Golden Bears' Beckley return a big deal to Fansler, Stump
Feb. 16—One of the advantages of college is that it can help equip young people with the ability to adapt during the days when life inevitably presents adversity. One of the avenues to those life lessons is through sports, and perhaps the current WVU Tech baseball team has gotten a jump on its classmates.
The Golden Bears have not played a game in Beckley since 2019, save for a weekend series against Rio Grande that was played at Woodrow Wilson High School in 2022. What was once their home, Linda K. Epling Stadium, became off limits after a dispute between the two sides led to the team no longer being welcomed there.
It led to a long three seasons — which doesn't even count 2020, a season that was wiped out altogether by the coronavirus pandemic. Without a Beckley field on which to play or even practice — and that includes fall ball — the Golden Bears had to travel an hour or more just to serve as the host team.
The venues were nice — Bowen Field in Bluefield, Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar, Go Mart Ballpark in Charleston — but the constant travel was taking its toll. Never mind that the regular River States Conference schedule takes them as far away as Indiana.
Having to travel for "home" games was taxing to players and coaches both mentally and physically.
"For the most part, the biggest thing that the guys felt was if we were playing a home game (in Beckley) and had to be at the field at noon, we're waking up at 10 o'clock, whereas if we're playing at Charleston we're waking up at 8 o'clock, we're eating breakfast in the vans while we're going there, or sometimes not even till we get to the field right before BP," junior outfielder Hunter Fansler said. "So just getting in those vans after a late night with a doubleheader and having to do that the next morning, it's definitely some wear and tear on your body and mentally draining."
"Yeah, it wasn't fun," added senior pitcher Logan Stump, "but it was just one of those things we tried to persevere through and really just make the best of our opportunity."
That's where the maturation process came in handy and, really, was strengthened. And, perhaps there was a little bit of wishful thinking creeping in. If so, they are about to discover the payoff of that positivity and patience.
The Golden Bears will finally play a true home game, hosting a four-game series against Marian University. The series will start Sunday with a noon doubleheader, then conclude with another doubleheader on Monday, also at noon.
All four games will be played at Linda K. Epling Stadium.
The home of WVU Tech baseball.
That's a big deal to everyone associated with the program, but for guys such as Fansler and Stump, it means a bit more.
Fansler graduated from hometown Woodrow Wilson in 2019. He signed with Marshall out of high school and played in four games for the Thundering Herd. But that was the Covid year, and after the entire sports world was wiped out, he decided to come back home and play for the Golden Bears.
"I think it is a huge blessing that we are finally able to be back in Beckley, playing in front of a home crowd," Fansler said. "I know in baseball it's kind of a big deal whether you're on a home or away field. In the previous years we've had a lot more away games than home games, so honestly for all of us (southern West Virginia natives), it's just nice to kind of get back to our roots and play where we've been growing up."
Stump is a 2018 Independence graduate who has been with Tech since his college career started. He knows what it's like to wear the Tech colors with family watching from the Epling Stadium seats, and he's ready to close out his career in that very atmosphere.
"This is the whole reason I came to WVU Tech, or one of the big reasons," Stump said. "I like playing in front of my family and friends. Just to be able to be back in Beckley is a big deal for us."
It's been an interesting ride for Stump, who has not only had to endure the extended travel and the pandemic. He also had Tommy John surgery after an injury in 2022 limited him to one appearance — a very good one: nine strikeouts, no walks, five hits, one earned run over 4 2/3 innings and a no-decision in a game Tech lost 7-3.
"Surgery's never fun," Stump said. "When you hear the doctor say that, it always sucks. But, again, it's just something to persevere through. It makes the journey a lot sweeter once you get to the end."
Much like the journey that has come to an end for the team. And, much like the college experience itself, the whole thing provided some teachable moments.
"Honestly, you get really good at taking short naps and getting rested when you can," said Fansler, now able to laugh with the situation.
"Honestly, we just treated it like a road trip every time," Stump said. "You really get closer with the guys just being in the vans that much traveling with them. So honestly it was a lot of fun, but we're glad to be back in Beckley."
It was a disagreement between stadium owner Doug Epling and Tech head coach Lawrence Nesselrodt that led to the eviction. However, Epling's grandson Kendrick, a former player for Nesselrodt who has been handling stadium operations since last year, got the two sides together and a truce was established.
The whole thing is now in the past, and there's nothing left to do but play ball.
"We are thankful the Lord has allowed the opportunity to put all differences aside for the future of this program to grow in front of the community," Fansler said, "and develop a strong fanbase it desperately needs."
Email: gfauber@register-herald.com; follow on Twitter @gfauber5
