By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Sean Smith is set to become just the third Pascagoula High product to play in the College World Series.

Smith and West Virginia stand just one win away from a trip to Omaha next week to play for a national championship after the Mountaineers toppled visiting Cal-Poly Friday afternoon 12-2 in game one of the Charleston Super Regional. Another win, either Saturday morning or on Sunday, would punch West Virginia’s ticket to the CWS for the first time in program history.

Smith, a 2021 PHS graduate, also led the Panthers to the Class 5A state championship round in his senior season. In game one of the Super Regional Friday, Smith enjoyed one of the best games of his WVU career as he collected a game-high three hits, including a three-run home run to give his Mountaineers a quick lead in the first frame, to place his team on the verge of an historic milestone for the program.

He also added a double, after his early bomb gave WVU a lead it would never relinquish, and he walked. Smith also scored twice.

Only Blair Varnes, with Florida State in the mid-1990’s, and Rodney Siedell, with Ole Miss in 1972, are the only Pascagoula High players to take the field at the College World Series.

Terrell Buckley was on the Florida State in 1991 that qualified, but apparently did not play in two games. Also, Enrico Jones was a red-shirt freshman for Mississippi State in 1998, but he didn’t make the trip to Omaha.

He has primarily been the designated hitter for the Mountaineers this season, and has wasted no time in making his mark in his lone season with the Mountaineers. Smith has played in 57 games with 55 starts. He is hitting .313, which is third on the team, with eight home runs and 49 RBIs, which is also the third most on the team.

He was recently named to the Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team. He also earned Honorable mention All-Big 12 status after his solid regular season play.

Smith is a grad transfer after wrapping up a solid season at Georgia Southern last year. He earned second team All Sun Belt Conference honors last season as well.

After leading Pascagoula to the Class 5A state championship round in 2021, he spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast.

This is the first-ever meeting between West Virginia and Cal-Poly. West Virginia is enjoying one of its most successful seasons ever, and stands 44-15 overall after the win Friday.