UPDATE! West Virginia High School State Baseball Tournament this week! Check back for updates and scores!

CHARLESTON – The matchups are set for this season’s West Virginia High School state baseball tournament! Check back for scores and updates throughout the weekend!

Appalachian Power Park, Charleston, WV

2009 WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament
Appalachian Power Park
Charleston, WV

Thursday, June 4
POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN – RESCHEDULED
Class AAA Semifinal Martinsburg (26-9) vs. Logan (25-8), 4:30 p.m. RAINED OUT ON THURSDAY – postponed to Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m.

Class AAA Semifinal Nitro (29-4) vs. John Marshall (20-4), 30 min following Game 1 – RAINED OUT ON THURSDAY – postponed to Saturday, June 6 , 45 minutes after the first AAA semifinal

Friday, June 5
Afternoon
Game 3: Class AA Semifinal Independence (21-3) vs. Lincoln (15-11), 10 a.m.
Game 4: Class AA Semifinal Sissonville (21-15) vs. Point Pleasant (19-10), 30 min following Game 3

Evening
Game 5: Class A Semifinal Pocahontas County (14-11) vs. Moorefield (22-6), 5 p.m.
Game 6: Class A Semifinal Man (18-13) vs. Weirton Madonna (22-3), 30 min following Game 5

Saturday, June 6
Class AAA Semifinal Martinsburg (26-9) vs. Logan (25-8), 10 a.m.

Class AAA Semifinal Nitro (29-4) vs. John Marshall (20-4), 30 min following first AAA semifinal

Class AA State Championship, Semifinal winners, 45 min following second AAA semifinal

Class A State Championship, Semifinal winners, 45 min following AA awards ceremony

Sunday, June 7
Class AAA State Championship, Semifinal winners, 1:30 p.m.

New adventure in the “Tree Tops” at Class VI

Class VI and Adventure West Virginia is better known for its whitewater rafting tours based in Lansing, WV. 

Tree Tops canopy tour guide "Tiny" rappels down 40-feet at the conclusion of the tour

But a new addition could be bringing tourists and adventure seekers as well.

The Tree Tops canopy tour was introduced by Class VI just three weeks ago.

Strapped into a harness, you glide through the tree tops giving you a sensation of flying.

As you zip through the forest, one can imagine what it is like to be a bird. It’s an adrenaline rush that is not to be missed.

Beginning at the base camp, two guides describe the adventure that you’re about to embark on. They outfit you with a helmet, harness and the pulleys necessary to secure you on the ziplines.

After a short van ride to the starting point, the group gets a tutorial lesson in the zipline fun. You will be flying at a pretty good rate over the trees and even Mill Creek, so you must learn how to brake too.

You'll cross five of these bridges along with flying through 10 ziplines during your Tree Tops canopy tour

For anyone that has had a tree house, you can get a feel for it. Except you’re about 100 feet off the ground in some places.

[For “Twilight” movie fans, picture that scene early in the film when the two main characters are taking in the scenery from the top of a tree. It’s about like that.]  

The two guides are well-trained in securing the participants, ensuring that safety is a priority. They are also very informative, stopping along the way to describe the various nature sights, trees and history of the area.

The Tree Tops tour was designed and built by Bonsai Design, a world class sustainable canopy tour design company, at a cost of nearly $400,000.

A brief break in the action during the Tree Tops canopy tour

With ten ziplines to enjoy, you move from tree to tree via a network of platforms. The ziplines vary in length from 100 feet to as long as 800 feet. You can expect to move along at approximately 30 miles an hour on some zips.

The nearly three hour tour also includes four walking bridges and ends with a 40-foot rappel back down to earth. 

As daring as it may seem, children as young as 10 are welcome to join in on the fun. Up to eight guests can participate with the two guides on the tour. 

For more information, visit http://www.class-vi.com/canopytours.cfm?AdventureTypeID=15

Zipping along / the Tree Tops canopy tour at Class VI

 

The new Tree Tops canopy tour at Class VI

Smokey’s on the Gorge offers great food, great view

Having a dream job may require some sacrifices. At least Shawn Huffman thinks so.

The 36-year old drives almost 90 miles one way from his home in Winfield to his job as the manager of Smokey’s on the Gorge restaurant in Lansing, WV.

Shawn Huffman and Mark Schnurrpusch of Smokey's on the Gorge

“I like being in the outdoors,” said Huffman. “It sure beats the corporate world. You can’t ask for a better view. It’s beautiful. It’s some of the most beautiful landscape in the world. I can walk out of my office and see the New River. Not too many people can do that.”

Smokey’s is located at the Class VI whitewater adventure vacation resort near the New River Gorge. So a commitment to a commute longer than average distances is required.

“I love the Putnam County area,” Huffman added. “I help out with [Winfield youth] basketball there.

“I’m working five to six days a week. It’s about an hour and a half drive, 89.2 miles each way from my house. It’s not a hard drive though. You just hit the [West Virginia] Turnpike, go up [U.S. Highway] 19 and you’re here.”

Smokey's on the Gorge

Class VI is located on Ames Heights Road, the second left after crossing the New River Gorge Bridge.

From the open deck at Smokey’s, you can see the New River below and thousands of trees that make up the 70,000 acre National Park lands of the New River Gorge valley.

“I believe it is by far must be the most picturesque view that you can have while dining [in West Virginia],” Huffman said. “We can seat 100 people on the deck with whitewater in the background. For the people that come here, it just takes their breath away. You can’t ask for a prettier place to be.”

Many weddings are being planned for the site.

“You have the scenery here,” Huffman pointed out. “I had a traveler tell me this week that this was the most beautiful place that she has ever stayed at.”

The deck at Smokey's on the Gorge is a popular place to dine

After finishing a meal at Smokey’s, one can walk about 100 feet down a trail that leads to a spectacular overlook area featuring the famous New River Gorge Bridge. The bridge has four lanes of U.S. Highway 19 over the New River. It is 876 feet above the river, making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the second-highest in the world since the Millau Viaduct in France opened in 2004.

The food at Smokey’s is not your typical campground or vacation fare.

“It is a gourmet buffet,” said Huffman. “Some people feel differently about a buffet, but you come here and you won’t. The food is spectacular.” 

Smokey’s is becoming known for its carved to order New York beef loin, pork loin with Dijon cream sauce and even penne pasta with salmon and shrimp among other favorite entrees.

The New York beef loin, carved to order at Smokey's on the Gorge

“We have one of the nicest gourmet salad bars that you’re ever going to find anywhere,” Huffman said. “You can get a garden salad, a fresh green salad, a Caesar Salad – and just about anything you can think of to put on a salad.”

“The idea was to create a gourmet buffet that is true to the influences that have come through West Virginia,” explained Mark Schnurrpusch, the Executive Chef at Class VI. “Appalachian cuisine is actually a big mixing bowl of everything that has come through here. This buffet pulls from many different cultures.

“We present something that is upscale and it’s a treat for people to come to. Travelers get a chance to see what Appalachia has to offer. We don’t pour canned food into a bowl. Everything is as fresh and local as possible.”

Even the veggies get a special touch at Smokey's on the Gorge

“It’s not a typical buffet because we’re not trying to move people in and out and turn over tables quickly,” Schnurrpusch added. “We want people to sit here and enjoy their evening, taking advantage of the view that we have here. And we have great food that correlates with that.

“Some people have come for the whitewater rafting and also found what a treat Smokey’s is.”

The proximity to Charleston and Putnam County makes even a night out a possibility.

“You can drive here pretty easily and be back home early,” Huffman suggested. “We take reservations. By the time that you go to some of the restaurants in Charleston and wait in line 45 minutes just to place your order, you can be here and enjoy a great meal.”

Class VI has many outdoor activities including whitewater rafting, kayaking clinics, hiking & biking trails, horseback riding, rock climbing, ATV tours and a new Tree Tops canopy tour with ziplines. There’s also cornhole, horseshoes, volleyball and a children’s playground at the base camp.

The new Tree Tops canopy tour at Class VI

“With what Adventure West Virginia has to offer, it’s a great vacation scene,” said Huffman. “We’re finding a lot more West Virginians coming here.”

For more information, visit http://www.class-vi.com

Brothers Gilbert and Ramon Gurrola take in the sights from the deck at Smokey's on the Gorge following a recent dinner at Class VI.

Jason Crabb coming to Bridging the Gap event in Hurricane

Jason Crabb could be just about anywhere he wants to be, as a vocalist, musician and minister.

Jason Crabb

But this Monday and Tuesday night [May 18-19, 2009], he’ll be at the Tabernacle of Praise Church in Hurricane for the “Bridging the Gap ’09” event.

As a musician and vocalist most famous for his work as the lead vocalist for the Crabb Family, Jason has performed at the Grand Ole’ Opry, the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and performed live on Billy Graham’s farewell crusade in New York City.

He is also a frequent host on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s “Praise the Lord” show.

 “We love all of the things that God has allowed us to do,” Crabb said. “But we always love to go to the local churches. We love to do that.”

 “Jason is a tremendous blessing and has a great spirit,” said Bryan Mathews, the Administrative Pastor at Tabernacle of Praise. “Even though he’s reached the pinnacle of ministry so to speak, he still reaches out to hurting people. I have seen his heart in that.”

 Crabb is no stranger to West Virginia. He expressed how much he is looking forward to his visit here.

 “Are you kidding? I love the area and the people,” Crabb said. “They have been so good to me over the years. It’s going to be nice to go back and share what we’re doing now. We’ll get to see some friends along the way too. There’s nothing like that.”

 After several No. 1 gospel singles, winning numerous Dove Awards and Grammy nominations, Crabb and his siblings have branched out onto their own projects. He is currently working with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

 “It’s been two years now [since branching out],” said Crabb. “My first solo project is coming out in June. We did it with the Gaither/Spring Hill music label. We’re excited about that. We had a lot of great producers that worked on it. There are a lot of neat things going on. The Gaithers are good people. We love them. They’ve been very gracious and kind to me.

 “We’ll be doing quite a few new songs from the new record on those nights [in Hurricane]. I really wouldn’t call myself a preacher, but I do share my testimony and what God has done for me.”

 Bridging the Gap ‘09 is the theme of the three-day event that begins on Sunday night. All services begin at 7 p.m.

Pastor Bryan and Renee Mathews, Tabernacle of Praise, Hurricane, WV

 “In [the book of] Malachi, it talks about the hearts of the fathers turn to the hearts of the sons,” explained Mathews. “That was our inspiration. We’re trying to bridge a generational gap.

 “Sunday night will be for everyone one but it is our youth ministry with dramas and other churches that are coming with drama teams. We’ll be focusing on youth.

 “On Monday and Tuesday night, Jason [Crabb] will be with us,” Mathews continued. “We feel that he has a special gift to not only speak to the elderly generation but he is uniquely able to reach the younger generation and teens. That’s the reason we wanted him to come and minister.  Bishop Shea Hughes of St. Louis will also speak on Monday and Tuesday. He is the Youth Director with the Church of God there.”

 Tabernacle of Praise is located at 2368 Thompson Road. For more information on the church and the “Bridging the Gap” event, go to http://www.topcog.org or call 304-562-9168.

 For more information about Jason Crabb, go to http://www.JasonCrabb.com

DeMeo Clinic draws 160 coaches to Charleston

Tony DeMeo wrapped up springs drills with his University of Charleston football team with a bang on Saturday.

Tony DeMeo

 

Besides sending the Golden Eagles out for the usual Maroon and Gold scrimmage, DeMeo and his coaching staff finished a two-day clinic for 160 high school coaches representing 22 different states and one province in Canada.

 

You can mark Dale Schuring, the head coach at Arthur High School in Arthur, Illinois, as a DeMeo disciple and a believer in his Triple Gun Option offense.

 

“We were here last spring,” said Schuring. “I first heard about Tony DeMeo and his clinic when I attended NIKE clinics and I heard him speak three different times about this. It intrigued me. We didn’t have superior athletes, but his offense was something that I felt we could compete with and have a chance with when the other team had better people.

DeMeo draws up play at the Coaches Clinic

 

“We tried it one year without coming here and we messed it up terribly as coaches. We didn’t have much success with it. One of assistant coaches and I came last year and found out a lot of things we did wrong and we went back and it worked perfectly for us. Now we’re here this year trying to pick up some new things, new options and new variations. We’ve found out that there are a few things that we are still doing a little wrong.

 

The triple gun option found a home at Arthur High. But it took a more personable approach to finally get over the learning curve of installing the offense.

 

“The first year, the triple [option] was probably our worst play and last year it was our best play,” Schuring said. “That’s the basis of the offense. Our coaches just didn’t understand because we had not taken the opportunity to sit down with Tony and his staff for two days at first. It was just an hour at a clinic over three different years. Of course, I had his books and stuff, but you can’t really get all of the ins and outs through just the books and videos.

Drawing up the Triple Gun Option

 

“Coming here was a huge difference from our lack of success to our improved success.”

 

DeMeo’s style of being approachable and accessible to high school coaches has been a key to the success of the clinic.

 

“The thing that is very impressive about Tony and his staff is that if you email them or call them, they actually answer their own phones and they reply to emails,” Schuring said. “Most coaches – and I am talking from Division I all the way down to Division III and everyone in between – you’re going to get a secretary instead and four days later you may get a call back. Tony answers his own phone and he’ll talk to you. He’s probably the most open and giving coach I’ve ever been around.”

 

Visitors from Canada at the DeMeo Coaches Clinic

Arthur’s opponents have certainly taken notice of the triple gun.

 

“One of our new assistant coaches this year was a former coach for an opponent’s staff last year,” Schuring pointed out. “He said that they watched film on us and after being here and listening to all of this, they had no idea of what we were doing. It’s not something that is out there widespread or the ‘in’ thing necessarily. So we’re at a definite advantage over our opponents because it is unique.

 

“A lot of people run options and a lot of people run triple option. But the mechanics are so much different from the old time stuff. Most people know that it is hard to defend because you’re defenders are being assigned to the wrong person. They have no chance of succeeding. It’s a fantastic offense.    

UC's Maroon & Gold game

 

“The best part is that it is so simple [to teach],” Schuring added. “It really is. There are very few plays, but you can get good at what you’re doing. It’s his philosophy and I agree with it totally.”

 

DeMeo launched a personal website at www.tonydemeo.com about a year ago that lends support to coaches year round.

 

“I’ve been to the website many times,” said Schuring. “I go there everyday, sometimes several times a day. I like to check out the forum to see what people are saying. It’s a great idea.”

         

“The website has been really good for us,” said DeMeo. “We started the website with the idea of creating a little fraternity of coaches for this kind of an offense. We don’t charge anything to go on the website It is a pure attempt to develop a community of triple gun option coaches.”

 

a few of the coaches pose for a photo following the Tony DeMeo Coaches Clinic

The website features play diagrams, videos and a forum for coaches to ask questions with DeMeo answering them in detail.

 

“They can keep in touch with me or with each other over the course of the year,” DeMeo explained. “Now it has gotten to the point where they know as much about it as I do. They’re even answering each other’s questions. The feedback has been excellent.”

 

The clinic has grown steadily through unconventional means.

 

“We don’t do any advertising,” DeMeo said. “It’s all word of mouth. It’s just guys that have come to know this offense and want to come out and see it and learn more. We’re really flattered with the response. Here we are, we’re a Division II school.” 

 

UC ended springs drills with a spirited scrimmage on the turf at University of Charleston Stadium on Saturday.

 

“This is our last scrimmage, so our goal is to get through it without any injuries,” DeMeo said. “We’ve seen some good things this spring. We’re developing some good kids. We’re just wrapping it up and having a little fun before we get out.”