By Nick Cammuso
When I think spring sports, one thing, above all else, comes to mind.
No, not the ping of an aluminum bat striking a baseball. No, not the thud of a boys’ lacrosse collision. No, not even the rare athlete who can win a track event and play centerfield in a single afternoon.
In the calendar space that occupies late March through early May, one thought rules my mind:
Is it going to rain today?
More than a dominating softball pitcher, nothing can shut a team down like a few persistent days of the wet stuff. It soaks momentum (and the North Marion baseball field). It ruins scorebooks. It creates scheduling nightmares for high school athletic directors everywhere, from Walla Walla, Wash., to our tiny corner of West Virginia.
Fortunately, Mother Nature was accommodating enough to let Marion County get some games in. Here are my three favorites from a spring sports season that won’t soon be forgotten:
• State semifinals, baseball, West Fairmont vs. George Washington
The key moment: After George Washington rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 7-7, the Polar Bears didn’t hang their heads. They simply went to work. In the eighth, Joey Buonaiuto hit a one-out triple and scored on a wild throw at third base for what proved to be the winning run.
The significance: The win vaulted West to its fourth state title appearance since 2003 — certainly nothing to sneeze at — and gave the senior-laden team an opportunity to close their careers on top. The Polar Bears lost to Nitro, 10-0, the next afternoon.
The money quote: “It was a bad throw and I went home. I was ready for the game to be over, being out there in the heat all day.” — Buonaiuto.
• State title game, girls’ lacrosse, West Fairmont vs. University
The key moment: Each minute of overtime. From referees going over the rules of the extra session with the head coaches, to fans thinking the match was over — it wasn’t — after the first OT, the inaugural, if unofficial, girls’ state championship game was an experience all its own. The Polar Bears eventually took the title with late goals from Krissy Bodnovich and Morgan Cain.
The significance: The Polar Bears captured the state title game, 12-10. West coaches and players hope the victory can aid efforts to sanction the sport in the not-so-distant future.
The money quote: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’s unbelievable.” — West’s Michelle Wilson.
• Softball, North Marion vs. West Fairmont
The key moment: Tied at 4-4, winless North Marion scored five times in the sixth inning and held on for a shocking 9-6 victory at Rivesville that broke a lengthy losing streak.
The significance: Aside from a rare win, it gave the young Huskies a much-needed jolt of confidence. They added three more victories by season’s end and played the Polar Bears tough in the sectional playoffs.
The money quote: “Finally. It feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.” — North coach Josh Kisner.
Weight off the shoulders? More like breaking through the clouds.
E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.
