West Virginia
Putting faith into action: Geneva Methodist volunteers repair rural West Virginia homes in 42nd annual mission trip
United Methodist Church of Geneva volunteers repair a home in rural Charleston, West Virginia, during a 42nd annual Appalachian Service Project June 15-22.
Courtesy of United Methodist Church of Geneva
United Methodist Church of Geneva went a little bit country at the July 21 service.
A half dozen congregants sang and played “Rocky Top” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to accompany reflections from a recently completed mission trip to Charleston, West Virginia. The tunes accompanied speeches from leaders and videotapes of volunteer testimonies and projects.
Thirty youth and adults from the Geneva church put faith into action with their 42nd annual Appalachian Service Project June 15-22.
Geneva UMC members Mike and Julie Popplewell co-coordinated the church’s participation in Appalachian Service Project. Team members carpooled in five 15-passenger vans to Kanawha County for a week of repairing four rural homes.
Appalachian Service Project, a Johnson City, Tenn.-based nonprofit, serves Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Mike Popplewell said, “We worked daily Monday through Friday from about 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work included weatherizing homes and mobile homes with insulation and underpinning, applying vinyl siding, and installing interior flooring and a bathroom replacement.”
A main project involved gutting a formerly vacant house and preparing it to be completely rehabbed into a new home to be gifted to a deserving applicant through a partnership with the city and Appalachian Service Project.
Julie Popplewell, Katy Howell and their crew were tasked with removing all walls and ceilings down to the studs.
“We came back each day covered in dust and soot and worked each day wearing masks and eye protection, so when we took off our goggles and gloves there were lines where the dirt stopped and our skin began!” Julie said.
Mike Popplewell added, “Group evening activities included reflecting on what it means to live and work in an economically depressed area like the Appalachian Mountains. Each night we circled up at 10 p.m. and shared our thoughts from the day — it helps us all process what we are seeing and doing- especially for the youth.”
“Midweek activities included a picnic with local homeowners and their families, with food and fellowship and delicious ice cream desserts at a local dairy bar.”
Appalachian Service Project volunteers support the local economy when possible by purchasing snacks, gas and other supplies locally.
Volunteers were housed at a local downtown church, sleeping on cots and air mattresses in a gymnasium. Appalachian Service Project lined up local volunteers to cook meals Sunday evening through Friday evening.
According to Popplewell, Geneva UMC volunteers contributed a minimum $300 each for transportation, gasoline and tolls. He added, “The church offers need-based scholarships because we wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of a student participating if they’re interested!”
Pre-trek group fundraisers included car washes, write-a-letter-home campaigns and selling chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentines day. Other fundraisers included a chili cook-off and a meat sale with Geneva’s local Country Village Meats, where the market donated a portion of the proceeds.
Additionally, congregants contributed donations for doughnuts served after worship services and some members sponsored individual participants.
The team gathered at the church on June 14 for a potluck dinner. After dinner, volunteers packed vans and met with adult leaders for last-minute details. The team departed at 7 a.m. June 15.
Geneva UMC Pastor Rob Hamilton led a send-off ceremony for the team during the previous Sunday’s service.
Leading 9-6 entering the top of the ninth, the Bat Cats were three outs away from advancing to the Super Regional. Then, just as what happened last year against West Virginia, disaster struck at the worst possible time.
Nile Adcock, entering his fourth inning of work, walked the bases loaded. The Cats’ bullpen, which had been excellent to that point, brought in the tying runs on a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a balk.
Yes, you read that correctly. It didn’t even take a hit to tie the game. The hit came after West Virginia tied the game, when Paul Schoenfeld homered deep to right field to give the Mountaineers an 11-9 lead.
Kentucky fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, took a 7-6 lead in the fourth, and it looked like they were on their way to a third straight win and regional championship.
What stings the most is that Kentucky was in a worse spot against West Virginia last year in the Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. Leading 12-7, Kentucky completely collapsed and lost 13-12 as their season came to an end.
That didn’t happen Sunday night this year. Kentucky will play West Virginia again on Monday. The winner of that game will advance to the Super Regionals.
Morgantown, WV – The West Virginia Mountaineers (42-15) rallied and scored five runs to force a Morganton regional game seven with a 9-5 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (33-22) Sunday night.
Kentucky starting pitcher Ben Cleaver never found his rhythm in his 14th start of the season. He beaned leadoff hitter, junior Armani Guzman, walked consecutive Mountaineer hitters to load the bases, and hit senior Sean Smith to bring in the game’s first run. Senior Matthew Graveline followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, then reloaded the with his third walk of the inning and it would end the junior’s afternoon.
Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione handed the ball to Ira Austin, and on the 1-1 pitch, senior Brodie Kresser hit an RBI single to centerfield for a 3-0 WVU lead.
In the bottom of the frame, two errant throws put two aboard for the Wildcats before loading the bases after West Virginia starting pitcher David Hagan issued consecutive walks for Kentucky’s first run of the contest. Then, freshman Braxton Van Cleave worked the opposite field with an RBI single to left field to pull the Wildcats within one, 3-2.
Kentucky tied the game in the second after Jayce Tharnish hit the gap in left centerfield for a one out double and moved to third on a ground ball from sophomore Tyler Bell before senior Luke Lawrence hit an RBI single back up the middle.
West Virginia reclaimed the lead in the third. Gaveline hit a leadoff to centerfield and moments later, Kresser smacked a one-out single to left field and senior Ben Lumsden hit the top of the left field wall for an RBI single. Junior Tyrus Hall grounded to third to bring a run across and Guzman capped a three-run third with an RBI single to right field for a 6-3 Mountaineer lead.
Kentucky responded in the bottom of the frame after junior Ethan Hindle received a four-pitch leadoff walk, Van Cleave lined a single to left field, placing runners at the corners, and senior Carson Hansen brought in a run with a fielder’s choice to short to close within two, 6-4. WVU sophomore reliever Joshua Suriagao pitched a third of the inning before Sabins turned to senior Carson Estridge, who recorded the final two outs of the inning.
Kentucky took the lead in the fourth when Bell sparked the Wildcats with a leadoff home run. Then, Lawrence doubled to left field, and Hindle lined an RBI single to left field before Van Cleave delivered another RBI for the 7-6 advantage.
West Virginia loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, but the bottom of the order did not bring a run across, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
In seventh, Kentucky added some cushion to its lead and did the damage with two outs on the board. Tharnish lifted the 2-2 pitched just over the right field wall for a two-out solo home run, then Bell blasted his second solo shot of the afternoon for a 9-6 Wildcats’ lead.
In the ninth, West Virginia loaded the bases on an Kentucky error, a walk, and a single from junior Tyrus Hall. Then, Guzman received a four-pitch walk to bring in a run, Kelly got the Mountaineers within one with a sacrifice fly and a balk tied the game before senior Paul Schoenfeld blasted a two run home run to give the Mountaineers an 11-9 lead.
West Virginia reliever Ben McDougal entered the game in the fifth and closed the game out for the Mountaineers for the 11-9 decision.
West Virginia and Kentucky will meet for a trip to the Super Regionals on Monday. Time and TV is to be determined.
Follow
It’s do-or-die time for West Virginia and Wake Forest as they face off in an elimination game this afternoon in the Morgantown regional.
If you can’t watch or listen to the game or you just want to keep up with everything that’s happened in today’s game, we’ve got you covered. Below, we will provide live updates and have the starting lineups posted for you.
GAME THREAD
TOP 1 (WF)
Three up, three down for the Deacs. Dawson Montesa records two punch outs on 13 pitches.
BOT 1 (WVU)
Troy Dressler tops Montesa’s first trip to the mound by getting three outs on just seven pitches. Hard contact by Armani Guzman and Paul Schoenfeld, just at ’em balls.
TOP 2 (WF)
West Virginia’s starting lineup
1. RF Armani Guzman — .301
2. 2B Gavin Kelly —.379
3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .344
4. DH Sean Smith — .315
5. C Matthew Graveline — .286
6. SS Matt Ineich — .299
7. 1B Brodie Kresser — .287
8. LF Ben Lumsden — .241
9. 3B Tyrus Hall – .275
SP Dawson Montesa
Wake Forest’s starting lineup
1. CF Javar Williams — .343
2. RF Luke Costello — .309
3. 1B Kade Lewis — .361
4. 3B Dalton Wentz — .306
5. C Matt Conte — .275
6. LF Boston Torres — .312
7. DH Andrew Costello — .244
8. 2B Matt Schaaf — .325
9. SS JD Stein — .270
SP Troy Dressler
Follow
-
Business2 minutes agoAI company Anthropic files to list shares, heating up race with OpenAI
-
Entertainment7 minutes agoRonald LaPread, Commodores’ co-founder and bassist, dies at 75
-
Lifestyle14 minutes agoHoover Dam, challenged by drought, now wears a U.S. flag the size of a football field
-
Politics17 minutes ago’60 Minutes’ veteran Scott Pelley rips CBS News bosses, saying they are ‘murdering’ the program
-
Sports29 minutes agoRams acquire Myles Garrett for Jared Verse and draft picks in blockbuster trade
-
World37 minutes agoEU approves strictest-ever migration law, including return hubs
-
News1 hour agoRemains of Los Alamos National Laboratory employee missing for nearly a year found in New Mexico forest | CNN
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoSticker shock not just affecting World Cup match ticket prices, but parking costs too
