Two WVU baseball stars honored for last week's performances

In head coach Steve Sabins’ second season in control, the Mountaineers have started the 2026 season 8-2. With the series win over Kennesaw State from Conference USA and a midweek win over the MAC’s Ohio University, two WVU players take home Big 12 honors.

Over four games last week, star sophomore Gavin Kelly added a Big 12 Player of the Week to his personal trophy case. Joining Kelly in taking home Big 12 honors, right-handed pitcher and Adelphi transfer, Dawson Montessa, took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.

Starting with the second base/catcher, Kelly had a great four-game stretch, riding his hot bat to Big 12 Player of the Week honors, including a pair of home runs in the series finale loss to Kennesaw State. Overall, Kelly went 11-19 (.578 batting average), adding two home runs, five extra-base hits, six RBIs, four walks, and had three multi-hit games over the four-game stretch.

On Friday night, in a 12-4 win, Montesa went seven innings pitched with 11 strikeouts (season-high), four hits, one earned run, and one walk issued.

On the season, Kelly is slashing .409/.500/.682, good enough for a stunning 1.182 OPS through the first 10 games of the season. Adding six doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, and two stolen bases, Kelly is getting it done at an elite level while at the dish.

Through his first three starts at the Division I level, the right-handed Division II transfer Montesa is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings pitched so far. Punching out 26 hitters while only allowing four walks through three starts, Montesa is showcasing a great 13/2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

WVU baseball returns to the diamond when they host Columbia for a three-game series this weekend, with the opening game set for 2 pm on Friday.