Hurricane's Weston Smith named Lowery Award Winner

Please credit Ryan Fischer of HD Media.

by Taylor Kennedy

for the WVSWA

Hurricane's Weston Smith accomplished just about everything he could his senior season.

Smith helped the Redskins to the first-ever Class AAAA baseball title, earned Class AAAA first-team all-state honors and was captain of that team.

He can now add being named the Lowery Award as the state player of the year by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. The award is sponsored by Wally’s and Wimpy’s Sports Digest. 

Smith beat out Charleston Catholic's Zaden Ranson, Ripley's Bryson Casto and Spring Valley's Garrett Wagoner.

"It's awesome to be acknowledged for all the success that me and my team had this season," Smith said. "It's also special to be recognized for all the work that I've put in over the years."

Smith and the Redskins entered the Class AAAA state tournament as the top season, with a 27-7 record.

Hurricane took down Hedgesville and Morgantown by a combined 11-4, which led to the Redskins winning their fifth state baseball title in program history. It was also the first since 2022.

Smith struck out 13 batters, allowed three hits and walked one batter against the Mohigans in the title game.

"The preparation was always there, and we all took the off-season very serious and even throughout the season," Smith said. "We knew what we wanted to achieve. Being able to have the opportunity was great, but also being able to capitalize on what we wanted was awesome and special."

Smith becomes the fourth Hurricane baseball player since 2000 to earn the state's top honor in baseball.

He is the first Redskin player since Garrett Gress won it in 2017. The other two winners from Hurricane since 2000 were Alex Wilson in 2005 and Daniel Carte in 2002.

"He has been lights out. It's been fun watching him grow and mature," Hurricane coach Brian Sutphin said. "He's always been talented. "He has worked extremely hard and to see it all come together is awesome for him. He has been enjoyable to watch and great for our program and younger guys."

Sutphin has seen his fair share of talent cross through Hurricane during his over decade-long career in Putnam County.

The veteran coach appreciates what Smith has done, especially from him being a leader on and off the field.

"He is a very driven young man," Sutphin said. "He certainly has a lot of ability. When that ability matches the work ethic, great things can happen. He is very resilient. He's turned into a mentally tough young man, who just wants to compete. The bigger the stage then the better he performs."

Smith leaves Hurricane as a two-time state champion, with the other coming in 2022 when he was a freshman.

The Redskin standout finished his senior season posting a .342 hitting average, with 37 RBIs, 25 runs, eight doubles, two triples and three home runs.

He was also stellar on the mound as he recorded a 1.05 ERA, struck out 101 batters, allowed 22 hits and only walked 19 batters in 66.2 IP. He went 11-0 this season on the mound.

"It wasn't really about progressing through the season as much as it was all the preparation that was done in the off-season and set an expectation for the season," Smith said. "Delivering every day was the expectation."

Smith's number speak for themselves. However, those stats and accolades that he accomplished will always be cemented in program history, but he said that it's the lasting bonds with his teammates that will always stick out.

"We're always going to remember how close we were and how good of friends we were," Smith said. "Outside of baseball, we all hung out all season long, not just at practice. But, after practice, we'd get food together and do stuff like that. It's really important to all of us that we had a good time with each other."

Smith's baseball career isn't over yet, as he will play collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers and coach Steve Sabins.

The Redskin standout will join multiple West Virginia natives in Morgantown and will compete for playing time for WVU.

"I'm thrilled for what's next," Smith said. "Honestly, I was so locked into high school, the season itself and trying to win for my team. I really hadn't paid much though to the fact that I'm about to be up there soon for training. But, now that it's over, I'm so thrilled to be able to get the opportunity to go up there."

Sutphin thinks the Mountaineers are getting a hidden gem in Smith.

"They're getting a guy that's driven," Smith said. "He knows that he's got an opportunity turn his career into something special and certainly has the ability to do so. I see a guy that's also willing to learn and go up there every day and prove everyone that he can help the ball club."