For Hedgesville native Kyle West, a trip down to Charleston was a familiar site, helping him continue to settle in at his new home.
For the past two season, Kyle West has called Charleston home playing for Division II University of Charleston. On Tuesday, the West Virginia native returned to that familiar place and it served him well, as he hit a home run in WVU’s 11-2 win over in-state foe Marshall.
“That’s why Kyle West was in there… the West Virginia kids in this game, it takes on a little more importance I think,” West Virginia head coach Randy Mazey said.
West said he had many former teammates in attendance to watch him. West did in on both sides of the ball, making an impressive catch against the wall to start a double play in addition to his long ball.
“It just gives me chills that brotherhood is stronger than distance, and know that even though I’m two-and-a-half hours away from them, that I’m still an important part of their life and they take time out of their day to come see me,” West said of seeing his former teammates.
West didn’t have the best start to the season, recording only four hits in his first eight games. Part of that can be attributed to the adjustment from Division II baseball to Division I baseball, but West says that adjustment started this summer when he played in the Northwoods League.
“I was hitting up in the lineup full of power five baseball players,” West said. “And I talked to my parents and I told them I think I could play at this level and they told me that they were behind every decision I made and they were supportive of what it was. That decision was to come in the transfer portal, and I couldn’t be any happier where I’m at.”
West though has started to get adjusted more and more to this level of play, hitting safely in his last eight games.
Returning to Charleston for West along with his success on the field was nice for West, but he said the bigger goal was met as the Mountaineers got the victory.
“All I’m worried about is how many games we win. It didn’t matter how many hits I got, to sing Country Roads on the line with my new brothers and I love them just as much as I love my old teammates,” West said. “To be able to spend that time with them and sing it without any music is one of the coolest things I’ve done also. To be able to do that and sing on the line with no music and share the moment with them, that’s another thing.”
