Sports

ESPN Could Not Tune Out 5,000 West Virginians During Soul Warming ‘Country Roads’ Singalong

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The West Virginia baseball team advanced to the super regionals in dramatic fashion with a walk-off win over Kentucky on Monday. The home crowd celebrated with a soul warming rendition of John Denver’s “Country Roads.”

At the time, ESPN was in the midst of an interview with Mountaineers first baseman Armani Guzman, the man who drove in the final run of the game. The broadcast would not ignore the incredible singalong. They couldn’t have tuned it out if they tried!

Nearly 5,000 fans belted out the lyrics following an extra inning victory. The network was applauded for its refusal to interrupt the moment.

West Virginia baseball is Super.

The Mountaineers won three straight games with their backs against the wall to battle out of the loser’s bracket in Morgantown. They will play in a super regional.

Despite being the host seed, West Virginia was dealt early adversity. Kentucky knocked the home team off in Game 2 of the regional. It put the Mountaineers one loss away from elimination.

West Virginia was forced to play three games over a two-day span. Each situation was win or go home. The stakes were high. The team answered the bell.

WVU eliminated Wake Forest on Sunday with a 10-5 victory. It then found itself in a pair of dogfights with Kentucky.

The Wildcats appeared in the driver’s seat in the initial rematch, coming two outs away from a regional title. A ninth inning collapse, fueled by a Little League level brain fart, kept the Mountaineers alive.

West Virginia trailed 9-6 in their final at-bat of that contest. They plated five runs to win 11-9. It forced a decisive rubber match. The Mountaineers, again, won in the final frame.

With the scored tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the 10th, leadoff man Armani Guzman smacked a walk-off single to centerfield. It sent the Mountaineers to the next round of play.

A singalong ensued.

As is tradition, “Country Roads” echoed throughout Kendrick Family Ballpark after the win. ESPN was gearing up for an interview with the game’s hero.

They postponed that conversation to give viewers the full experience.

The network received praise for its awareness of the moment after the fact. The broadcast allowed everyone watching along a chance to enjoy. The online response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Props to ESPN2 for showing this in its entirety. Was awesome! Gave America goosebumps,” one follower wrote on social media.

“Cheers to the announcers for letting this happen before doing the interview. Excellent awareness,” said another.

“ESPN typically wants to speed up to the postgame interviews and move on but letting that moment breathe was a class move,” this person commented.

“Thank you for staying during the singing and keeping quiet! Was perfect,” echoed another supporter.

ESPN knew the assignment. It could not tune out the crowd. It would’ve ruined the moment.

The network let the singalong take precedence over the interview. In doing so, it allowed everyone to experience the tradition.

West Virginia baseball will have another chance to spark a singalong when they host Cal Poly in the super regionals.