They’ve done it again. For the third time in four seasons, the West Virginia Black Bears have claimed the MLB Draft League title. Read more: Black Bears Win 2025 MLB Draft League Championship
The Black Bears hit the road and took down the State College Spikes on Thursday, winning 12-5. West Virginia was backed by an all-around electric offensive performance.
State College surrendered 20 hits and committed an error against the Bears, giving the second-half champs the clear advantage.
A Back-and-Forth Beginning
West Virginia allowed State College to get on the board first. T.J. Salvaggio collected the RBI double to give the early advantage to the home team.
Back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the second gave the Black Bears the lead. The Spikes responded in the bottom half of the frame and tied the game at 2-2.
Spikes’ (Short-lived) Surge
After holding West Virginia scoreless, the Spikes tallied two more runs. State College was held scoreless the rest of the way.
The Black Bears would simply not go away, cutting the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fourth. Two runs in the fifth, four in the sixth, and three in the eighth served as insurance scores for the visitors.
The Spikes’ short-lived surge was the last gasp for State College’s production until the final frame.
A Dynasty Solidified
With Thursday’s victory, the Black Bears cemented their legacy in MLB Draft League history yet again. West Virginia captured the coveted title in back-to-back seasons between 2022 and 2023, and has done it once more.
Before the reconfiguration of the minor league system, the Black Bears also collected a New York-Penn League Championship. Gold is no stranger to the summertime warriors from Granville.
Related: WVU’s Leach Shatters Records to Claim Island Resort Collegiate Title
Second-Half Domination
The Black Bears dominated the second half of the MLB Draft League season. West Virginia finished 29-15 after the All-Star Break and commanded most games. The run differential after the break was a staggering +51 in favor of the Bears.
All signs pointed to a surefire berth in the championship, and the signs were correct. The Bears wrapped up the second-half title with over a week to spare. Compare that early berth to the first half, when the front-runners for the spot had to fight until the final day.
Overall, the second-half champions had the upper hand coming into Thursday’s title game. The offensive onslaught was indeed enough to propel West Virginia to another championship.
Final Wrap
The West Virginia Black Bears will head into hibernation with a new banner to hang at Kendrick Family Ballpark. MLB Draft League baseball will begin a new season next summer, when the Bears will have a chance to defend their title.
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