
1976 Dale Ramsburg 21–12 ECAC Tournament
1977 Dale Ramsburg 10–18
Independent: 116–100–2
Eastern Athletic Association/Atlantic 10 Conference (1978–1995)
1978 Dale Ramsburg 16–9
1979 Dale Ramsburg 9–13 EAC Tournament
1980 Dale Ramsburg 12–14–2 EAC Tournament
1981 Dale Ramsburg 17–18 6–2 t–1st (West) EAC Tournament
1982 Dale Ramsburg 24–23 7–2 1st (West) East Regional
1983 Dale Ramsburg 22–10 6–4 2nd (West)
1984 Dale Ramsburg 22–11–1 9–3 t–1st (West) A-10 Tournament
1985 Dale Ramsburg 27–16 9–3 t-1st (West) South I Regional
1986 Dale Ramsburg 24–14–1 9–2 1st (West) A-10 Tournament
1987 Dale Ramsburg 32–15 13–3 1st (West) South I Regional
1988 Dale Ramsburg 33–19–1 12–4 1st (West) A-10 Tournament
1989 Dale Ramsburg 28–13–1 9–5 3rd (West)
1990 Dale Ramsburg 33–20 12–4 2nd (West) A-10 Tournament
1991 Dale Ramsburg 20–20–1 9–7 3rd (West)
1992 Dale Ramsburg 27–20 12–4 2nd (West) A-10 Tournament
1993 Dale Ramsburg 29–25 13–8 2nd A-10 Tournament
1994 Dale Ramsburg 40–21 17–4 2nd Atlantic I Regional
1995 Greg Van Zant 18–32 11–13 6th
Atlantic 10 Conference: 433–313–5 154–68
Big East Conference (1996–2012)
1996 Greg Van Zant 33–25 15–10 1st (American) Atlantic Regional L, 2–2
1997 Greg Van Zant 36–19 17–7 1st (American)
1998 Greg Van Zant 37–17–1 13–9 5th (American)
1999 Greg Van Zant 29–28 12–13 6th
2000 Greg Van Zant 25–28 10–12 7th
2001 Greg Van Zant 27–26 12–14 7th
2002 Greg Van Zant 24–26 9–16 10th
2003 Greg Van Zant 36–19 18–6 2nd
2004 Greg Van Zant 23–29 10–16 8th
2005 Greg Van Zant 25–30 10–15 7th
2006 Greg Van Zant 36–22 14–13 5th
2007 Greg Van Zant 29–22 10–16 t-9th
2008 Greg Van Zant 35–21 13–14 7th
2009 Greg Van Zant 37–18 17–10 3rd
2010 Greg Van Zant 27–30 10–17 t–8th
2011 Greg Van Zant 28–27 14–13 t–4th
2012 Greg Van Zant 23–32 9–18 11th
Big East Conference: 510–419–1 213–219
Big 12 Conference (2013–present)
2013 Randy Mazey 33–26 13–11 t-3rd
2014 Randy Mazey 28–26 9–14 6th
2015 Randy Mazey 27–27 9–13 7th
2016 Randy Mazey 36–22 12–11 4th
2017 Randy Mazey 36–26 12–12 t-4th NCAA regional
2018 Randy Mazey 29-27 9-15 7th
2019 Randy Mazey 38-22 13-11 4th NCAA regional
2020 Randy Mazey 11-5 0-0
2021 Randy Mazey 25-27 8-16 t-8th
2022 Randy Mazey 33-22 14-10 t-5th
2023 Randy Mazey 40-20 15-9 t-1st NCAA regional
2024 Randy Mazey 36–24 19–11 4th NCAA Super Regional
Big 12 Conference: 372–274 133-133
Total: 2329–1704–17

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

West Virginia in the NCAA tournament

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Year Record Pct Notes
1955 1–2 .333 District 3
1961 1–2 .333 District 3
1962 0–2 .000 District 3
1963 1–2 .333 District 3
1964 0–2 .000 District 3
1967 0–2 .000 District 3
1982 2–2 .500 East Regional
1985 0–2 .000 South I Regional
1987 0–2 .000 South I Regional
1994 1–2 .333 Atlantic I Regional
1996 2–2 .500 Atlantic Regional
2017 2–2 .500 Winston-Salem Regional
2019 1–2 .333 Hosted Morgantown Regional
2023 1–2 .333 Lexington Regional
2024 3–2 .600 Chapel Hill Super Regional
TOTALS
 15-30 .333

Notable former players

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Mountaineers in Major League Baseball

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Below is a list of notable former players of the program and the seasons in which they played for the Mountaineers.[15]

 
Gyorko batting for the San Diego Padres in 2013

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers Athletic Identity Logoslick" (PDF). April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "2012 West Virginia Baseball Media Guide". West Virginia Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  3. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (2005). ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game. ESPN. ISBN 1401337031. Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Hawley Field". WVUSports.com. West Virginia Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  5. ^ Toquinto, Jeff (20 May 2012). "Bridgeport Still Option for WVU Baseball, but Charleston, Others to See Team in 2013". Connect-Bridgeport.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  6. ^ "WVU Board Approves Land Buy for Baseball Stadium". WBOY-TV. Associated Press. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "New Ballpark". West Virginia Mountaineers. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  8. ^ Grant Dovey (August 21, 2014). "New Ballpark Construction Update". wvusports. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  9. ^ Vingle, Mitch. Morgantown lands NY-Penn League baseball team. Charleston Gazette. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  10. ^ "New NYPL club to be called the Black Bears".
  11. ^ "2012 Southern Conference Baseball Media Guide". pp. 45–46. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  12. ^ "2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF). pp. 15–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  13. ^ "2012 Big East Conference Baseball Media Guide". pp. 60–66. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  14. ^ "2013 Big 12 Conference Baseball Standings". D1Baseball.com. Jeremy Mills. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  15. ^ "West Virginia University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
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