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Former Midland star Chase Day a big part of Yellow Jackets' success
CHARLESTON -- There is a buzz in Charleston any time that postseason baseball comes around, but one local player is helping to keep the "Buzz" buzzing through the opposition.
Chase Day, a former Cabell Midland standout and current catcher for the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, is one of three seniors leading the team into the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament on Thursday.
Despite being one of few seniors, Day said he feels no pressure to step up or that it might be his final tournament playing for the Yellow Jackets.
"Everybody knows it doesn't matter how old you are. If you are good enough to play and hit the ball, you are going to play," Day said. "It's not any different than last year or the year before. Any game could be your last. You have to make sure you go out and play your game."
West Virginia State (36-12) is ranked No. 24 in the nation and claimed the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in convincing fashion last week.
After losing its first game to Shepherd, the Yellow Jackets outscored opponents 41-6 over its final four wins with its most impressive performance coming in the finals during a 14-2 win over Alderson-Broaddus.
With the tournament victory, West Virginia State has won 20 of 22 games heading into the regional tournament, which will take place at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.
"We are playing with a lot of confidence right now," Day said. "Everyone is feeling good, staying on task and practicing well."
The Yellow Jackets will take on Shippensburg (Pa.) in the first round at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Day said that the team has a little extra motivation heading into this contest.
Shippensburg will be starting left-hander Matt Wright, who defeated West Virginia State 6-1 in last year's regional.
"They definitely are going to throw the left-hander against us. He beat us last year," Day said. "We are looking for a little redemption. If we don't beat ourselves, we can beat anyone."
Day said one of the best qualities about his team is that they live up to their name. The team represents the state of West Virginia. Twenty-five of the 34 baseball team members are from the Mountain State.
Day thinks that coach Cal Bailey's recruiting efforts in West Virginia have helped the team jell quickly.
"There is a lot of chemistry in baseball and if you have kids that played together or with each other in-state then they come together," Day said. "We have pieced together the puzzle at the right time and are peaking now."
The winner of the six-team, double-elimination tournament will move on to the NCAA Division II World Series, which will be played in Sauget, Ill., at GCS Ballpark.
