By Roy Harper- Potomac State College
Culture
In sports today, everyone talks about a program's culture. The way you do things. The way you do everything.
For 29 years WVU Potomac State Head Baseball Coach Doug Little has worked to establish a program that can be recognized as having a high standard on and off the field. A program that the College, the community, alumni, and the state of West Virginia can point to with a sense of pride.
"Some think you can win just with your culture, but you can't. However, we do have a culture that has been built by the hard work of many players over the years," said Little. "We have the support of so many former players who often remind us that the standard is what they remember the most about their time here. That is what makes it so important for us to uphold that tradition and success each and every year."
"Winning games is what we are here for; the guys remember the games. But the coaches realize that is just a part of it- it is really the preparation of life," Little shared.
After squeezing in a uncharaceristc ealr home game last weekend, Potomac State will continue its season on Saturday in North Carolina against Loisburg Community College, Little knows the spotlight on his program is glaring.
"First, we have a some heavy-weight battles with Louisburg over the years, and I am looking forward to the challenge. But this time of year, people really start to pay notice, simply because the games are about to start," said Little.
But as former and current players and coaches know, the work never really ends.
"To run a successful program, at any level, takes beyond a full-time commitment. There really is no 'off-season.' Recruiting is a 12-month commitment. Our fall practice begins the first day of school in August and goes hopefully into June. And all the work that goes into those months is necessary, just to have a chance to succeed."
Little continued, "It would be great if it was just baseball we had to worry about, but is so much more: fielding work, doing the live stats, dealing with the weather, putting the tarp on and off, painting walls, fixing fence posts, doing laundry. But you know what? All those things make our program better, make our players have a positive experience, and hopefully, they grow from it. That is also part of our culture."
"All the while our players are becoming better players through our development system, and they are ultimately becoming better people."
Challenges
A year ago, Potomac State finished just 22-21, ending its season at the Region 20 Tournament.
"Last season was just 'one of those years', in which everything that could go wrong did. Our pitching staff, that we thought was going to be our strong suit, battled injuries and inexperience. We lost three of our top four pitchers to injury and it just put too much pressure on the other young arms that never really got a chance to mature."
"This difference between year one and two at a JUCO is huge, and we hope that some of those lessons learned a year ago will benefit our staff this year."
To replicate the success of past seasons, Little knows how important each day is this time of year.
"The challenge is to get better each day. If we can get 1% better every day, that gives us a good chance to be successful. I am proud of the effort, concentration, and professionalism our guys bring to the field every single day."
This time of year, one issue Little cannot control is the weather, which constantly revises a baseball schedule.
"I'm convinced that a baseball coach is part meteorologist and part fortune-teller. As much as I try, I just can't make the weather cooperate on our game days. Adjusting the game schedule, talking to other coaches to see if they have open dates, and touching base with the umpires are all parts of my job that I enjoy the least. Our schedule is often not worth the paper it is printed on most years. Follow us on twitter for updates is the best advice I can give."
New players, same goals.
Each year, a team has a different identity, and this year's team is no different. Replacing so much productivity and training freshmen players will be a challenge for Little and his staff.
Since classes began on the Keyser campus in August, Little along with Assistant Coaches Don Schafer (27th season), Jamison Jones (5th season), and newcomer Brian Bruce have worked with a group of thirty-eight young men six days a week preparing for the season.
Potomac State hopes all that hard work culminates with a trip to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. The Catamounts last made the trip west in 2011.
"It is our goal every year," said Little. "It is really difficult to get there. There are so many good teams to beat, and most of them have way more scholarship money than we do. We like the challenge; we embrace it, and it is what motivates us every day."
An Eye to the Future
The traditions of the baseball program at Potomac State College have mostly been established by Little. A program known for discipline, player development, and winning creates a good reputation. Despite all the success, Little still has an eye on the future and the program continues to grow.
"We have things in our program that we had not previously had, like our own indoor facility, multiple pitching machines, a new radar gun, and an indoor and outdoor camera system for player development."
"This season we add a new scoreboard that was made possible from some donors, replacing our board that was first installed in 2004. As we look down the road, things we need to add are more improvements to our facility, and the most obvious of those is getting artificial turf at Golden Park.
"I really hope that a project like that can become a priority for our campus, our administration, and our program."
Preparation
"We prepare for our season longer than any other sport. We start the same time as other sports at the College and before some others that have had their seasons already end before we even begin ours."
Little knows that, despite dealing with the unpredictable weather this month to prepare, what his team looks forward to the most is playing in real games.
"We have already battled through some serious snow this spring, our field is in great shape now and we hope we can avoid another heavy snow."
"Most people really don't realize how much time and effort we spend preparing for this time of year. I have people stop me in the store in the month of April and ask me when baseball starts. I tell them it started in August."
"Our guys give us everything they have for 10-plus months a year. College baseball is truly a grind, but the guys in our program, past and present, have bought in and really embrace the long year and the hard work."
The 2026 season at Potomac State begins with the same high aspirations as always.
"Each team has its own identity, and this team has the potential to be really good."
So, what gives Little pause as the 2026 season is set to begin?
"In junior college baseball there is a constant turnover. We lost four starters offensively and our top three pitchers on the mound. We recruited hard, welcomed some new faces but, I have to remind myself that, as much as I like our team, some of these guys have never really been tested in a game."
On the mound
What a difference a year makes. This time last season, Little thought his pitchers would carry the Catamount success.
"It's so hard to find quality pitching," Little continued. "We feel like we have some decent arms at the top, and we feel like we have some additional guys on the back end."
The top three starters to begin the season will be Evan Jenkins (Keyser, WV), Gavin Bennett (Greenbrier, WV), and Gabe Jensen (Morgantown, WV) to take on an expanded role in 2026.
Jenkins went 4-3 lasts season with 46 K's in 48 Innings pitched. Bennett went 2-2 with 29K's in 27 innings pitched, while Jansen redshirted last year.
"It is an old cliché in baseball, but it all starts on the mound," said Little. "These three pitchers really will be forced to keep us in games, and they have a high ceiling, they are considerably better than a year ago- one years makes a big difference."
Returners Jake Compton (Mentor, OH), Hunter Krotzer (Somerset, PA), Noah Durance (Wasaga Beach, Ontario), all look to toe the rubber often for the Catamounts.
A trio of freshmen look to be near the top of the rotation for the 2026 Catamounts. Jacob Stavrakis, (Bridgeport, WV), Brady McNew, (Kingwood, WV) and Brock Whipkey, (Winchester, VA) all will soak up innings this spring.
"Those three have a huge upside," says Little. "They all have decent stuff; they all work hard and they all will help us win games."
Jaxon Drennen, (Elkins, WV) looks to have the closer role as the season begins.
Building depth at the back end of the rotation might be easier for Catamounts this year as Little likes the potential of his entire staff.
"I like our staff. We have options. We have guys who have an idea how to pitch. They just need to get their feet wet and gain some valuable experience."
Judd Messerly, (Morgantown, WV), Jayden Lester (Hurricane, WV), Tate Musko, (Smock, OH) and Daniel Pepke, (Mt. Union, PA) will fill out the staff.
At the plate
When it comes to scoring runs this season, the Catamounts are again faced with replacing some big numbers and have much less experience than they did a year ago.
"That is a lot of offense that needs to be replaced," said Potomac State assistant coach Don Schafer. "I'm not sure how we can replace it all. Obviously, it puts some pressure on players who were part-time guys a year ago and some new guys to really step up their game. Fortunately, we have a group that embraces hard work and has really bought in to what we try to do."
"A year ago we lack some offensive punch, this season we have a chance to regain some of that impact."
Returning from a year ago there will be four sophomores who will all be in the mix for the Catamount line up and all look to garner heavy playing time for PSC. Lex Wescott (Harrington, DE), Braden Sloan (Hurricane, WV), Seth Healy (Keyser, WV), Ryan Conrad (Wheeling, WV), provide some stability for the PSC lineup.
"We might not be as experienced as I would like, but these four have some veteran skills to give us a boost and be a steadying force in our lineup," said Schafer.
Wescott hit second a year ago and will fill that important spot again in 2026. His 42 hits, .328 batting average, .464 on base percentage and 21 walks look to set the table for the Catamounts.
Conrad had 34 hits a year ago, with 30 RBIs and a .312 clip. Healy drove in 29 runs with an average of .312. Sloan hit .261 with 36 hits and 17 runs batted in.
Other returners, Caden Johnson (Hurricane, WV), Logan Rotruck (Keyser, WV), Braylen Knable (Newton Hamilton, PA), AJ Spears (Charles Town, WV), will provide depth and may push for starting positions.
Jonathan Mallow, (Petersburg, WV) returns after missing all last season with an arm injury.
The group of ten newcomers could be strong at the plate for PSC in 2026.
Brayden Harris, (McDonald, PA), Dylan Rice, (North Branch, MD), Josh Patrick, (Lewisberry, PA), Peyton Blue, (Sardis, OH), Vincent Aloi, (Morgantown, WV), Cam Roberts, (Stafford, VA), Jaxon Drennen, (Elkins, WV), Callen Miller, (Somerset, PA), Braden Oviedo, (Martinsburg, WV), and Evan Swain, (Ravenswood, WV) all look to make major contributions for Potomac State.
Around the horn
Peyton Blue gets the nod at 1st base early in 2026. He will be pushed in this talented group with Swain, Musko and Aloi in the mix.
"Blue had a great fall and gives us some pop in the lineup," said Schafer.
At second base, Jaxon Drennen gets the nod and will split time with returner Seth Healy, who will also get some time in the outfield.
"Drennen is a legit two-way guy and has some real talent," said Schafer. "I expect big things from him. He is a tough kid and loves to play. He also can play multiple spots for us, so his versatility makes him even more valuable. "
At shortstop, Jonathan Mallow will man the position. The left-hand swinging sophomore gives the Catamounts a solid glove up the middle and will hit in the middle of the lineup.
"Mallow is a solid player," said Schafer. "He has a quiet leadership quality; he loves and understands the game; and he has a chance really have an impressive spring."
The hot corner is settled as sophomore Lex Wescott gets the nod again this season.
Braeden Oviedo provides flexibility all around the infield.
Behind the plate is perhaps the deepest position for the Catamounts.
Freshman Callen Miller leads the way with a strong frame and some serious power.
Caden Johnson, Ryan Conrad, Logan Rotruck and Braylen Knable will all battle to get playing time as the backstop.
"These is the challenge; we can only catch one guy at a time. All these guys know how to handle the pitching staff. They all bring things to the table to help us win," said Schafer.
Providing depth behind the dish will be AJ Spears who is nursing an injury.
In the outfield, Potomac State has just one returner.
Braden Sloan is expected to man centerfield.
"He really is driven to catch every single ball that goes in the air," said Schafer. "He is a hard worker, and I hope we get a big year from him."
The depth in the outfield is better than a year ago with Healy slated to bounce to the outfield frequently. Newcomers, Brayden Harris, Dyland Rice, Josh Patrick and Cam Roberts will all be in the mix and the depth allows for some matchup advantages that did not exist last season.
"There is some talent in the outfield," said Schafer. "We will count on all of them from time-to-time to be solid on defense and be run producers at the plate."