Photo of Reed Wilharm, Madonna by Andrew Grimm of Wheeling.
By Michael Griffith
For the WVSWA
In a season riddled with injuries and questions, the East Hardy High School baseball team completed a remarkable run through the 2025 postseason, all the way to the Class A state championship, where they defeated Madonna 10-7 in extra innings to capture the title.
One key piece of the Cougars’ puzzle was junior infielder Evan Hamilton, who was selected to captain the WVSWA Class A baseball all-state first team after a solid 2025 campaign that culminated in that championship.
Hamilton batted .451 with 37 hits and 21 RBI with eight doubles, six triples, and four home runs. He also stole 19 bases and scored 35 runs.
Hamilton is joined by his teammate Garrett VanMeter, a sophomore, who occupies a first-team utility position after batting .508 with 30 hits, seven doubles, four home runs, and 23 RBI.
The runners-up for the Class A championship, Madonna, who were at the top of the rankings for most of the season, landed a trio of players on the first team in Pitcher Reed Wilharm, infielder David Connors, and outfielder Jacob Lazear.
Wilharm went 8-1 in 2025 with an outstanding 0.41 ERA and 83 strikeouts. He threw two no-hitters and one perfect game in 51.1 innings.
Connors batted .541 with 12 doubles, three home runs, and 35 RBI while Lazear was .437 at the plate with ten doubles, four triples, and 25 RBI.
Wilharm is joined by hurlers Kason Angel of Cameron and Jaxon Drennen of Tygarts Valley. Angel held a 1.69 ERA through 35 innings with 69 strikeouts, while Drennen threw 42 innings with 97 strikeouts and a 0.49 ERA.
The final three infielders listed are Gilmer County’s Kolten Holbert, Wahama’s Eli Rickard, and Ryan Parker of Clay-Battelle.
Holbert batted .432 with a .558 on-base percentage and 25 stolen bases. Rickard earned 44 hits at a .454 clip, with nine doubles, 25 RBI, and 29 runs scored.
Parker led the Cee Bees with a .607 average, 12 doubles, 18 runs, and 17 RBI.
Two catchers were named to the first team, with Cam Gerace of Man and Parker Hopkins of Trinity Christian occupying the spots.
Gerace batted .365 and was a wall defensively for the Hillbillies. Hopkins makes his second first-team of the year after being named first-team goalkeeper in soccer. He hit .471 with a. .618 OBP. Hopkins threw out 13 of 24 runners attempting to steal.
“Parker is a dedicated and hard-working athlete, and his efforts behind the scenes are paying off,” TCS head coach Wes Hopkins said. “His defensive presence is a major asset, and he is a tough out at the plate. Along with his on-field accomplishments, he is just as hardworking off the field, making him a great student and friend as well.”
Sherman’s Luke Tagliante and Man’s Landon Cantrell complete the outfield.
The final two utility players are Dom Bombardiere of Notre Dame and Braxton Messer of Man. Bombardiere served as the team’s ace with a 0.36 ERA and five strikeouts, while batting .422 with 21 RBI. Messer hit for .494 with 33 RBI and 23 runs.
Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the player’s name, school, licensed WVSWA logo, year of the honoree are available to All-State first-team, second-team, and honorable mentions, and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com.
CLASS A
First Team
P – Reed Wilharm, Madonna, (Sr.)
P – Kason Angel Cameron (Jr.)
P – Jaxon Drennen, Tygarts Valley (Sr.)
C – Cam Gerace, Man (Sr.)
C – Parker Hopkins, Trinity Christian (Jr.)
IF – David Connors, Madonna (Sr.)
IF – Evan Hamilton, East Hardy (Jr.) (CAPT)
IF- Kolten Holbert, Gilmer County, (Soph.)
IF – Eli Rickard, Wahama (Sr.)
IF – Ryan Parker, Clay Battelle (Jr.)
OF – Luke Tagliante, Sherman (JR.)
OF – Jacob Lazear, Madonna,
OF – Landon Cantrell, Man (Jr.)
Util -Garrett VanMeter, East Hardy (Soph.)
Util – Dom Bombardiere, Notre Dame (Sr.)
Util – Braxton Messer, Man (Sr.)
Second team
P – Kooper Statler, Clay Battelle (Jr.)
P – Max Brown, Webster County, (Fr.)
P – Wyatt Pence, St. Joe’s (Soph.)
C – Paul Fox, Greater Beckley (Jr.)
C – Brody Ewing, Wirt County (Sr.)
IF – Dominico Minnocci, Notre Dame (Soph.)
IF – Finn Loy, Magnolia (Jr.)
IF- Eli Gunter, Greater Beckley (Jr.)
IF- Matt Geer, Madonna, (Jr.) (CAPT)
IF – Landon Church, Calhoun County (Sr.)
OF -Soier Reed, Cameron (Soph.)
OF – Isaac Snyder, Webster County (Sr.)
OF – Hayden Lloyd, Wahama, (Sr.)
OF – Bryson Sanders, Trinity Christian (Sr.)
Util – Hunter Muncy, Mount View, (Jr.)
Util – Braylon Mencer, Gilmer County (Sr.)
HONORABLE MENTION: David Beane, St. Joe’s; Wyatt Boice, Wirt County; Chandler Copley, Tug Valley; Gavin Fitzpatrick, Tug Valley; Parker Giles, Richwood; Koleton Grishkevich, Madonna; Brayden Hamrick, Sherman; Ky’rece Hughes, Mount View; Kaden Lane, Richwood; Isaiah Lewis, Greater Beckley; Zayde Long, Cameron; Jovanni Minnocci, Notre Dame; Easton Moore, Van; Cade Price, Van; Reece Schoolcraft, Calhoun County; Hunter Skidmore, Webster County; Austin Smith, Tug Valley; Wes Starcher, Cameron; Cody Walls, Man; Jacob Wamsley, Tygarts Valley; Mason Watts, St. Joe’s; Kaiden Wells, Madonna; Gage Whitt, Tug Valley.
