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Evan Kendall named to
WVIAC baseball first team
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Brooklyn Pavalok of the Lady Raiders takes a good look at a pitch during her team’s sectional softball loss to No. 1 Ritchie County Thursday at the RCHS diamond. |
By JIM COOPER
Sports Editor -
A breakout season by W.Va. State University relief pitcher Evan Kendall has landed the 2006 Roane County High School grad a spot on the all-WVIAC first team.
Kendall, a junior from Spencer, has a 4-0 record with six saves for the Yellow Jackets of veteran coach Calvin Bailey, who begin NCAA tournament play this week.
“He really opened some eyes this year,” Bailey, a 1960 Spencer High grad, said. “He’s done a heck of a job.”
Bailey said Kendall’s confidence received a boost after he switched to a sidearm motion.
“When he first started throwing, it didn’t look so hot,” Bailey said, adding that the only advice he gave Kendall was to hop off the mound after his delivery, a move Bailey’s former teammate Gene Garber used during a successful Major League career.
“From there on, (Kendall) just tweaked it,” Bailey said.
State fell 14-3 to Seton Hill in the WVIAC tournament final Sunday, but received an at-large bid to the Division II Atlantic Regional.
Kendall plans to continue playing after the season ends for the Yellow Jackets. Bailey said he would suit up for the Athens (Ohio) Copperheads of the collegiate Great Lakes League.
“I’d like to see him add a little more sink to his fastball and take a little more speed off his change-up,” Bailey said. “Who knows what could happen from there?”
Bailey said Kendall has the perfect size and athleticism to make it at the next level, but is happy he has another season of eligibility with State.
“We couldn’t be happier with him,” the coach said.
