MORGANTOWN, W.Va — The day has finally arrived and the scene has been set for No. 16 West Virginia baseball at the Morgantown Super Regional. Read more: Anticipation in the air for No. 16 West Virginia baseball.
After delivering multiple program-defining wins during last week’s regional, the Mountaineers now turn their attention to the Cal Poly Mustangs in a best-of-three Super Regional series. As anticipation reaches its peak across the Mountain State, Game 1 of the highly anticipated matchup is less than an hour away from first pitch.
However, as I’m sitting in the press box looking out at the illustrious Kendrick Family Ballpark with the Appalachian mountains sculpted in the background, it’s hard not to feel the passion and unwavering pride the Mountaineer faithful are putting in the air around the field.
Coming out in droves
Despite nearly two hours until first pitch, one thing was obvious from the moment I arrived around 9:30 a.m.: The Mountaineer faithful filled every corner of the ballpark grounds in support of their hometown team.
With ticket prices hard to come by for this weekend, many fans took to what has recently become “Randy’s Ridge”. The hill on the first base lane right around the WVU Hospital facility has become a beacon for hundreds of fans to stake their claim for the game.
Even as I was pulling in hours before the game’s scheduled start time, there were still lines of chairs all along the top and base of the hill. Completely exposed to the sun, only blue, white and gold canopies helped give the fans a break from the bright Morgantown sun.
Related: Matinee in Morgantown: Super Regional action starts early
While the temperature already started to climb to the upper 70’s as the game started to draw near, none of those fans on “Randy’s Ridge” seemed to care. All that I could was a group of dedicated fans that are ready to see their team make history.
As for the fans who secured tickets, they lined up as far as the eye could see at the ballpark entrance gate. Faces brimmed with excitement and anticipation as they anxiously waited to be let through.
Whether they had an official seat ticket, a standing-room ticket, or chose the free option of sitting on “Randy’s Ridge,” every fan wore the same hopeful smile. They were all just eagerly anticipating the Mountaineers to take the field and start their push to the program’s first trip to NCAA Baseball Championships in Omaha, Nebraska.
Stay tuned for history in the making
As the first pitch inches closer and closer, the buzz around the ballpark just continues to grow. And not just from the fans either. From the workers at the ballpark to all the other media members in attendance, every one just has an extra pep in their step.
The energy around the ballpark is contagious. Everyone knows that they are watching possible history in the making.
Whether WVU wins or loses this weekend, this is the first time a super regional has been in Morgantown. That alone is a feat that many never thought would happen 15 years ago.
Well, now it’s here and No. 16 West Virginia is ready to grab this moment by its horns. With the support they have from the thousands of fans that have shown up for Game 1, the Mountaineers will surely have what they need to topple Cal Poly this weekend.
Make sure to stay up to date with all the latest updates and game recaps this weekend on the WV Sports Nation app.
