Hurricane High School’s standout right‑handed pitcher, Weston Smith, has capped off his senior year with both team success and individual acclaim. Named the 2024–25 Gatorade West Virginia Baseball Player of the Year, Smith delivered a dominant season on the mound and at the plate, while shining off the field as a scholar and community leader .
At 6‑foot‑4, Smith went 10–0 with a microscopic 1.17 ERA. He racked up 88 strikeouts over 59.2 innings and held opponents to just a .097 batting average. With the bat, he added a .371 average, three home runs, 35 RBIs, and a 1.033 OPS—numbers worthy of the award . Reflecting on the honor, Smith emphasized the broader significance: “I think it shows all the hard work that I put into not only my sport but also school and the community. Also, it’s something that I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and coaches that have had my back all year.”
Smith’s impact extended beyond his baseball stats—he maintained a weighted GPA of 4.03, earned admission into the National Honor Society, and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Link Crew, and youth baseball coaching . His coach Brian Sutphin praised him as “a dynamic player all season” and “the best player on the field in every game we’ve played” .
Looking ahead, Weston is excited to continue his baseball journey at West Virginia University, joining a Mountaineers program fresh off back‑to‑back NCAA Super Regional appearances . “It’s awesome to be signed to a school that is playing at such a high level,” he said. “But it also helps set an expectation for myself and the level that I need to be playing at next year.” .
Smith, who grew up in West Virginia, said staying close to home strongly influenced his college decision: “It’s exciting to showcase the talent that the state of West Virginia has for our home team.” . Local media similarly highlighted that Smith decided to stay in‑state in proud fashion, joining several West Virginia natives on the Morgantown roster .
His state championship experience further adds weight to his joining WVU. Hurricane High captured the Class AAAA title in 2025, with Smith leading the way—he struck out 13 batters in the final, allowed only three hits, and walked one. It marked Hurricane’s first AAAA crown since 2022 and Smith’s leadership was a major factor in that success . He reflected that the bond with teammates was unforgettable: “We’re always going to remember how close we were … outside of baseball, we all hung out … it’s really important … that we had a good time with each other.” .
As Weston transitions to Morgantown, coach Steve Sabins and staff anticipate adding a driven, high‑character player who understands the demands of collegiate baseball, expects success and is ready to elevate his game to the next level .
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In short: Weston Smith’s Player of the Year accolade caps a career defined by dominance, leadership, and academic and community commitment—and as he heads to WVU, he’s motivated not just by what he’s accomplished, but by what he’s about to build among the Mountaineers.