The record said 21-14 when the end of the 2023 season baseball season came in a sectional title contest.

 

Sounds like a successful season. In fairness to all involved, it was a good year. While no high school team wants to wrap things up without getting to Charleston, it was another solid year for Bridgeport High School on the diamond.

 

While most know Bridgeport is always looking to get to the state championship whether it has been in Class AAA or Class AA, some may not recall just how many times the Indians have gotten there during the tenure of Robert Shields. Less may be aware of just how rare not winning a sectional crown is.

 

Think about this. Shields has coached the Indians 37 years (it would have been 38 if not for the COVID cancelation of 2020), and the Indians have won 34 sectional titles. What has taken place at the BHS field is absolutely mind-numbing.

 

I mentioned that because last year University High School pulled off the exceedingly rare trick of ending the Tribe’s baseball season before regional play. I honestly did not remember the last time they were not sectional champions without gathering information.

 

The last time it happened was in 2003. Prior to that, it was 1988. That is amazing. Actually, it is AMAZING.

 

Here is what is more incredible that the loss to UHS ended last year. The Tribe saw a streak of getting to the state championship field in Charleston 11 straight times, including a 2014-2021 run of seven straight titles that no one – in any classification – has ever done. In fact, no one is even close.

 

That brings me back to the purpose of this blog. Championship pedigree is easy to gauge when a team is winning. A real test of that pedigree is to see what a team does when it falls short of their expectations.

 

Last year, the Indians fell short of their expectations. Winning seasons, sectional championships, and even regional titles are not a terrible thing. But the Indians have made it a point to measure success in state titles and state championship appearances.

 

This year, with one of the most senior-laden teams Shields has had since he began coaching 38 years ago in 1987, the team has bounced back big time. Heading into this past week’s two games the Tribe played between the recently completed sectional championship round and the start of the regionals Monday, the Indians stood at 29-4 playing one of the most competitive schedules in West Virginia.

 

They won both and are now 31-4 - and yes the games count win or lose despite what anyone may believe.

 

How has this team responded? The record says big time. And Shields is pleased with it.

 

“That’s what’s good about this group of seniors. You have 10 so not all of them are staters and they are extremely close knit,” said Shields. “It’s been a family concept since the start of the year, not wanting to let one another down, and setting goals, from the seniors to the entire roster.

 

“This group wants to win a state championship,” Shields continued. “What you want, you have to work for, and our work will be cut out for us. It’s not just cliché to say you have to take them one at a time because if you look ahead, you’ll be sitting at home, especially with what we have facing us in Morgantown.”

 

Morgantown is no slouch. The entire school has a championship pedigree and brings with it a 25-7 record against a daunting slate of foes. The team is fresh from a sectional championship clinching win by a 2-1 count against Wheeling Park. Like the Indians, they are battle tested.

 

“They’re extremely well coached by Pat Sherald. He just does an excellent job with a group of young men that have played a lot of ball,” said Shields. “Morgantown is solid one through nine. They’ve got speed and they’ve got pop in the lineup. They also have the ability to hit the ball to all fields, which worries me the most.

 

“We’re facing a team that has three top-end pitchers and a very deep staff with quality top to bottom,” Shields continued. “This is going to be a battle.”

 

Shields’ team also has pitching.

 

“We’ve utilized 10 pitchers this year that have thrown at least 10 innings and only one pitcher has thrown over 30 innings this year. This might be the deepest staff I’ve had,” said Shields. “They all are quality and, knock on wood, throw strikes, which is the key. All 10 relish their role as a starter, a relief pitcher, or a closer.”

 

Pitching is not the only thing working for the Tribe. But teams like Morgantown and Bridgeport – those still standing as the regional season is at hand – would not be where they are at if they did not have quality pitching at their disposal.

 

Here is what Shields did not want to talk about. A regional win and a state championship would assure Shields of getting to the 950-mark career win mark as he currently sits 946-280. A regional title would be the 22^nd of his career. A state title would be number 10 (1993, 2000, 20014-21) and the second in four years in Class AAA.

 

Shields also did not want to talk about what else could be. He did not expound on having had his 27^th season of 20 or more wins and now his seventh 30-win season and the biggie - never having a losing campaign.

 

Those are my numbers, which I think are correct or – pun intended – in the ballpark. It is something if I were a coach, I would probably be ready to talk about. Instead, Shields has only one thing on his mind.

 

“We have to keep the kids focused on Morgantown and with so many seniors many distractions come at this time of the year. If we want to get to where we want to be, we have to get past Morgantown, and that won’t be easy,” said Shields. “Trying to win a regional is not about me. It’s about our players. It’s always about our kids.”

 

Quality young men and quality coaching have equaled success and has the Indians back in the familiar confines of regional competition. If they want to get back to the near equally familiar confines of Charleston, they will have to get past Morgantown.

 

That won’t be easy. Then again, nothing ever worth doing is.

 

Editor's Note: Top two photos showing aerial of the field and Coach Robert Shields at the 2021 BHS baseball state tournament are file photos by Ben Queen Photography. Following photos, including the photo of the 2024 seniors and the team picture following this year's sectional win, are by Joe LaRocca.