Benjamin Powell ON THE BIG STAGE — WVU's Paul Schoenfeld is one of several Division II transfers that have helped the Mountaineers get to Omaha.

OMAHA Neb. – The mammoth size of Charles Schwab Field hits you at first glance. It’s seemingly spacious enough to land a small plane or a fleet of choppers.

It is the cathedral of college baseball and its history runs deep. Barry Bonds once won a national championship here. So, too, did some of professional baseball’s biggest names like Dave Winfield, Paul Skenes and Roger Clemens. Somehow those figures still dance throughout the stadium, leaving gigantic shoes to fill for those who want to be next.

“You try to take it in, but you also want to be in the present, be in the moment,” WVU catcher Gavin Kelly said. “It’s a special and unique opportunity to be here.”

The Mountaineers (45-15) are, indeed, in Omaha. Not just the team, its coaches and support staff, either.

“There’s zero doubt that Mountaineer Nation won’t be here in full force here in Omaha,” WVU head coach Seve Sabins. “I think damn near every politician and representation from the athletic department and fans and alumni will be here.

“It’s been a blast just saying, ‘Yeah, we’ve got to get a couple of rooms for the governor and the senator.’ ”

ESPN personality and former WVU kicker Pat McAfee will be on hand, as fans decked out in WVU gear are already circling around the area 24 hours before the Mountaineers meet upset darling Troy (38-30) in the opening game of the College World Series, at 2 p.m. today.

It sets up the ultimate question: Will this moment of contending for a national championship be too much to handle for the Mountaineers?

It didn’t take long for WVU pitcher Chasen Cole – today’s starting pitcher for the Mountaineers with a dominating 10-1 record – to squash that theory?

“There’s a fine line between soaking it in and us getting ready to win a tournament,” Cole said.

WVU players arrived in all-business mode, ready to add on to what has already been a historical season that was punctuated with comeback wins against Kentucky in the opening regional and then an overpowering performance in the super regional against Cal Poly.

The Mountaineers are laced with star power like Kelly – a projected top pick in the 2027 MLB Amateur Draft – and Maxx Yehl, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

They also have perseverance and determination, which is best suited to tell the story of Ben Lumsden. A spot starter during the regular season, Lumsden has taken full advantage since being inserted into the starting lineup since the start of the NCAA tournament, as his .833 on-base percentage will attest.

“He’s my guy,” Kelly said. “He deserves everything that’s been happening. He’s hard-working, but what he brings to the lineup is a special left-handed bat. He has crazy pop, but also has the discipline to have three walks in one game.”

There are other bits and pieces that encapsulates these Mountaineers, whether it’s the emergence of Cole and teammates Paul Schoenfeld and Ian Korn, who were stars at the Division II level a year ago. Armani Guzman’s athletic ability shines on the base paths. Sean Smith has raised his batting average nearly 150 points since early March.

The team refused to wither away after star pitcher Chae Meyer was removed from the roster after the opening week of the season for a violation of team rules. It didn’t back down after getting handed a 23-1 shellacking at the hands of hated rival Pittsburgh in late April.

All of it has played small roles as to why WVU now finds itself in Omaha, either five or six victories shy from a national championship. As for the entire reason, Kelly said it’s really not much of a secret.

“We’re just a gritty bunch of guys and we’re tough to kill,” Kelly said.

The rest of the college baseball world is now finding that out, too. In the World Series, WVU sits in the same bracket as national power North Carolina, which eliminated the Mountaineers in the 2024 super regionals. Ole Miss, which won the 2022 national championship, is also on WVU’s side of the bracket.

In the other bracket are the SEC powerhouses – Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and tournament-favorite Georgia.

And then there are the Mountaineers. Gritty they may be, but this is their first look at the World Series. They already have the entire state of West Virginia behind them, but can they take that next step and prove they belong with the big boys?

“Anytime adversity hits us, we have a saying, ‘Advantage Mountaineers,’ ” Cole said. “We’re going to battle through it as a group of individuals. I think everyone on this team knows we are playing for something bigger than ourselves. It’s a lot easier when we can come together and get through it together.”