All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Hudson wins MEC Pitcher of the Year; Warner selected as MEC Coach of the Year, four Lady Bobcats earn All-MEC Softball Honors

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan senior pitcher Hannah Hudson has been named Mountain East Conference Pitcher of the Year while head coach Steve Warner has been picked as MEC Coach of the Year.
 
Junior shortstop Alli Robinson and sophomore outfielder Grace Hightower joined Hudson on the All-MEC First Team. Junior pitcher Abigail O’Shields was added to the All-MEC Second Team.
 
Hudson, a native of Blackstone, Va., led the conference in ERA (1.20), wins (19), complete games (22), shutouts (7) and innings pitched (158.0). Her 165 strikeouts ranked third and she held hitters to a .179 batting average. Hudson was named MEC Player of the Week three times in 2022 and tossed a seven-inning no-hitter versus Wheeling on April 15.
 
Warner guided the Lady Bobcats to a 23-7 conference record and an MEC South Division Championship. The NCAA softball coaching legend collected his 1,100th career victory on March 7 versus Mercyhurst. It is the fifth time Warner has won MEC Coach of the Year. Warner was named the league’s best coach in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
 
After being sidelined in 2021 due to injury, Robinson provided power to the Lady Bobcat offense all season. The Buckhannon, W.Va., native Robinson led the MEC in OPS (1.333), slugging percentage (.861), home runs (14) and RBIs (57).
 
Hightower, the WVWC leadoff hitter, had a breakout sophomore season. From Barboursville, W.Va., Hightower ranked seventh in the conference in batting average (.397) and had the highest batting average for the ‘Cats. Her 69 hits were the most by any player in the conference.
 
O’Shields posted an ERA of 2.42 after throwing 101.1 innings in 2022. The Dagsboro, Del., native accumulated 101 punchouts and held batters to a .196 batting average. O’Shields threw three shutouts and 12 complete games.
 

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

walking healthy

Local groups announce that a new Mountaineer Mile wellness trail is coming to the Buckhannon Riverwalk

Officials say the new wellness trail in Buckhannon will expand local opportunities for health‑focused outdoor recreation. A ribbon-cutting for is set for noon Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at the Buckhannon Walk Trail, near the baseball field.

Upshur County Board of Education Agenda: January 6, 2026

The Upshur County Board of Education will hold a meeting on January 6, 2026, and this notice summarizes the agenda items to be discussed.

Buckhannon Colonial Arts Center Board Agenda: January 6, 2026

The Buckhannon Colonial Arts Center Board will hold a meeting on January 6, 2026, with the published agenda outlining items to be considered by the board.
Buckhannon River

Buckhannon River Watershed Association among recipients of state infrastructure grants

The Buckhannon River Watershed Association will receive a $5,000 Stream Partners Program grant as part of more than $15.4 million announced for water, sewer and conservation projects statewide. The funding supports river and watershed protection work.

Southern Upshur Business Association returns Fiddler’s Mill to Upshur County Commission

The Southern Upshur Business Association says it can no longer maintain Fiddler’s Mill because of limited funds and volunteers. SUBA will officially relinquish operations Dec. 31, 2025, and the property will revert to the Upshur County Commission.

St. Joseph’s Hospital welcomes the first baby of 2026

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital rang in the new year with the birth of Charlotte Renea Mitchell at 4 a.m. Jan. 1.

Sandra Kay Currence

Sandra Kay Currence, 78, a longtime Buckhannon educator and former Tennerton Elementary teacher and principal, died December 31, 2025, and is survived by her husband Kenneth Currence, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Carpenter Crunch Time: That’s a wrap!

After a brief break, local sports columnist Duane Carpenter wraps up the 2025 football season, highlights surprising high school and college outcomes, criticizes excess bowl games, and announces contest winners and plans for 2026 coverage.

Joshua Bowers joins Buckhannon Fire Department as new paid firefighter

Joshua Bowers was sworn in as Buckhannon Fire Department’s newest paid firefighter at the Dec. 18 city council meeting, with Mayor Robbie Skinner administering the oath and his wife Grace pinning his badge.