A couple of Cougar baseball teammates celebrate at the Regional game against Martinsburg High School on May 21. Courtesy photo

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — Contributors were found all over the diamond and from every class for the 2024 Baseball Cougars.

In a rarely found season in any state or any season, the Cougars had spotlighted contributions from all four of the high school’s classes.

Freshmen weighed in heavily in the 25-13 overall record that was achieved. But, just as important were the seasons recorded by sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Another Sectional championship was achieved. And the season only ended in a third game in the best-two-of-three Regional Tournament where state-bound Martinsburg High School edged out the Cougars, 3-1, after Jefferson High School forced that game by winning the second game of the series by a 7-1 score.

The seniors with significant roles were Riley Morgan (5-0 pitching record) with an 0.90 earned run average. Morgan also led the team with a .363 batting average while driving in 20 runs, pitcher Cohen Rutherford with 67 strikeouts in 62 innings and a 2.26 earned run average, infielder Ty Vickers with a .288 batting average and Cole Lewis (5-0 pitching record in 14 appearances, 2.62 earned run average and a .241 batting average).

Valuable statistics turned in by valuable juniors saw Jett Gross finish with a 2.76 earned run average and 57 strikeouts in 50.2 innings of work from the mound.

Sam Hefner batted .304, Brady Roberts hit .296, Easton Pruitt had a 2-0 pitching record in eight appearances with a 3.36 earned run average and Ryan Kelly closed with a 3-2 pitching record and 4.20 earned run average in six appearances.

Sophomores Jett Gross (57 strikeouts in 50.2 innings and a 2.76 ERA), Alex Danner (.342 batting average and 26 RBIs) and Liam Healey (.225 batting average) all had their time in the spotlight.

The abundant and rarely seen group of freshmen included Serf Guerra (.357 batting average, 40 RBIs and a state-leading six home runs), Liam Sager (.305 batting average and 24 RBIs) and Nayan Dominguez (starting shortstop, .222 batting average and the team lead in stolen bases).

After opening the Sectional Tournament with an 11-3 win over Hampshire High School, the Cougars eliminated Washington High School with consecutive 8-3 and 3-0 wins over the Patriots.

In the Regional event, Jefferson lost a nail-biting 1-0 decision to the Bulldogs before going home for the first time in the post-season to defeat the Bulldogs, 7-1. Martinsburg’s 3-1 win the deciding game sent the top-seeded team off to the state tournament with a 33-3 record to face George Washington High School in the Class AA A semifinals. Defending state champion Cabell Midland High School played Morgantown High School in the other big-school semifinal.

Jefferson’s returning-player list for the 2025 season is one of longest it has ever had since the school first played baseball in 1973.