James Vincell’s steady play and leadership earned him an invitation to sign to play baseball with Concord University. He will play catcher for the southern West Virginia college, joining fellow Wildcat basketball great Ana Young at the school.
By Stephen Smoot
Every year, countless athletes take the field, the floor, the court, or the mat at the high school varsity level.
Only seven in every hundred will get the opportunity to move on to either the collegiate or professional ranks after completing their high school careers. Pendleton County last week celebrated being well above average in providing talent to compete in collegiate athletics.
Baylee Beachler, Jenna Smith, Avery Townsend, and James Vincell will get that opportunity going forward and had their accomplishments celebrated last Friday.
Students got to leave class for the event, ensuring a packed house of peers to cheer on the senior athletes.
Jacqueline Propst, Pendleton County Middle/High School athletic director, explained to all in attendance the rarity of being invited to compete in college athletics. She also thanked “the families of these students for your unwavering support.”
Dave Eason, who preceded Propst as athletic director, spoke next and praised their “dedication and commitment to hard work in both your sports and academics.”
He then introduced the first student-athlete signee, Vincell. Vincell played football and baseball in his time at Pendleton County. In football, he starred as both a superb passer and a hard-hitting linebacker.
Concord University, however, signed him to play the sport he has worked to master since the age of seven, baseball. There, he will likely continue playing catcher while studying secondary education and English.
Vincell said, “Thank God for giving me the skills and keeping me motivated.” He also praised his coaches and teammates, then said “I want to thank my mom for always being there and loving me,” and also “my dad, he’s always taking me to practice. He’s probably put in more work than I have.”
Sam Yokum, head baseball coach, shared stories about his catcher, who will miss the 2025 season due to injury, saying “he’s a very special young man. It’s been a joy to coach him.”
“It’s been a lifetime dream to pay college baseball for James,” Yokum added.
Townsend came next. Also a standout in basketball and volleyball, she earned an invitation to play softball for Fairmont State University after putting in 12 years of work, including varsity and travel teams.
Townsend said, “I’d like to thank God for the ability to play this amazing sport . . . pushing me to be the person and the athlete I am today.”
Additionally, she shared that “all of my coaches had an amazing impact” and expressed appreciation to both her parents and “second parents” of teammates who provided support through the years.
Finally, she thanked her aunt, Winona, who had passed, for “always cheering me on. Her spirit will always be with me.”
Head softball coach, Eric Crites, expressed appreciation for his standout, saying Townsend “is one of the best kids” and “a pleasure to be on the field with.” He added that “she will represent Pendleton County very well.”
Propst stated that Townsend’s “passion for the game is infectious.”
Smith, who also stars on the basketball team, will continue her softball playing career almost exactly 90 minutes up the road at Potomac State College. Eason described her as “a utility player who can play all over the field,” but mostly at middle infielder and catcher.
“I want to thank everyone who has made this day possible,” Smith said from the podium. Like Townsend, she appreciated both her natural and her “extra” family of moms, dads, and sister teammates with whom she established tight bonds during many seasons on the diamond.
She thanked all of her coaches, but especially “Eric, for making the last two years special.” Finally, she thanked “God every day for the life he has given me and the ability to do this.”
Crites responded when he rose to share some words about Smith, saying that she “always puts her team first” and described her as “the ultimate number two hitter” who is “almost another coach on the field.”
“Your dedication to honing your craft,” Propst stated, “is remarkable.”
The final signee of the day was fireball pitcher Beachler. Eason praised the 12-year player as someone who “has played every position on the field.” Beachler will continue her softball exploits at the NCAA Division I level for Robert Morris University.
She also earned accolades for her performance on the varsity volleyball squad that won in the first round of the state tournament last week, but fell in the second.
“First, I’d like to thank my parents,” Beachler said, explaining that “my dad gave up many hours at the park to catch me” and suffered a few injuries here and there in the process. She states appreciation that “mom took me everywhere.”
She also thanked her coaches, first “Eric, who stepped in and helped me to have a good junior year,” as well as her travel team coaches.
Beachler finally said, “And I thank God for giving me the ability and skills I have to play Division I softball.”
Crites described Beachler as “a very special kid” and “a great team leader,” while noting that she is “probably one of the first Division I girls to sign out of Pendleton County.” He said to “Jenna, Avery, and Baylee, thank you all for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to a tremendous year.”
Propst related that this ceremony “ends one chapter, but is the exciting beginning of another.”
This day encapsulated all of the emotion, all of the work, all of the dreams fulfilled and goals accomplished in that first chapter. The next pages, hopefully, will be filled with memories and experiences just as profound and character building as what all four had growing up in Pendleton County sports.