MORGANTOWN W.VA. — The press conference room felt like the morning after a war—tired, messy, and buzzing with leftover adrenaline. Head Coach Steve Sabins slumped into his chair flanked by Paul Schoenfeld and Ben McDougal. You could almost smell the grass and sweat still clinging to them. These weren’t polished press conference faces; these were guys who’d just survived nearly 12 hours of baseball across two games, running on fumes, dehydration, and pure stubbornness. Read more: Exhausted and electric: WVU’s postgame press conference.
A coach’s quiet pride
Sabins had that look coaches get when they’re equal parts exhausted and proud. His voice was rough around the edges as he talked about watching his kids battle through adversity. There was real emotion, no canned answers.
You could tell he wasn’t just happy they won, he was moved by how they kept fighting for each other when everything looked bleak. Every once in a while he’d glance over at Schoenfeld and McDougal like a proud dad who couldn’t believe what they’d just pulled off.
Battle-worn heroes
The two players sat there with that wide-eyed, slightly delirious energy you see after epic games. McDougal, who’d thrown way more than anyone expected, looked drained but satisfied, cracking small jokes that made everyone chuckle.
Schoenfeld still had that spark in his eyes from his huge ninth-inning homer. They laughed at weird times, the kind of loopy laughter that comes when you’ve been going since early morning and your body is screaming for food, water, and sleep. But underneath it was this rock-solid bond—you could feel it in the room. These guys weren’t just teammates; they were in the trenches together.
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The whole atmosphere crackled with something special. Talk of the crowd kept coming up. The fans who stayed for everything, singing “Country Roads” late into the night, shirts off on the hill. It wasn’t just noise, it was fuel. You got the sense that the stadium had become this living, breathing thing that lifted the Mountaineers when they needed it most.
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There was exhaustion, sure. Bodies were beat up. Minds were fried. But there was also this electric hope hanging in the air. They’d just forced a winner-take-all game and nobody in that room doubted they belonged there. It wasn’t flashy or perfect. It was raw, messy, and beautiful, the kind of night that reminds you why college baseball can be magical. By the end, you walked out feeling like you’d just been part of something real.
Tune in
You can hear the Morgantown Regional Final action unfold on 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its affiliate stations across the John Fredericks Media Network. ESPN2 will carry the TV broadcast.
First pitch from Kendrick Family Ballpark between WVU and Kentucky is set for 6 p.m. Monday.
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Great piece!! Captures the vibe!