He just won his fourth straight Class AA state championship. He also coached his 1000^th game this year. Along the way he’s won a total of six state titles, has produced dozens of college baseball players and dozens more have earned all-state status under his tutelage.

 

All told, it’s been a pretty good 30-plus year career and it’s been a really good 2017 for Bridgeport High School Coach Robert Shields. And it’s about to get even better for the Hall of Fame head man.

 

It was announced yesterday that Shields was named by the West Virginia Schools Athletic Coaches Association baseball coach of the year. The honor is for all classifications.

 

Shields’ team went 31-7 this season. The Indians captured the state title with a 14-3, five-inning win over Weir in the championship contest. The fourth-straight title is a first in state history in any classification.

 

What makes the win total more impressive is that Shields’ team did it against one of the most brutal schedules in West Virginia. On top of that, his club won the title after graduating nine seniors from last year’s squad.

 

Shields coached his 1000^th game in a regular season contest just prior to the state tournament when the Indians beat Class AAA state tourney qualifier Morgantown. BHS beat the Mohigans twice this year and split with eventual ‘AAA’ champion St. Albans – both of which were away from Bridgeport.

 

The career record for Shields is impressive to say the least. For his career, which began in 1987 with BHS, is 767-235.

 

Shields will be recognized at halftime of the North-South Football Classic at Charleston’s Laidley Field Saturday. One of his senior players, Seth Friel, is a member of the North Bears roster.

 

Click HERE to see the entire list of winners courtesy of MetroNews.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com.