Front (L to R): Pam McCoy (mother), Matthew McCoy, Steve McCoy (father)
Back: Charlestown Baseball Coach Brian Hester and Assistant Athletic Director David Abbott

Yesterday afternoon Charlestown senior Matthew McCoy was joined by family, coaches, and teammates as he signed his celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play baseball at Hanover College next year.

Nestled in 650 acres of a wooded campus and located on the banks of the scenic Ohio River, Hanover College is a private, liberal arts institution where brains and beauty truly intersect. Their rigorous interdisciplinary academic program with 34 majors attracts the best and the brightest from across the region and beyond.

Hanover College competes at the NCAA Division III level in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, including Anderson University, Bluffton University (Ohio), Defiance College (Ohio), Earlham College, Franklin College, Hanover College, Manchester University, Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology & Transylvania University (Ky.) Hanover is home to twenty varsity sports including men’s and women’s basketball,  cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, men’s baseball, football and swimming, and women’s softball and volleyball.

When asked about his choice to play at Hanover College with the Panthers, McCoy replied, “Playing baseball at the next level has always been a dream of mine. Hanover gave me a chance to fulfill this dream. Not only does Hanover have a top tier program, but the academics and the environment is outstanding. Coach Bellak has been very helpful with the process of my future and my family and I are truly grateful for that. I look forward to playing for Coach Bellak and being a part of Panther baseball.”

New Charlestown baseball Brian Hester has not yet had the chance to coach McCoy as he is also a basketball player and hasn’t been able to attend pre-season workouts, but he has watched McCoy through the years of Charlestown baseball and had this to say: “Matthew is part of the strong foundation of all the good things about Charlestown baseball. He has the passion, desire, and work ethic to be great not only in baseball but as a member of society. Hanover will not only be gaining a quality baseball player but also an outstanding human being.”

Coach Jay Sorg, a long time hitting coach of McCoy’s, told those in attendance at the signing, “I am so happy for Matthew and his family. This is a great fit. Hanover is getting a great player and better person. I have had the privilege of seeing Matthew grow both on and off the field since he was a young kid. In all those years I believe this off season has been his biggest jump. He is ready to have a huge high school season and impactful college career. Words can not do justice on how proud I am of Matthew.”

WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Matthew (a 4th year member of the Radio and Television program) and wishes him a healthy and prosperous future as a Hanover College Panther.

Article contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network staff member Gracie Snell.

Front Row (L to R): Melissa Stewart (mother), Eric Wigginton, Karen Wigginton (Stepmother)
Back Row (L to R): Brian Stewart (Stepfather), Aiden Stewart (Sister), Brian Hester (Charlestown Baseball Coach), Kurt Meyer (Rawlings Tigers Coach) and Jeff Wigginton (Father)

Yesterday, Charlestown baseball senior Eric Wigginton was joined by family, teammates, and coaches to sign his celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play baseball at Spalding University in the fall.

Located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, Spalding University (SU) is a non-traditional private liberal-arts college with certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs in seventeen areas of study. Spalding University is a Top 5 School in the United States among those who operate on a block schedule where instead of taking four or more classes over 18 weeks twice per week, students take one or two classes every six weeks daily for approximately 100 minutes per day Monday through Thursday, allowing them to graduate in the same amount of time.

Spalding competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 15 NCAA Division III sports including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track (indoor and outdoor), softball, and volleyball. Spalding baseball is currently receiving votes in the 2021 edition of the Collegiate Baseball News preseason poll. The Golden Eagles finished the shortened 2020 season with an 11-3 record, including a win over preseason No. 23 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Golden Eagles were ranked 18th in the Perfect Game Top 25 and on track for a third consecutive 30-win season when the 2020 season was shut down due to COVID-19.

Wigginton, who is a CHS Gold Glove winner, will major in business management and serve as a pitcher for the Eagles. Wigginton became a member of the Lumber Yard Baseball Training Facility’s 90 MPH Club this winter. The Lumber Yard is home to Wigginton’s travel baseball team, the Southern Indiana Rawlings Tigers Velo. When asked about his opportunity to play at the next level with the Eagles, Eric said, “When weighing all the pros and cons of what I was looking for in both a school, location, and opportunities in athletics, Spalding was the obvious choice. I am incredibly grateful for the support and instruction of my coaches, teammates, and teachers throughout the years who have played a role in my development as a student-athlete, and I am humbled by the belief that the Spalding coaching staff has placed in me to contribute to the Eagles’ pitching staff.”

Charlestown baseball coach Brian Hester shared the following sentiments on Wigginton: “Eric Wigginton is a coach’s dream. His passion, loyalty, and respect for the game and all that are involved has allowed him to excel as a player and person. His determination to work hard and to love the game of baseball has allowed him to achieve his goal of playing at the collegiate level.”

The Charlestown High School athletic department and WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulate Eric and wish him a healthy and prosperous future as a Spalding University Golden Eagle.

Wigginton is the first of several Charlestown senior athletes expected to sign to play intercollegiate athletics in the coming months, so follow as we will share this news for all of those seniors.

Article contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network’s Dalton Hester.

Pirate Nation,

It has truly been a blessing leading the baseball program for the last 17 years. When I was fortunate to be hired in 2004, I never envisioned being the Head Baseball Coach through 2020. There was something about the program, and the community, that allowed me to grow so close so quickly. As an individual that grew up going to school and working in Jeffersonville, I will never forget when asked “why Charlestown?” during my interview. My response was that I believed it was a great opportunity for both of us. All I wanted was a chance to coach the game I have loved since I was a kid. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hall gave me that opportunity with only one year of high school assistant coaching experience on my resume. Their belief in me fueled me to work hard and do the best I could for Charlestown, which quickly became home to me and my family. We eventually moved to the area and have raised our family here since 2009. I have always believed in loyalty, and Charlestown has shown great loyalty to me through the years. Many changes have occurred within the administration during my tenure, as I have worked for many wonderful people including Principals Dick Johnson, Keith Hedges, Mark Laughner, John Rowland, and Amy Cook. As for Athletic Directors, I have been blessed to work for Tony Hall, David Null, Kim Carroll, and Chad Gilbert. All these individuals have allowed me to grow not only as a coach, but as a person as well. They have treated me with great respect, and I will forever be grateful for their kindness and generosity.

Personally, Charlestown High School helped me through many difficult times in my life. When my mother died in 2006, it was one of the hardest times of my life. Then, in 2016 when I lost my father, followed by my stepfather in 2017, adversity of life struck again. As I told our players, life is challenging at times. Sports are a great release from the real world sometimes, and coaching baseball and being around great people kept me busy during some of the most challenging times in my life. Much of that is due to the help I received from my assistant coaches through the years, which included John Smith, Darren Floyd, Brian Hester, Bryan Roberts, Jim Worley, Bryan Glover, Jeremy Eger, Kyle Craig, Joe Natterman, Chris Nickles, Matt Siler, Chuck Latham, Brian Smith, Josh Romans, and Rick Romans Sr. We had so many wonderful times on and off the ball field together, and I genuinely appreciate all their hard work and commitment to Pirate Baseball.

All good coaches realize that teams start and end with the players. Even though I have a list of players since 2004, I do not want to take a chance on missing someone so I will just say it has truly been an honor coaching each of you. We have had many exciting times, and some challenging and heartbreaking times as well. I am sorry we could not bring more championships to Charlestown, but I will never forget the exciting come from behind victory in the Sectional Championship in 2009 and the Conference Championship in 2015. It was always my goal for you to be successful on the baseball field, but it was more important for me that you turn into great young men. Hopefully, even though you probably did not agree with our decisions at times, you realize that we, the coaches, genuinely care about you. As I now step away, I want to say Thank You for allowing me to be a small part of your development and I truly wish all of you the best in your future. I will always be just a phone call away if you need anything.

Forever a part of the Pirate Family,
Coach Romans