As we are in the midst of the collegiate summer ball season, it is a great opportunity for players to get some quality reps against other collegiate players before returning to campus for the fall. Two WVU baseball pitchers are using this opportunity to show out for their summer ball teams and WVU.
Going into the July 19 games in the Appalachian League, two WVU pitchers were on the leaderboards for a couple of pitching stats in the Appalachian League. Tennessee transfer Bryson Thacker boasted the fifth-lowest opponent batting average, and Thacker and returning sophomore Tucker DeLisle were third and fifth in strikeouts in the league, respectively.
A look at the #AppyLeague leaders in batting average against entering today.@J0hns0nJas0n | @Charlie_A32| @t_neubeck | @Joseph_Gomezzzz | @bryson98636742 pic.twitter.com/ySBW4fim0M
— Appalachian League (@AppyLeague) July 19, 2025
A look at the #AppyLeague leaders in strikeouts entering today.@MajorOsbolt | @KenyonCollins2 |@bryson98636742 | @MatthewBienven1 | @TuckerDeLisle | @VicentiRonin pic.twitter.com/NKT6vivQGr
— Appalachian League (@AppyLeague) July 19, 2025
Thacker was posting a .149 batting average against as of July 18. The Tennessee transfer has been doing an elite job of keeping runners off the base during his outings for the Johnson City Doughboys. In 28.2 innings of work, the left-handed pitcher has posted a 1.88 ERA with 34 strikeouts. Thacker has only allowed 19 walks to his 34 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched so far in his Appalachian League season.
Sitting only two strikeouts behind Thacker, who was third in strikeouts in the Appalachian League as of July 18, DeLisle registered 32 strikeouts as of July 18. DeLisle, representing the Tri-State Coal Cats, who play their home games at Jack Cook Field (Marshall University’s home field), is now up to 33 strikeouts in 27.2 innings of work. In addition to his 33 strikeouts, the right-handed pitcher is recording a 2.28 ERA while being 1-0 with a 1.27 WHIP.
The combination of Thacker and DeLisle breaking onto the college scene in 2026 is exactly what the WVU baseball team needs. Losing all three weekend series starters from this past season, the Mountaineers need as many starting pitchers as possible.
Hopefully, we can see the Tennessee transfer Thacker and returning sophomore DeLisle take that next step and provide a much-needed presence in the starting rotation or in the bullpen as long relievers.