“That was fun,” WVU Baseball Head Coach Steve Sabins said after a 6-5 Regional Final win. “It was cinema, it had literally everything that you could imagine.”
He wasn’t wrong. Read more: Mountaineers’ post-regional presser: pure joy, resilience, and Morgantown magic.
The energy in the room after West Virginia’s walk-off win over Kentucky wasn’t just relief, it was electric, almost giddy. Coach Steve Sabins and his players filed in with the kind of tired smiles that only come after surviving combat. Sweat still lingered, uniforms dusty, but the vibe was pure celebration mixed with quiet awe. This wasn’t a routine “we got the W” press conference. It felt like a group of brothers who had just lived through something special and were still buzzing from it.
Coach Sabins sets the tone
Sabins kicked things off with visible emotion, calling the weekend “cinema” and everything you love about coaching wrapped into one series. His voice carried the weight of 11 years building something bigger than baseball in Morgantown.
“Everything that you love about coaching and everything that you love about the players, was on full display this weekend.”
There was pride in every word—pride in his players’ mental toughness, in the sold-out crowds, and in delivering the program’s first home Super Regional.
Related: Mountaineers walk it off in heart-stopping 10th.
He didn’t sugarcoat the adversity. When Kentucky stormed back from a 5-1 deficit, forcing extra innings, Sabins spoke like a coach who’d watched his team stare into the abyss and choose to fight. The message was clear: this group doesn’t fold. They stay even-keeled, trust each other, and find a way. The room felt that bond—genuine, deep, and forged through fire.
Players bring heart and brotherhood
Armani Guzman, Gavin Kelly, and Maxx Yehl carried the same humble, grateful energy. Guzman, the veteran who’s seen it all, lit up talking about representing the state and sending the team to a hosted Super Regional. Kelly, the MVP, deflected praise to his teammates with an easy laugh, calling the roster “full of MVPs.” Yehl, fresh off a redemption start after an earlier rough outing, radiated quiet confidence and gratitude for another chance.
Related: Morgantown to host NCAA Super Regionals for first time after 6-5 win.
The banter flowed naturally—jokes about “I love you” moments in the dugout, singing “Country Roads” at full blast, and the pure joy of playing with your best friends when school is long over.
“To be able to represent the state and be able to play for them, it’s a plan for something bigger than yourself,” Kelly said. “I know everyone on the team is extremely blessed and grateful to be able to do that.”
Even in exhaustion, they lit up describing the hill packed with fans, the roar after Guzman’s walk-off single, and the feeling of playing for something bigger than themselves.
Morgantown’s moment
What stood out most was the shared sense of history being written. Sabins grinned about fans tailgating early, shirts off on the hill, and the program’s upward trajectory. The players spoke with wide-eyed appreciation for the atmosphere no other ballpark can match.
This press conference wasn’t polished corporate speak. It was joyful, a coach and his players savoring a hard-earned step forward together. As they head into the Super Regional, the vibe in that room suggested one thing: this Mountaineer team isn’t just winning games. They’re building something lasting in Morgantown.
Game times have not yet been announced for the first-ever Morgantown Super Regional weekend, but the Mountaineers know their opponent. The Cal Poly Mustangs make the long trip to the Mountain State for the best-of-three series. The winner heads to Omaha.
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