Lexington Regional Welcomes Home Two Mountaineers
John Prine's My Old Kentucky Home rings true for two of WVU Baseball's outfielders.
Center fielder Braden Barry (Louisville) and right fielder Caleb McNeely (Versailles) will journey back to their home state this weekend, as the University of Kentucky plays host to the Lexington Regional.
McNeely, a graduate of Woodford County High School, grew up half an hour away from Lexington. He spent four seasons playing for the Yellowjackets, amassing a .385 batting average, 25 runs on 37 hits, six doubles, six triples, and 29 RBIs through 108 plate appearances. His at-bats combined for a .990 OBS, while his outfield work compiled a .957 fielding percentage. After high school, McNeely took a detour to the Mountaineers. He played from 2019-22 in Morristown, Tn at Walters State Community College, where he strung together a .390 average with 25 home runs and 78 RBI through 67 games. He was also named TCCAA Player of the Year and helped the Senators to the 2022 NJCAA Baseball World Series.
Barry, further away in Louisville, was on the radar of the state of Kentucky. When he opted to go out of state to West Virginia, Perfect Game had ranked him as the No. 5 outfielder and No. 22 overall player in Kentucky. He was an all-region selection with a .320 average; he had four runs on eight hits with five RBIs, three doubles, and a pair of home runs in the 2018-19 season alone. His outfield speed also created a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage.
This weekend's Lexington Regional will also bring together former teammates and friends. When West Virginia faces Indiana on Friday, McNeely will reunite with Walters State CC teammate Matthew Ellis, now a catcher for the Hoosiers. Additionally, WVU shortstop Tevin Tucker goes back to childhood with Hunter Gilliam, Kentucky's first baseman. The two played baseball together in the Richmond, Va. area.
Below is the schedule for all of this weekend's Lexington action:
Friday, June 2
Game 1 – Kentucky vs. Ball State
Noon ET (SEC Network)
Game 2 – Indiana vs. West Virginia
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Saturday, June 3
Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser
Noon ET
Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner
6 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 4
Game 5 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser
Noon ET
Game 6 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner
6 p.m. ET
Monday, June 5 (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser
TBD
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