<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ihDlQ_0svHIG7X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ihDlQ_0svHIG7X00" width="2048" height="1360" ></figure>Throughout the 2024 season, Williamstown has been considered among the top contenders in Class A.The Yellowjackets finished off a 24-3 regular season with a Little Kanawha Conference Championship in Levi Maxwell’s fourth year as head coach, and they’ve picked up where they left off to start postseason play, scoring a 10-run win against Ritchie County before moving into the driver’s seat of Region I, Section 2 with Wednesday’s 11-2 win over St. Marys.By defeating the Blue Devils, Williamstown moved to within one win of a sectional championship, which it will attempt to obtain Friday against the winner of Thursday’s matchup between St. Marys and Tyler Consolidated.“We’ve been working so hard,” said junior Brody Bowyer, who provided 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in last week’s LKC title-clinching victory against Gilmer County. “For the last three years, every player down the line in Williamstown’s baseball’s program has worked and coach Maxwell has done a great job building this program.”One more win in sectional play would enable Williamstown to advance to a best-of-three Region I series and play for a spot in the state tournament. The winner of a challenging Section 1 that includes Wheeling Central, Madonna and Cameron would await.Winners of eight straight, Williamstown’s only loss to Class A competition this season came back on April 15 against the Maroon Knights, though the Yellowjackets evened the season series with Central a week later.The Yellowjackets have a pair of regular season wins over Class A contender Charleston Catholic to their credit and several marquee victories against Ohio schools (two over Fort Frye and one over Toronto). Williamstown also challenged itself against several in-state schools from larger classifications and was competitive in losses to Jefferson and Fairmont Senior,In four seasons with the Yellowjackets, Maxwell has enjoyed his fair share of success, helping guide the team to the Class A state tournament in both 2021 and 2022. However, Williamstown, which has a 92-29 record since Maxwell became head coach, suffered semifinal losses both years to eventual state champions Moorefield (2021) and Charleston Catholic (2022).Last season, WHS team failed to make it out of sectional play and was eliminated by eventual state runner-up Tyler Consolidated.Yet for all its success on the diamond, Williamstown has never won or appeared in a state title game.Maxwell hopes that changes in the near future and would like to think his team is playing its best baseball at the right time. A 7-2 win over South Harrison in a LKC semifinal was followed by a 10-1 victory over the Titans in the league title game, which the Yellowjackets had qualified for, but come up short in each of Maxwell’s first three seasons.“This tournament has been a monkey on our back and we’ve been trying to get it off for four years,” Maxwell said. “We’ve been in the championship the last three years and this year we came away with it. This group was ready. Most of them had been here twice and they were ready to come out and play, and we did a good job.”Williamstown has not allowed more than three runs in any of its last seven contests, and during the ongoing eight-game win streak, the Yellowjackets have outscored opponents, 74-18.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3l6r7I_0svHIG7X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3l6r7I_0svHIG7X00" width="2048" height="1360" ><figcaption>Williamstown’s Brody Bowyer follows through on a pitch. Photo by Greg Carey</figcaption></figure>A well-rounded team features several reliable pitchers, a title Bowyer has worked his way into through his performances, particularly those in the latter parts of the season.“He’s a guy we’ve gone to a lot lately,” Maxwell said, “and he’s done a great job.”Bowyer was the winning pitcher when the Yellowjackets prevailed at Toronto on April 27, and it provided a confidence boost coming down the stretch.“I’m always waiting for my opportunity,” Bowyer said. “When I get it, I try to come in, throw strikes and do my job. We have a great defense and all credit to them.”Shortstop Maxwell Molessa, one of five seniors on the team and a West Virginia University signee, is the catalyst of a lineup not lacking depth. Luke Ankrom is the other senior starter, while juniors Ty Ott, Parker Schramm, Carson Hill and Cooper Martin help provide strong play, leadership and experience on a consistent basis.The upperclassmen are looking to use past postseason and big-game experience to help the Yellowjackets get back to Charleston, where they hope to end the season on championship Saturday this time around.“It’s awesome to see all the hard work pay off, but we’re looking for Charleston, too,” Bowyer said. “That’s the main goal.”</div></body>

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Williamstown hopeful strong play late in season pays off in form of desired ending

Throughout the 2024 season, Williamstown has been considered among the top contenders in Class A. The Yellowjackets finished off a 24-3 regular season with a Little Kanawha Conference Championship in Levi Maxwell’s fourth year as head coach, and they’ve picked up where they left off to start postseason play, scoring a 10-run win against Ritchie County before moving into the driver’s seat of Region I, Section 2 with Wednesday’s 11-2 win over St. Marys.

Williamstown hopeful strong play late in season pays off in form of desired ending

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