FAIRMONT — 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.
Being the new kids on the championship block, they soaked it all in after holding off a late Mohigans’ charge. You name it — photos, trophy kisses, cutting the hair of assistant coach Mike DeVault — they likely did it during the giddy postgame celebration.
“It’s a great, it’s a dream come true to win it,” Fairmont Senior’s Travis DeVault said.
Those dreams may have been dashed if not for the performance of goalie Tyler Ross. The Polar Bear senior was named game MVP after recording 22 saves, including 14 in the second half.
While he flirted with danger in the fourth quarter — three Morgantown goals, two by Chaz Chase, in 2:43 made it 7-7 with just over six minutes left — Ross’ confidence never strayed.
He felt he had been “in the zone” since the end of the first period. Whenever that is the case, he wants the opposing offense to challenge him, to see who is truly the best.
“I want them to come at me,” he said.
When the Mohigans struck in the final period, Ross usually stopped them cold. He had seven saves in the fourth, none bigger when he corralled a ball from his knees after a close-range shot with 20 seconds left in regulation.
“Tyler is ... oh my gosh,” DeVault said. “When he first said he wanted to be a goalie, he was kind of nervous about it and didn’t think he’d do a good job. He’s become the best goalie in the state.”
“He was phenomenal,” Fairmont Senior first-year coach Jarrott Brogdon said. “I’ve said he’s the best goalie in the state and I think he proved it today. I don’t think there’s any doubt now.”
There’s little doubt the rest of Fairmont’s roster came to play, either.
David Bonazza had a hat trick, including the game-clinching goal that made it a 9-7 game at the 2:46 mark. Louie Romano, Brad Cox and Nate Freeland added two goals a piece to help Fairmont Senior lead 4-1 after one and 6-2 by halftime.
While the start played a key role in a Polar Bears’ title, the finish — and the team’s gutsy fourth quarter despite being outshot 14-3 — made the difference in the end.
“It’s huge,” Brodgon said of the win. “I felt we could do it, but there was times I wasn’t sure. That has nothing to do with their desire or ability, I just didn’t know if I’d have the time to show them the things I needed to show them. They’re amazing.”
“Lacrosse probably is going to be pretty big in Fairmont,” Ross said.
Looks like it already is.
E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.
Sports Central
May 16, 2009
Twice as nice
FSHS boys stun Morgantown for first state title
- Sports Central
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Four straight
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
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
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 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.
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Twice as nice
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
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
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
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
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
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. - More Sports Central Headlines
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