SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Keyser opponents face a tough decision in deciding whether or not to pitch to one of the most feared and productive hitters across West Virginia in Riley ‘Bibs’ Felton.

Class AAA No. 6 PikeView elected not to and intentionally walked Felton to start the bottom of the seventh inning with an elimination matchup tied at 3.

That move backfired when Brielle Root followed by belting a double to deep right field that allowed Felton to easily score the winning run as Keyser prolonged its season at least another game with a 4-3 win at The Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.

“I had the feeling she was getting walked again, but that’s exactly why we have Brielle behind her,” Golden Tornado coach Cody Spotts said. “If you don’t throw to Bibs, you have to throw to Brielle. That’s a tough one-two.”

KHS (25-7) will next face Herbert Hoover late Wednesday in another elimination game.

Root’s winning knock came off PikeView (23-9) pitcher Shelby Maddox, who threw every inning of all three Panther state tournament contests.

“We wanted to show everybody that we belong here our first time here,” Panthers’ coach Steve Compton said. “We had a solid tournament. I’m proud of them. We did well and represented our school well.”

Felton singled and scored to give the Golden Tornado the first run.

PikeView countered in the top of the second to get even, but fell behind again in that inning following back-to-back singles 

The Golden Tornado started freshman Sophie Lambka at pitcher, but she was lifted in the third in favor of Leighton Johnson after Maddox hit a line drive that deflected off Lambka’s foot.

“Leighton is our upperclassman and our ace, but Sophie has been fantastic this year as a freshman,” Spotts said. “Unfortunately she caught one right off the foot. Her status for tonight’s game is to be determined. We have the confidence her, but we were trying to save Leighton’s arm a little bit for innings tonight, so we’ll just have to adjust.”

Despite PHS scoring twice in an inning highlighted by Emma Compton’s double, Johnson settled in as her outing progressed. With PikeView in front 3-2 in the fourth, Johnson got out of a jam by striking out Emma Weiss.

“A lot of times, it’s about who gets a timely hit or makes that costly error,” Compton said.

That set the stage for Felton, who led off the fifth with a triple and scored on a productive out from Root to knot the affair at 3.

Johnson retired the side in order in the sixth and overcame an error to keep PikeView from scoring in the seventh, allowing the Golden Tornado to then rely on the heart of their order to deliver, which is precisely what it did.

“We’ve been in a lot of close games against good competition,” Spotts said, “and that’s what’s prepped us for this moment.”

Some places are just made for biking. Start with just-right rolling terrain, add diverse riding surfaces from singletrack to country roads, and top it all off with epic scenery. That’s Pocahontas County, West Virginia, home to the rolling Allegheny Mountains and shady trails of the Monongahela National Forest and rightfully known as Nature’s Mountain Playground. It’s a place with accessible outdoor adventure for all ages and vibrant mountain towns that ground the experience in welcoming rural communities. And when you explore from the seat of a bike, you’ll go at the perfect pace for taking it all in, with long-distance rail trails, scenic highways, and world-class mountain biking terrain to guide your way.

Ride the Rails

A day of cycling along Pocahontas County’s river trails is one of the most immersive ways to experience the quiet splendor of the Alleghenies. Get a taste along the iconic Greenbrier River Trail, which meanders alongside its namesake waterway for 78 miles through lush forests and thriving wildlife habitats. Go the full distance or take it in sections. With a grade of less than 1% throughout, the trail is accessible to most riders—gravel and mountain bikes or e-bikes are recommended—while unique features like its 37 bridge crossings and two 400-plus-foot tunnels make it more than just a simple river ride. The same can be said of the 22-mile West Fork Trail, a remote route that offers plenty of opportunities for hiking and fishing side quests. E-bikes are not permitted on this trail since it’s within the Monongahela National Forest.

Pocahontas County Trails

Sample the Singletrack

Beginner, expert, or somewhere in between? No matter where you are on the mountain biking spectrum, Pocahontas County has trails for you. Novice riders can experience a truly unique outing at the Green Bank Observatory, home to the world’s largest steerable radio telescope, along with 15-plus miles of beginner and intermediate trails. If you’re looking to progress your skills, head to the Mower Basin Trail System, a haven of beginner and intermediate riding where shady singletrack opens to rolling meadows and panoramic views along 12-plus miles of stacked loop trails. Mower Basin is also a conservation success story—once cleared for strip mining, the area is now a budding home for both red spruce trees and outdoor recreation.

Mower Basin Trails

Meanwhile, the downhill mecca of Snowshoe Mountain Resort plays host to nearly 40 trails and 1,500 vertical feet of lift-serviced riding, offering everything from easy freeride trails to technical descents and park-focused features. Known as one of the East’s best mountain bike parks, Snowshoe also offers access to its own backcountry trail system.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort Trails

Country Roads

When it comes to road riding, the jewel of Pocahontas County is the Highland Scenic Highway. This 43-mile National Scenic Byway is the kind of road that cyclists dream of. This low-traffic route climbs from 2,325 feet to more than 4,500, delivering challenging terrain and expansive views of some of the most remote reaches of the Allegheny Range along the way.

And while all cycling is great in Nature’s Mountain Playground, gravel riders are especially spoiled. That’s because the Mon Forest Towns Partnership has put together an extensive collection of gravel routes throughout the Monongahela National Forest, with 60-plus rides ranging from casual day adventures to serious multiday bikepacking trips. An overnight or all-day ride in Pocahontas County is an ideal way to experience one of the country’s most rugged and remote landscapes, fittingly curated by those who call it home.

Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCCVB), located in West Virginia, promotes Nature’s Mountain Playground, where unspoiled landscapes, rich heritage, and year-round outdoor recreation create meaningful visitor experiences. Through strategic marketing and partnerships, PCCVB supports sustainable tourism that strengthens local communities while preserving the region’s natural beauty and cultural legacy.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Virtual Academy celebrated its second graduating class Tuesday at the Clay Center.

The ceremony featured a keynote speech and performance from West Virginia native and season six winner of America’s Got Talent’ Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., where he set out to inspire the class.

The class graduated 140 students, with eight earning a Promise Scholarship and 26 intending to attend college in the fall.

The academy’s director Doug Cipoletti said the virtual learning is about more than sitting behind a screen.

“Then we provide this [ceremony] where kids can actually come together and meet one another and build those relationships,” Cipoletti said. “So yes, we’re a virtual school, but there’s a lot more to it than just being behind a computer and I think that really shows today.”

West Virginia Virtual Academy is a K-12 school.