Virginia

West Virginia carrying a swagger with them into Big 12 play

Published

1 year ago

March 14, 2025

West Virginia carrying a swagger with them into Big 12 play

Through 16 games, West Virginia has only fallen in just one of those games. That success has created a swagger for the Mountaineers that they’re carrying into their biggest series of the season thus far.

West Virginia hits the road this weekend, and they do so as they’re set to open Big 12 Conference play, facing Oklahoma State.

West Virginia has played 16 games so far this season and only five have come at the friendly confines of Kendrick Family Ballpark in Morgantown. Conversely, Oklahoma State has played 16 games, seven at home, and the rest in Texas.

The Mountaineers have had success, which is giving them confidence, but what’s also spurring their confidence is how an offseason in West Virginia is different than the offseason for other baseball powerhouses around the country.

“I think our whole thing is built on toughness to some extent. We train in the early spring in sleet and snow and ice and oftentimes, it’s a frozen hell for a baseball player who’s trying to throw 95, trying to hit 95 in the ice. And so I think a little bit of that mentality is like, wherever we show up, we’re going to try to play with more grit than anybody. And that’s a West Virginia thing. I mean, I think every sport and every coach forever has talked about the grit of the state and what this thing’s about. But it’s just a reality in our sport. There’s definitely guys that are training in shorts on side fields with manicured grass when we have snow banks around the outfield, and it’s 24 degrees with wind chill at 16. And so I think it makes for a little different mentality of our kids,” head coach Steve Sabins said.

Sabins is no stranger to Oklahoma State, serving as an assistant on their staff years ago. Now, he’s heading into his first Big 12 series against his former group.

Sabins’ squad has had a lot of success in the early part of the season, but he knows that success is meaningless when it comes to the bigger picture, if they can’t continue that during conference play.

Carrying over that success to this weekend and beyond starts with treating every series as the same level of significance, whether it’s a mid-week on a Tuesday, or a Friday night game versus a ranked opponent.

I think you just want the guys to treat every series the same. And we’ve preached that from the beginning. Whether you’re playing Towson on a Tuesday, Oklahoma State on a Friday night, Marshall on a Wednesday, really working to turn the scoreboard off. Ignore the rankings, the preseason, the postseason, the individual accolades. If we play clean baseball, we’re a really good team. We’re a talented team that has an opportunity to have success on a regular basis. And so wherever we’re at, trying to eliminate the opponent as much as we can and just play our brand of baseball,” Sabins said.

West Virginia’s brand of baseball has been of sheer dominance both on the mound and at the plate so far. WVU is second in the Big 12 in batting average and third in runs scored, while their pitching staff is third in the league in ERA, and has given up the fewest hits in the league this season.

“So going 15-1 and having a good batting average, and 18 pitchers that contribute with a sub-three ERA, that’s not winning. That doesn’t mean anything. Those are individuals that are accomplishing things that are fun. But no season has ever been won before the conference started, so none of that matters. That’s all kind of poison, eyewash kind of stuff,” Sabins said.

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Virginia

Gas prices dip slightly in Virginia, but relief may not last

Published

6 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices dip slightly in Virginia, but relief may not last

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Gas prices in Virginia are easing slightly, but any relief at the pump may be short-lived.

AAA reports the state average is now $4.01 per gallon, down about four cents from last week. Despite the dip, prices remain significantly higher when compared to recent months, up roughly 65 cents from a month ago and nearly a dollar more than this time last year.

The national average is also elevated, sitting at $4.12 per gallon.

Experts say the primary driver behind the sustained increase is the rising cost of crude oil, fueled in part by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Even if those pressures begin to ease, analysts warn that drivers should not expect immediate relief.

“The old adage is about gas prices going up they go up like a rocket and then come down like a feather. So they tend to go up very fast in geopolitical crisis like this, but they come down much much slower. So we’re watching and waiting to see what happens there in the Middle East,” said Morgan Dean, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA.

For now, the outlook remains uncertain as global events continue to influence what drivers are paying at the pump.

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Virginia

Whitley’s Peanut Factory Marks 40 Years with an Eye on Virginia’s 250th Celebration | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Published

18 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Whitley’s Peanut Factory Marks 40 Years with an Eye on Virginia’s 250th Celebration | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Todd Smith’s son, Brett, joined the family business 5 years ago. (Whitley’s Peanut Factory)

GLOUCESTER — What began as a small kitchen experiment has grown into a staple of Virginia’s peanut industry. This year, Whitley’s Peanut Factory is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of family tradition, innovation, and steady growth in Gloucester.

For owner Todd Smith, the milestone is both personal and professional.

“We’re doing something right,” Smith said. “The quality of the product and great customer service, those two things have carried us for 40 years.”

The company officially launched in 1986, though its roots trace back to Smith’s upbringing in the peanut business. His father worked closely with farmers supplying seed peanuts, giving Smith early exposure to an industry that would later define his career.

The idea for the business came from a homemade recipe.

“My dad used to cook these peanuts in our kitchen,” Smith said. “We decided to try it commercially, put them in a can, and see if we could sell them.”

Whitley’s first location before and what it looks now. (Whitley’s Peanut Factory)

Starting with a small retail store, a single cooker, and just a few employees, the company has since expanded into a multi-location operation. Today, Whitley’s employs dozens of workers, particularly during the busy holiday season when demand peaks.

Despite its growth, the company has remained committed to its original process.

“We’re doing the same thing today that we did 40 years ago, just on a bigger scale,” Smith said.

That consistency has been key to maintaining the brand’s identity and loyal customer base. At the same time, the company has found ways to evolve without compromising quality.

Remaining in southeastern Virginia has been essential to the company’s success. The region is known for producing Virginia peanuts, a variety prized for its size and flavor.

“We’re close to where the peanuts are sourced,” Brett Smith said. “That’s always been important.”

Over the years, Whitley’s has also become a significant employer in Gloucester. During peak seasons, the company employs around 90 people, contributing to the local economy and providing long-term opportunities for many workers.

As Whitley’s celebrates 40 years, the focus is also on what comes next. Todd Smith hopes to eventually pass the business on to his son, who joined the company five years ago.

“The goal is for him to take over and carry on the legacy,” Smith said.

Brett Smith sees both opportunity and challenge ahead.

“The world is changing fast,” he said. “It’s about adapting to that while staying true to what’s made us successful.”

The 250th Whitley’s Peanuts collection. (Whitley’s Peanut Factory)

The company’s 40th anniversary comes at a unique time for the Commonwealth, as Virginia prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. For Whitley’s, the overlap adds another layer of meaning to the milestone.

To mark both occasions, the company has introduced commemorative packaging and is participating in local events and festivals tied to the anniversary, particularly in historic areas like Williamsburg and Yorktown. From community gatherings to major seasonal celebrations, Whitley’s is using the moment to highlight both its own history and Virginia’s broader story.

“It’s kind of the bigger picture,” Brett Smith said. “We’re proud of 40 years, but 250 years is pretty incredible.”

As Virginia reflects on its past, Whitley’s Peanut Factory is celebrating its own legacy, while positioning itself to remain part of the state’s future for years to come.

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Virginia

Lauren Hurst commits to Virginia Tech out of transfer portal, joining Alyssa Latham

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Lauren Hurst commits to Virginia Tech out of transfer portal, joining Alyssa Latham

Former Lady Vols basketball guard Lauren Hurst committed to Virginia Tech out of the transfer portal on April 11, making her the second Tennessee player to join the Hokies.

Former Tennessee forward Alyssa Latham committed to Virginia Tech as a graduate transfer on April 1.

Latham and Hurst were part of the mass exodus from the Lady Vols that left no returners on the team. All eight players with eligibility left entered the transfer portal, and five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards was released from her signing, leaving four-star wing Gabby Minus as the only incoming freshman.

Both Latham and Hurst were key players in Tennessee’s rotation by the end of the season. Latham spent two years with the Lady Vols after transferring in from Syracuse and was one of a handful of returners from coach Kim Caldwell’s first season.

Latham was one of four forwards on Tennessee’s roster – the other three graduated – and averaged 19.1 minutes this season. The 6-foot-2 junior averaged 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and one steal while shooting 53.9% from the field this season.

Hurst broke into the rotation in the second half of the season, and she was Tennessee’s most accurate 3-point shooter. The 6-foot-3 guard led the team in 3-point percentage, hitting 41.4% on 1.2 attempts from 3-point range.

The Cleveland, Tennessee, native averaged 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 10 minutes per game on the season, and she shot 48.8% from the field. Hurst played a season-high 24 minutes at Ole Miss, when she scored a career-high 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 4-for-5 on 3-pointers.

Hurst was part of a five-player 2025 class ranked No. 2 in the nation by ESPN, UT’s highest-ranked class since 2017. She was a four-star prospect ranked No. 45 in the class.

Tennessee has added two transfers out of the portal so far. Liberty guard Avery Mills and Northern Arizona guard Naomi White both committed to the Lady Vols.

Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe

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