West Virginia Mountaineers baseball

American college baseball team

West Virginia Mountaineers baseball

2025 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team
Founded| 1892; 133 years ago (1892)
Overall record| 2,354-1,670–19
University| West Virginia University
Head coach| Steve Sabins (1st season)
Conference| Big 12
Location| Morgantown, West Virginia
Home stadium| Monongalia County Ballpark
(Capacity: 3,500)
Nickname| Mountaineers
Colors| Gold and blue[1]

NCAA regional champions
2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1955, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
A-10: 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994
Big East: 1996
Regular season conference champions
Southern: 1955, 1961, 1962
1963, 1964, 1967
A-10: 1981, 1982, 1984
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
Big 12: 2023
Conference division champions
1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997

The West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. The program has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference since the start of the 2013 season. The program currently plays at Monongalia County Ballpark in the adjacent city of Granville. Steve Sabins has been the team's head coach since prior to the 2025 season. As of the end of the 2024 season, the program has appeared in 15 NCAA tournaments. It has won five conference tournament championships and 16 regular season conference and division titles.

## History

[edit]

The program began varsity play in 1892 and had an above-.500 winning percentage in each season until 1920, when the team had a 10–11 record.[2] It adopted the nickname "Mountaineers" in 1905, when West Virginia instituted the state motto "Mountaineers are always free."[3]

After discontinuing the program for three seasons (1943–1945) because of World War II, the program began again prior to the 1946 season and qualified for its first NCAA tournament in 1955 under head coach Steve Harrick.[2]

On-campus venue Hawley Field opened in 1971 and was used for all home games until after the 2012 season, as the field did not meet the standards of the Big 12 Conference, to which West Virginia moved in summer 2012.[4][5] It remained in use for non-conference home games through the 2014 season, after which the team's current venue, Monongalia County Ballpark, opened.

As a member of the Southern Conference from 1951 to 1968, the team appeared in six NCAA tournaments. As a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1978 to 1995, the team appeared in four NCAA tournaments. However, as a member of the Big East Conference from 1995 to 2012, the team appeared in only one NCAA tournament.[2]

### Conference affiliations

[edit]

* Independent – 1892–1942, 1946–1950, 1969–1977
* Southern – 1951–1968
* Atlantic 10 – 1978–1995

* Known as the Eastern Athletic Association, popularly the Eastern 8, from 1978–1982

* Big East – 1996–2012
* Big 12 – 2013–present

## Stadium

[edit]

### Monongalia County Ballpark

[edit]

Main article: Monongalia County Ballpark

In 2013, plans were announced to build the program a new Morgantown venue.[6] Ground was broken for the new ballpark at University Town Centre, an off-campus shopping and entertainment complex in nearby Granville, on October 17, 2013. The ballpark will be a fan friendly design with 2,500 fixed seats with additional hillside and club seating, a fan amenity deck, and a park that will be open year-round.[7] The field will be a synthetic surface, other than the clay pitcher's mound.[8] Also using the new ballpark will be the class-A short-season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the West Virginia Black Bears.[9][10] The stadium, tentatively known as Monongalia County Ballpark, is set to open for the 2015 season.[7]

## Head coaches

[edit]

The program's most successful coach is former head coach Dale Ramsburg, who had 540 career victories from 1968 to 1994. Ramsburg is also the program's longest tenured head coach, having led the program for 27 seasons.[2]

Year(s)  | Coach  | Seasons  | W-L-T  | Pct

|
|
|
|

1892–1893  | None  | 2  | 4–3  | .571
1894–1896  | A. R. Stahlings  | 3  | 14–4  | .778
1897–1898  | J. E. B. Sweeney  | 2  | 8–7  | .533
1899–1900  | Owen Altman  | 2  | 28–9  | .757
1901  | H. Brown  | 1  | 11–7  | .611
1902–1905  | Lee Hutchinson  | 4  | 70–31–2  | .693
1906–1908  | Carl Forkum | 3  | 61–26  | .701
1909  | Dick Nebinger  | 1  | 17–8  | .680
1910  | J. L. Core  | 1  | 14–11  | .560
1911  | L. L. McClure  | 1  | 17–5  | .773
1912  | John Gronninger  | 1  | 13–12  | .520
1913, 1915–1917  | Charlie Hickman | 4  | 58–23–1  | .716
1914  | B. P. Pattison  | 1  | 12–8  | .600
1918–1920  | Skeeter Shelton | 3  | 37–17–1  | .685
1921–1942, 1946  | Ira Rodgers | 22  | 204–211–3  | .489
1947  | Charles Hockenberry | 1  | 9–7  | .563
1948–1967  | Steve Harrick | 20  | 333–161–1  | .674
1968–1994  | Dale Ramsburg  | 27  | 540–389–9  | .581
1995–2012  | Greg Van Zant  | 18  | 528–451–1  | .539
2013–2024  | Randy Mazey | 12  | 372–274  | .576
2025-present  | Steve Sabins | 1  | 0-0  | –
TOTALS  | 20  | 129  | 2354–1670–19  | .585

## Yearly record

[edit]

Below is a table of the program's yearly records.[2][11][12][13][14]

Statistics overview  Season  | Coach  | Overall  | Conference  | Standing  | Postseason

|
|
|
|
|

Independent (1892–1942)
1892  | None  | 3–3 |  |  |
1893  | None  | 1–0 |  |  |
1894  | A. R. Stahlings  | 5–0 |  |  |
1895  | A. R. Stahlings  | 4–1 |  |  |
1896  | A. R. Stahlings  | 5–3 |  |  |
1897  | J. E. B. Sweeney  | 3–2 |  |  |
1898  | J. E. B. Sweeney  | 5–5 |  |  |
1899  | Owen Altman  | 16–6 |  |  |
1900  | Owen Altman  | 12–3 |  |  |
1901  | H. Brown  | 11–7 |  |  |
1902  | Lee Hutchinson  | 22–7 |  |  |
1903  | Lee Hutchinson  | 14–9 |  |  |
1904  | Lee Hutchinson  | 16–6–1 |  |  |
1905  | Lee Hutchinson  | 19–9–1 |  |  |
1906  | Carl Forkum | 20–10 |  |  |
1907  | Carl Forkum  | 17–11 |  |  |
1908  | Carl Forkum  | 24–5 |  |  |
1909  | Dick Nebinger  | 17–8 |  |  |
1910  | J. L. Core  | 14–11 |  |  |
1911  | L. L. McClure  | 17–5 |  |  |
1912  | John Gronninger  | 13–12 |  |  |
1913  | Charlie Hickman | 12–4 |  |  |
1914  | B. P. Pattison  | 12–8 |  |  |
1915  | Charlie Hickman | 19–7–1 |  |  |
1916  | Charlie Hickman  | 17–6 |  |  |
1917  | Charlie Hickman  | 10–6 |  |  |
1918  | Skeeter Shelton | 13–3 |  |  |
1919  | Skeeter Shelton  | 14–3–1 |  |  |
1920  | Skeeter Shelton  | 10–11 |  |  |
1921  | Ira Rodgers | 20–7 |  |  |
1922  | Ira Rodgers  | 16–11 |  |  |
1923  | Ira Rodgers  | 13–11 |  |  |
1924  | Ira Rodgers  | 8–13 |  |  |
1925  | Ira Rodgers  | 13–11 |  |  |
1926  | Ira Rodgers  | 10–10 |  |  |
1927  | Ira Rodgers  | 6–12–1 |  |  |
1928  | Ira Rodgers  | 13–4 |  |  |
1929  | Ira Rodgers  | 8–9 |  |  |
1930  | Ira Rodgers  | 6–13–1 |  |  |
1931  | Ira Rodgers  | 6–9–1 |  |  |
1932  | Ira Rodgers  | 8–8 |  |  |
1933  | Ira Rodgers  | 7–9 |  |  |
1934  | Ira Rodgers  | 4–13 |  |  |
1935  | Ira Rodgers  | 9–9 |  |  |
1936  | Ira Rodgers  | 10–9 |  |  |
1937  | Ira Rodgers  | 12–10 |  |  |
1938  | Ira Rodgers  | 5–10 |  |  |
1939  | Ira Rodgers  | 8–7 |  |  |
1940  | Ira Rodgers  | 9–5 |  |  |
1941  | Ira Rodgers  | 5–10 |  |  |
1942  | Ira Rodgers  | 2–9 |  |  |
No program  (1943–1945)
Independent (1946–1950)
1946  | Ira Rodgers | 6–2 |  |  |
1947  | Charles Hockenberry | 9–7 |  |  |
1948  | Steve Harrick | 16–6 |  |  |
1949  | Steve Harrick  | 13–8 |  |  |
1950  | Steve Harrick  | 8–14 |  |  |
Independent: | 612–417–7 |  |
Southern Conference (1951–1968)
1951  | Steve Harrick | 17–6 |  |  |
1952  | Steve Harrick  | 12–9 | 7–3 | t–2nd (Northern) |
1953  | Steve Harrick  | 6–7 | 2–5 | 7th (Northern) |
1954  | Steve Harrick  | 13–7 | 5–4 | 6th |
1955  | Steve Harrick  | 20–6 | 7–2 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1956  | Steve Harrick  | 16–9 | 6–3 | 2nd |
1957  | Steve Harrick  | 12–8 | 4–5 | 5th |
1958  | Steve Harrick  | 12–11 | 5–3 | 5th |
1959  | Steve Harrick  | 16–9 | 8–5 | 5th |
1960  | Steve Harrick  | 17–9 | 6–4 | t–3rd |
1961  | Steve Harrick  | 17–10 | 8–2 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1962  | Steve Harrick  | 17–9 | 9–2 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1963  | Steve Harrick  | 30–3 | 13–1 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1964  | Steve Harrick  | 24–5 | 14–2 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1965  | Steve Harrick  | 19–9 | 10–4 | 2nd |
1966  | Steve Harrick  | 26–7–1 | 12–4 | 2nd |
1967  | Steve Harrick  | 22–9 | 13–3 | 1st | District 3 Regionals
1968  | Dale Ramsburg  | 9–8 | 4–4 | 5th |
Southern Conference: | 305–141–1 | 133–56 |
Independent (1969–1976)
1969  | Dale Ramsburg  | 12–6–1 |  |  |
1970  | Dale Ramsburg  | 12–5 |  |  |
1971  | Dale Ramsburg  | 21–6 |  |  |
1972  | Dale Ramsburg  | 10–10 |  |  |
1973  | Dale Ramsburg  | 8–12–1 |  |  |
1974  | Dale Ramsburg  | 12–13 |  |  |
1975  | Dale Ramsburg  | 10–18 |  |  |
1976  | Dale Ramsburg  | 21–12 |  |  | ECAC Tournament
1977  | Dale Ramsburg  | 10–18 |  |  |
Independent: | 116–100–2 |  |
Eastern Athletic Association/Atlantic 10 Conference (1978–1995)
1978  | Dale Ramsburg  | 16–9 |  |  |
1979  | Dale Ramsburg  | 9–13 |  |  | EAC Tournament
1980  | Dale Ramsburg  | 12–14–2 |  |  | EAC Tournament
1981  | Dale Ramsburg  | 17–18 | 6–2 | t–1st (West) | EAC Tournament
1982  | Dale Ramsburg  | 24–23 | 7–2 | 1st (West) | East Regional
1983  | Dale Ramsburg  | 22–10 | 6–4 | 2nd (West) |
1984  | Dale Ramsburg  | 22–11–1 | 9–3 | t–1st (West) | A-10 Tournament
1985  | Dale Ramsburg  | 27–16 | 9–3 | t-1st (West) | South I Regional
1986  | Dale Ramsburg  | 24–14–1 | 9–2 | 1st (West) | A-10 Tournament
1987  | Dale Ramsburg  | 32–15 | 13–3 | 1st (West) | South I Regional
1988  | Dale Ramsburg  | 33–19–1 | 12–4 | 1st (West) | A-10 Tournament
1989  | Dale Ramsburg  | 28–13–1 | 9–5 | 3rd (West) |
1990  | Dale Ramsburg  | 33–20 | 12–4 | 2nd (West) | A-10 Tournament
1991  | Dale Ramsburg  | 20–20–1 | 9–7 | 3rd (West) |
1992  | Dale Ramsburg  | 27–20 | 12–4 | 2nd (West) | A-10 Tournament
1993  | Dale Ramsburg  | 29–25 | 13–8 | 2nd | A-10 Tournament
1994  | Dale Ramsburg  | 40–21 | 17–4 | 2nd | Atlantic I Regional
1995  | Greg Van Zant  | 18–32 | 11–13 | 6th |
Atlantic 10 Conference: | 433–313–5 | 154–68 |
Big East Conference (1996–2012)
1996  | Greg Van Zant  | 33–25 | 15–10 | 1st (American) | Atlantic Regional L, 2–2
1997  | Greg Van Zant  | 36–19 | 17–7 | 1st (American) |
1998  | Greg Van Zant  | 37–17–1 | 13–9 | 5th (American) |
1999  | Greg Van Zant  | 29–28 | 12–13 | 6th |
2000  | Greg Van Zant  | 25–28 | 10–12 | 7th |
2001  | Greg Van Zant  | 27–26 | 12–14 | 7th |
2002  | Greg Van Zant  | 24–26 | 9–16 | 10th |
2003  | Greg Van Zant  | 36–19 | 18–6 | 2nd |
2004 | Greg Van Zant  | 23–29 | 10–16 | 8th |
2005 | Greg Van Zant  | 25–30 | 10–15 | 7th |
2006 | Greg Van Zant  | 36–22 | 14–13 | 5th |
2007 | Greg Van Zant  | 29–22 | 10–16 | t-9th |
2008 | Greg Van Zant  | 35–21 | 13–14 | 7th |
2009 | Greg Van Zant  | 37–18 | 17–10 | 3rd |
2010 | Greg Van Zant  | 27–30 | 10–17 | t–8th |
2011 | Greg Van Zant  | 28–27 | 14–13 | t–4th |
2012 | Greg Van Zant  | 23–32 | 9–18 | 11th |
Big East Conference: | 510–419–1 | 213–219 |
Big 12 Conference (2013–present)
2013 | Randy Mazey | 33–26 | 13–11 | t-3rd |
2014 | Randy Mazey  | 28–26 | 9–14 | 6th |
2015 | Randy Mazey  | 27–27 | 9–13 | 7th |
2016 | Randy Mazey  | 36–22 | 12–11 | 4th |
2017 | Randy Mazey  | 36–26 | 12–12 | t-4th | NCAA regional
2018 | Randy Mazey  | 29-27 | 9-15 | 7th |
2019 | Randy Mazey  | 38-22 | 13-11 | 4th | NCAA regional
2020 | Randy Mazey  | 11-5 | 0-0 |  |
2021 | Randy Mazey  | 25-27 | 8-16 | t-8th |
2022 | Randy Mazey  | 33-22 | 14-10 | t-5th |
2023 | Randy Mazey  | 40-20 | 15-9 | t-1st | NCAA regional
2024 | Randy Mazey  | 36–24 | 19–11 | 4th | NCAA Super Regional
Big 12 Conference: | 372–274 | 133-133 |
Total: | 2329–1704–17 |

National champion Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion

## West Virginia in the NCAA tournament

[edit]

* The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947.

Year  | Record  | Pct  | Notes

|
|
|

1955 | 1–2  | .333  | District 3
1961 | 1–2  | .333  | District 3
1962 | 0–2  | .000  | District 3
1963 | 1–2  | .333  | District 3
1964 | 0–2  | .000  | District 3
1967 | 0–2  | .000  | District 3
1982 | 2–2  | .500  | East Regional
1985 | 0–2  | .000  | South I Regional
1987 | 0–2  | .000  | South I Regional
1994 | 1–2  | .333  | Atlantic I Regional
1996 | 2–2  | .500  | Atlantic Regional
2017 | 2–2  | .500  | Winston-Salem Regional
2019 | 1–2  | .333  | Hosted Morgantown Regional
2023 | 1–2  | .333  | Lexington Regional
2024 | 3–2  | .600  | Chapel Hill Super Regional

TOTALS

| 15-30 | .333  |

## Notable former players

[edit]

### Mountaineers in Major League Baseball

[edit]

Below is a list of notable former players of the program and the seasons in which they played for the Mountaineers.[15]

Gyorko batting for the San Diego Padres in 2013

* Babe Barna (1935–1937)
* David Carpenter (2004–2006)
* Bucky Guth (1967–1969)
* Jedd Gyorko (2008–2010)
* Jim Heise (1953–1956)
* Joe Hudson (1990–1992)
* Steve Kline (1993)
* Alek Manoah (2017–2019)
* Ryan McBroom (2011–2014)
* John Means (2013–2014)
* Harrison Musgrave (2011–2014)
* Dustin Nippert (2003)
* Paul Popovich (1960)
* Scott Seabol (1996)
* Darrell Whitmore (1988–1990)
* Michael Grove (2016–2018)

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I baseball programs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers Athletic Identity Logoslick" (PDF). April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
2. ^ a b c d e "2012 West Virginia Baseball Media Guide". West Virginia Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
3. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (2005). ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game. ESPN. ISBN 1401337031. Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
4. ^ "Hawley Field". WVUSports.com. West Virginia Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
5. ^ Toquinto, Jeff (20 May 2012). "Bridgeport Still Option for WVU Baseball, but Charleston, Others to See Team in 2013". Connect-Bridgeport.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
6. ^ "WVU Board Approves Land Buy for Baseball Stadium". WBOY-TV. Associated Press. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
7. ^ a b "New Ballpark". West Virginia Mountaineers. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
8. ^ Grant Dovey (August 21, 2014). "New Ballpark Construction Update". wvusports. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
9. ^ Vingle, Mitch. Morgantown lands NY-Penn League baseball team. Charleston Gazette. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
10. ^ "New NYPL club to be called the Black Bears".
11. ^ "2012 Southern Conference Baseball Media Guide". pp. 45–46\. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25. Retrieved 11 July 2012.45-46&rft_id=http://epublish.multiad.com/SoCon_BB_2012/#/46/&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:West+Virginia+Mountaineers+baseball" class="Z3988">
12. ^ "2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF). pp. 15–18\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 11 July 2012.15-18&rft_id=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/Baseball_Records_thru2011.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:West+Virginia+Mountaineers+baseball" class="Z3988">
13. ^ "2012 Big East Conference Baseball Media Guide". pp. 60–66\. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 11 July 2012.60-66&rft_id=http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/Baseball/BaseballMediaGuide.aspx&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:West+Virginia+Mountaineers+baseball" class="Z3988">
14. ^ "2013 Big 12 Conference Baseball Standings". D1Baseball.com. Jeremy Mills. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
15. ^ "West Virginia University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 11 July 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

West Virginia University

Located in: Morgantown, West Virginia

Academics|

* Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
* College of Creative Arts and Media
* John Chambers College of Business & Economics
* College of Education & Human Resources
* College of Physical Activity & Sports Sciences
* Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
* Eberly College of Arts & Sciences
* Honors College
* School of Nursing
* School of Pharmacy
* College of Law
* School of Dentistry
* School of Medicine
* School of Public Health

Campus facilities|

* Boreman Hall
* Creative Arts Center
* Coliseum
* Core Arboretum
* Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
* Downtown Library
* Monongalia County Ballpark
* Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit
* Mountaineer Field
* Mountainlair
* Oglebay Hall
* Stansbury Hall
* J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital

Divisions and affiliates|

* WVU Institute of Technology
* Potomac State College
* WVU Medicine

Athletics|

* Mountaineers
* Baseball
* Basketball
* men
* women
* Football
* Rifle
* Soccer
* men
* women
* Hail, West Virginia

People|

* Notable alumni
* Presidents

History|

* History of WVU
* M.B.A. controversy

* Founded: 1867

* v
* t
* e

West Virginia Mountaineers baseball

Venues|

* Hawley Field (1971–2014)
* GoMart Ballpark (Alt. 2012–2014)
* Linda K. Epling Stadium (Alt. 2012–2014)
* Monongalia County Ballpark (2015–present)

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Big 12 Conference baseball

Current teams|

* Arizona Wildcats
* Arizona State Sun Devils
* Baylor Bears
* BYU Cougars
* Cincinnati Bearcats
* Houston Cougars
* Kansas Jayhawks
* Kansas State Wildcats
* Oklahoma State Cowboys
* TCU Horned Frogs
* Texas Tech Red Raiders
* UCF Knights
* Utah Utes
* West Virginia Mountaineers

Championships & awards|

* Tournament
* Major awards
* Player of the Year
* Pitcher of the Year
* Coach of the Year
* Freshman of the Year
* Newcomer of the Year

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template