The Times West Virginian Sports Central

Four straight

2009-05-20T01:15:00-04:00

Adam LaRoche had a two-run double in the 10th inning Tuesday night, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their season-high fourth straight, an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, who lost their sixth in a row.

Both streaks feature plenty of offense.

Saving the day

2009-05-18T01:50:00-04:00

You know the endpoint — goal after goal, the undefeated season, the state championship hardware that’s reserved a spot in the Fairmont Senior trophy case.

The Polar Bear girls’ lacrosse team, though, had humble beginnings. Most of this year’s senior class had not played the sport, had done little else than pick up a stick, until their first high school game.

Bucs bust out in 7th, win series

2009-05-18T01:49:00-04:00

In the span of one near-historic inning Sunday, the Pirates went from getting shut down to winning in a rout.

The Pirates scored 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, three of which were driven in by Nate McLouth, to turn a three-run deficit into a seven-run lead as they rallied for an 11-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.

Yates goes on DL; Pirates make minor trades

2009-05-18T01:46:00-04:00

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Tyler Yates was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park with elbow inflammation. Yates has been unable to pitch multiple innings this season and has appeared on consecutive days just twice because of the elbow.

Twice as nice

2009-05-16T23:54:00-04:00

Pure joy.

It was all over the field Saturday night. In the form of smiles, hugs, a team pile-on and boys lacrosse equipment strewn across the East-West Stadium turf.

The first stick to go airborne started the celebration, and made Fairmont Senior’s season-long goal a reality, as the Polar Bears upset No. 1 Morgantown, 9-8, for their first state title.

Polar Bears go back-to-back

2009-05-16T23:52:00-04:00

The perfect season now has a perfect ending.

Fairmont Senior’s girls’ lacrosse team capped an undefeated season Saturday afternoon with an 11-9 victory over Morgantown in the state title game at East-West Stadium.

The Polar Bears, who finished at 17-0, are believed to be the first state champion in school history to go unbeaten.

Double duty

2009-05-16T01:05:00-04:00

While both have a date with Morgantown — and perhaps destiny — Fairmont Senior’s girls’ and boys’ lacrosse teams have different motivating factors heading into today’s WVSLA state title games.

For the Polar Bear girls, it’s an opportunity to repeat history and capture a second straight title.

County to send 37 to state meet

2009-05-16T01:00:00-04:00

In all, 37 Marion County athletes have earned the right to compete at the West Virginia state track meet on May 22-23 at the University of Charleston Stadium.

The top three finishers in each event during regional competition as well as the next four times from all regions combined qualify for the state meet.

Flying high

2009-05-15T01:32:00-04:00

When the chips were down for East Fairmont’s softball team the Bees came through with flying colors.

Madonna Gribble homered and drove in three runs and Nikki Nuzum kept the Polar Bears off balance on the mound as the Bees defeated Fairmont Senior Thursday in the Class AAA, Region I semifinal.

Fairmont Senior wins sectional title

2009-05-15T01:29:00-04:00

Fairmont Senior head coach Steve Naternicola was looking for his Polar Bear baseball team to get up for Thursday’s Region I, Section 3 championship game against North Marion.

The two teams split the first two games of the series, both of which were closely contested.

But it was a different story.