CHARLESTON, W.Va. - It is a nice, spring evening in Charleston. Just the kind of evening for a good mid-week gathering at the old ballpark. Ballpark hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and just enough wind to give hopes of seeing a ball hit over the fences.

Yes, this is the evening of the Mountaineer Power Classic between the UK  Wildcats and the WVU baseball teams. And for WVU Head baseball Coach Greg Van Zant, it is an especially pleasing night as he looks up in the stands and sees many of his friends and former neighbors from his hometown of Williamson here to watch him lead his Mountaineers in action.

It’s not often these days that this “Son of Williamson” gets to play this far south in the state; this close to the fields of Lefty Hamilton Park where as a young man he played baseball for and graduated from Williamson High School in 1979. But Williamson and it’s memories are never far from Van Zant.

“I still love Williamson. I don’t get back there much anymore, what with my schedule and all, but I still love the town and all the memories of growing up there.”said Van Zant after his Mountaineers defeated UK 10 - 7 to post a 15-5 record for the season.”

Van Zant, a former Wolfpack and Mountaineer player, is now in his 15th season as Mountaineer Head Baseball Coach He has accomplished much in that time.

He now ranks second in WVU baseball history with 413 wins as Head Coach. H has won Big East Championships both in the regular season and in the tournaments, earning an appearance in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. He has seen 41 of his Mountaineer players drafted or signed by Major League Baseball teams, 23 of those being pitchers.

Van Zant’s program has produced five All-Americans, a Big East Player of the Year, a Big East Pitcher of the Year, two Big East Rookies of the Year, 46 All-Conference players, two Major Leaguers and an Olympian, as well as two Academic All- Americans. He has been named Big East Coach of the Year twice in his tenure. Seven years ago, he was inducted as a member of the Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Yet with all the accolades, to Van Zant, the game is still his passion, a family tradition if you will learned at the feet of his famous father, the legendary  Jim Van Zant, former Williamson High and Williamson Post 49 Coach and long-time Sports Editor of the Williamson Daily News.

“Growing up, and even now, Dad was always my hero. He taught me the love of this game.” says the younger Van Zant. “Dad always came to my games and has came to most of my games as a coach. In fact, this was his first game this season and I’m really glad he got to be here.”

While he doesn't get to Williamson often, he remembers it fondly. “ loved growing up in Williamson and going to Williamson High School. I had so many great teachers there who taught me so much and prepared me so well.” says Van Zant. “I hear they’re going to close it. I hate that...wish we could keep it open. It was a great place to go to school.”

Asked about the current talent levels he finds on the high school baseball teams in West Virginia as compared to other states, he is emphatic in his admiration of his home state.

“Because we have a smaller population than some of the other states, there aren’t as many from West Virginia playing Division I ball. But just because there are fewer, doesn’t mean they’re any less talented.” said Van Zant.”We have just as talented players as anywhere else and I tell our coaches to try their best to get our in-state kids to play here. We like getting them.”

About the Big East: “The Big East is a major conference in baseball. That’s why we have such tremendous success against other conferences like the SEC or the ACC. Our record against them is great”.

About continuing the Mountaineer Power Classic: “It’s great for teams mid-week. Kentucky had an open date this year and we’ve agreed to play again here in two years. We are looking for a team for next year. We want to keep coming down and playing this for our fans down here in the southern part.”