By Nick Henthorn

For the WVSWA

 

RIDGELEY — From start to finish this season, Lanson Orndorf was at the top of his game.

 

After crescendoing his senior campaign with an RBI triple and seven innings of two-run ball to help the Frankfort Falcons capture the WVSSAC Class AA state championship over Logan, the hits keep coming for Orndorf, who earned the honor of captaining the 2026 Class AA All-State baseball team, selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

 

The Falcons star batted .413 with a 1.119 OPS, 27 RBI and 16 extra-base hits, and struck out 112 batters in 84 innings on the mound, pitching to a miniscule 0.58 ERA in his final go-round of high school ball before heading to the University of Charleston, where he will continue his baseball career.

 

Orndorf makes up one-third of the first team pitching staff, alongside Wheeling Central senior Steven Brodegard and James Monroe junior Kadyn Hines.

 

Brodegard, a Mercyhurst commit, was an ace this year, sporting a 1.67 ERA for the Maroon Knights this season and striking out 62 batters. Hines, a WVU commit, has established himself as a flamethrower for the Mavericks, having compiled a 1.34 ERA with 117 strikeouts. He further impressed at the plate with a .486 batting average, 36 RBI, 13 doubles, four triples and eight home runs.

 

At catcher for the first team is one familiar face, and one new face. Charleston Catholic senior Zaden Ranson earns his third All-State first team nod, while South Harrison junior Brogan Medina makes his debut.

 

Ranson turned in another excellent season behind the dish— and at the plate, where the senior hit .423 and piled up an impressive 48 RBI, collecting 17 doubles, four triples and five home runs. Medina, the LKC Player of the Year, hit .448, finishing with 31 RBI and a 1.184 OPS.

 

Another Frankfort Falcon got a first team nod along infield in senior Blake Jacobs, who batted .395 with 23 RBI and 17 extra-base hits to begin forming the All-State infield.

 

Next is another Maroon Knight, as Wheeling Central junior Jake Brown earned his spot after a dynamite season at the plate, including a .438 batting average, 32 RBI, 13 doubles, five triples and five home runs. He also pitched 37 innings on the mound, striking out 55 batters and sporting a 0.378 ERA.

 

Continuing the trend of teammates, two Independence infielders stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the Class AA first team in Independence juniors Micah Cuthbert and Brady Williams.

 

Both earned their spots with high-powered seasons at the plate. Cuthbert turned in a .484 batting average and 38 RBI with nine extra-base hits, while Williams hit .455 with 45 RBI, 14 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. He pitched 53.1 innings, striking out 74 with a 3.54 ERA.

 

Wyoming East’s senior Miken Smyth completes the first-team infield. Smyth also excelled as a pitcher.

 

Two talented bats make up the first-team outfield— Wheeling Central junior Brady Ernest and Doddridge County senior Caleb Hall.

Ernest helped power Central’s offense with a .433 batting average, 1.256 OPS, 32 RBI, and 18 extra-base hits including seven home runs. He also dabbled on the mound, striking out 25 in 25 innings of work with a 0.56 ERA.

 

Hall batted an even .500 this season, cashing in 49 RBI and smacking 20 extra-base hits including six home runs. He finished his year with a 1.562 OPS and also pitched 42 innings, striking out 61 and earning a 1.83 ERA.

 

Frankfort senior Jaxon Hare, Logan senior Ivan Miller and Tyler senior Reece Davis each earned spots on the first team as utility players, impressing as both hitters and pitchers each.

 

Hare, another Falcon who turned in an impressive senior campaign, pitched 49.2 innings with a 1.55 ERA and 41 strikeouts. He hit .362 with 35 RBI. The Wildcats’ Miller topped 100 strikeouts this season. The Silver Knights’ Davis hit .443 with 16 extra-base hits and 24 RBI, also pitching to a 1.06 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 59.1 innings.

 

Independence junior Degan Williams earns the captaincy for the Class AA All-State second team.

 

Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the player's name, school, licensed WVSWA logo and year of the honoree are available to all-state first team, second team and honorable mentions, and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company at Bearwoodcompany.com

 

Here is the Class AA All-State team released Wednesday by the West Virginia Sports Writer’s Association.

 

CLASS AA

 

First team

 

P – Lanson Orndorf, Frankfort, Sr.  (Capt.)

P – Steven Brodegard, Wheeling Central, Sr.

P – Kadyn Hines, James Monroe, Jr.

C – Zaden Ranson, Charleston Catholic, Sr.

C – Brogan Medina, South Harrison, Jr.

INF – Blake Jacobs, Frankfort, Sr.

INF - Micah Cuthbert, Independence, Jr.

INF – Brady Williams, Independence, Jr.

INF – Jake Brown, Wheeling Central, Jr.

INF – Miken Smyth, Wyoming East, Sr.

Out – Brady Ernest, Wheeling Central, Jr.

Out – Caleb Hall, Doddridge County, Sr.

Util – Jaxon Hare, Frankfort, Sr.

Util – Ivan Miller, Logan, Sr.

Util - Reese Davis, Tyler Consolidated, Sr.

 

Second team

 

P – Braden Cover, Wheeling Central, Sr.

P – Luca Signorini, Buffalo, Sr.

C – Pierce Adkins, Clay County, Soph.

C – Wyatt Siley, Williamstown, Jr.

INF – Landyn Carpenter, Philip Barbour, Jr.

INF – Payton Metheny, Petersburg, Soph.

INF – Jayce Wolfe, Logan, Jr.

INF – Degan Williams, Independence, Jr.  (Capt.)

INF – Zayne Rosnick, Wheeling Central, Jr.

Out – Landon Hall, Logan, Soph.

Out – Alex Greene, Lincoln, Jr.

Out – Kade Koroneos, Wheeling Central, Sr.

Util – Chase Shea, Liberty, Jr.

Util – Connor Jarvis, Charleston Catholic, Sr

Util – Colten Jones, Summers County, Sr.

 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION

 

Turner Addair, River View; Tanner Akers, Logan; Xander Allara, Charleston Catholic;  Brody Brockleman, Doddridge County; Riley Brown, Wayne; Robey Brown, Summers County; Jenner Burge, Williamstown; Joe Casto, Ravenswood; Andrew Coalson, Independence; Layne Coffman, Sissonville; Carson Durst, Frankfort; Kolten Eades, Midland Trail; Kedron Elkins, Scott; Jason Ferrell, Scott; Charlie Hawks, Westside; Kolten Heck; Wayne; Parker Hodges, Liberty;  Malyki Holtzman, Sissonville; Tyler Keiser, Williamstown; Luke Kelly, Braxton County; Carder Kinder, Roane County; Carson Koen, James Monroe; Kaleb Kuhn, Petersburg;  Jaeden Lester, Wyoming East; Tristan Lykins, Independence; Christopher Mazzei, Lincoln; Jackson McClanahan, Poca; Riley McClung, Scott; Brennon Miller, Tyler Consolidated; Chance Moore, Independence; Kyle Moore, Berkeley Springs; Talan Muscari, Wyoming East; Brayden Neff, Tyler Consolidated; Evan Panaro, Buffalo; Wyatt Powell, Williamstown; Ian Prince, Scott; Owen Reel, Petersburg; Luke Rokisky, Doddridge County; Eli Staley, Wayne; Attilio Signorini, Buffalo; Tristan Swiger, Doddridge County; Jacob Watts, South Harrison; Louden White, Scott; Noah Willey, Oak Glen;  Bentley Williamson, Logan; Kale Wolfe, Philip Barbour; Aleks  Zanieski, Weir.

 

Editor's Note: Photo of Lanson Orndorf courtesy of the WVSSAC.