American college baseball team
West Virginia Mountaineers Founded 1892 Overall record 2,305–1,632–18 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] 2024 1955, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024 A-10: 1982, 1985, 1987, 1994 Big East: 1996 Southern: 1955, 1961, 1962 1963, 1964, 1967 A-10: 1981, 1982, 1984 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 Big 12: 2023 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
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
Known as the Eastern Athletic Association, popularly the Eastern 8, from 1978–1982
Stadium
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
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–present
Randy Mazey
11
336–250
.573
TOTALS
19
128
2305–1632–18
.585
Yearly record
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
Mountaineers in Major League Baseball
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
See also
References
^ "West Virginia Mountaineers Athletic Identity Logoslick" (PDF) . April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ "Hawley Field" . WVUSports.com . West Virginia Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 11 July 2012 .
^ 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 .
^ "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 .
^ a b "New Ballpark" . West Virginia Mountaineers. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-04-30 .
^ Grant Dovey (August 21, 2014). "New Ballpark Construction Update" . wvusports. Retrieved August 21, 2014 .
^ Vingle, Mitch. Morgantown lands NY-Penn League baseball team . Charleston Gazette . Retrieved August 25, 2014.
^ "New NYPL club to be called the Black Bears" .
^ "2012 Southern Conference Baseball Media Guide" . pp. 45–46. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25. Retrieved 11 July 2012 .
^ "2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF) . pp. 15–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 11 July 2012 .
^ "2012 Big East Conference Baseball Media Guide" . pp. 60–66. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 11 July 2012 .
^ "2013 Big 12 Conference Baseball Standings" . D1Baseball.com . Jeremy Mills. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013 .
^ "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
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