MORGANTOWN, W.VA- The energy around Kendrick Family Ballpark has been electric so far, especially after a dominate 10-1 victory for the Mountaineers on day one of the regional. Interviews from supporters of West Virginia, Wake Forest, and Binghamton at the start of day two have captured the excitement, confidence, and pride in each of their respective schools. Read more: Fan frenzy builds in Morgantown as regional heats up for day two.
Mountaineer fans riding high after opening win
Mountaineer fans are buzzing at the start of day two after a dominate victory over the Bearcats. When asked what they want to see from their Mountaineers today against Kentucky, the answer is keep it simple.
“They just got to keep it rolling today, man keep the sticks going.” -Mountaineer fans Shane and Luke.
Shane and Luke both continued by predicting the Mountaineers to win the next two games, ultimately winning the tournament.
Ronnie and Ann Hartley stayed for both games on Friday and planned to do the same on Saturday.
“It’s been a great tournament. Two good games yesterday,” Ronnie said. They echoed the call for the Mountaineers to “play ball just like they did yesterday” — keep hitting and limit baserunners. \Like many others, they expected West Virginia to close out the regional in two more wins. “They’re definitely going to close it out,” Ann added hopefully.
Jeff and Katie Toby, who attended the 2019 regional here, noticed even more hype this time around.
“The mob was phenomenal then. That seems to be about the same now.”
“I think it’s a little more hype this time,” Jeff said. He highlighted improved power in the current lineup compared to 2019, while noting the team’s speed can still manufacture runs. Their prediction? A clean sweep: “Absolutely. They’re gonna win out.”
Related:Mountaineers explode offensively in 10-1 rout of Binghamton in Morgantown Regional.
Across the Mountaineer faithful, the message was consistent — ride the momentum from Friday’s offensive explosion, maintain strong pitching and defense, and send the home crowd home happy.
Bearcats fans stay positive heading into elimination game
Not everyone was wearing gold and blue. Steve and Louise Bouchard, Bearcats fans who made the trip from New York for their first visit to Morgantown, were disappointed with Friday’s result, but remained upbeat heading into the noon elimination game against Wake Forest.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Steve said. He called for aggressive small ball, base stealing, and getting into the bullpen early, along with solid defense. “I just want a good effort… for the seniors, for the freshmen… just to enjoy the experience,” -Steve Bouchard
Louise praised the town: “It’s quite the little town. I can tell they take a lot of pride in your athletics around here.” Steve boldly predicted a one-run Binghamton victory in nine innings.
Wake Forest fans embrace Morgantown’s rowdy atmosphere
Debbie Dorsey, Leon Dorsey, Scott Torres, and Andrea Torres — Wake Forest fans with local ties (Boston Torres, No. 25, is a relative) — also live in West Virginia and are familiar with Morgantown’s rowdy atmosphere.
“We have basketball season tickets, so we see the atmosphere in Morgantown all the time. It’s always exciting. It’s always a little rowdy.”-Debbie Dorsey
Related:Wildcats stun Demon Deacons in Game One of Morgantown Regional.
Leon, a 1977 WVU graduate joked about the lack of burning couches so far:
“No burning couches yet, so it’s pretty mild.” -Leon Dorsey
For the Demon Deacons, who suffered a tough late loss to Kentucky on Friday, the focus was fundamentals: “Good pitching, good hitting, and keep your errors to a minimum.” They projected Wake Forest winning the next two days to stay alive, potentially setting up a Sunday matchup against either Kentucky or West Virginia.
A regional full of optimism
The vibe around town has been loud and welcoming, with fans noting the perfect weather only added to the excitement. Multiple groups described the atmosphere as raucous yet family-friendly, with clear pride in hosting again after seven years.
Predictions heavily favored the hosts, but visiting fans showed resilience and a desire to make the most of their NCAA Tournament experience. Whether it’s “keep the sticks going” for West Virginia or small-ball aggression for Binghamton, one thing is clear: baseball is alive and well in Morgantown this weekend.
As the day’s games unfold — Binghamton vs. Wake Forest at noon and West Virginia vs. Kentucky at 5 p.m. — the regional could head toward a decisive Sunday or stretch into Monday. For now, the fans have spoken: they’re ready to roll, and the Mountaineers are the team to beat.
