The University of Charleston softball team concluded its record-setting season with its highest-ever spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
The Golden Eagles finished at No. 8 following their first berth in the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series and a 50-12 record. UC isn't the only Mountain East Conference school in the final poll. West Virginia Wesleyan - which beat Charleston for the MEC tournament title and lost to UC in the Atlantic Super Regional - finished at No. 15.
Golden Eagles third baseman Kelly Browning also earned an individual honor, getting named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America third team. The graduate student finished with a .352 batting average, 23 doubles, nine home runs and 53 RBIs.
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WVSU BASEBALL: West Virginia State was named Thursday as the nation's top small-school baseball team among historically black colleges and universities by a website dedicated to HBCU baseball.
Blackcollegenines.com, an independent blog by members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame's Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee and others, ranked WVSU first among small schools in its final poll. It entered the poll on its second edition of the 2016 season, moved to No. 1 in its sixth edition and stayed there.
State went 32-15 on the season, won the Mountain East Conference's South Division and lost to Shepherd in the MEC tournament title game. Edward Waters College finished second in the small-school poll. Alabama State finished first in the large-school poll.
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WVU TECH TRACK: Freshman Luke Jobson is the first Golden Bear in program history to represent the WVU Tech track and field team in the NAIA Nationals after qualifying in the 5,000-meter race walk at the University of the Cumberlands Invite April 9. Jobson, an Australia native, will compete today at 4:40 p.m. at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
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5K FUNDRAISER: The "Run, Walk and Roll 5K" is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4 at Kanawha State Forest in Charleston.
The race is in memory of coach Tom Hopper, who played, refereed and coached soccer for many years in the Kanawha Valley.
Check-in and registration starts at 7 a.m. in the swimming pool parking lot at Pavilion 9. All proceeds benefit the Kanawha-Charleston Soccer Foundation.
For more information, contact Laura Ceperley at 304-389-3562.
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YMCA TENNIS: The Charleston Family YMCA will be holding nine weeks of tennis camps beginning the week of June 6.
Camps run Monday through Thursday from 1-4 p.m., with the exception of the week of July 4, when camps will be held Tuesday through Friday. The fee is $75 for YMCA members and $100 for non-members. Additional pre-post camp is available for an additional fee of $25 for YMCA members and $40 for non-members.
For more information, contact the tennis office at 304-340-3533 or by email at tennis@ymcaofkv.org.