SHORT GAP, W.Va. — When Frankfort trotted Lanson Orndorf to the mound over his final 10 starts, a Falcon victory was all but ensured.
The senior right-hander capped a storied career with 10 consecutive victories with eight complete games, the final three gems in do-or-die postseason contests.
Orndorf fittingly recorded the last out of Frankfort’s 5-2 victory over Logan with a Class AA state championship-winning punch-out, his 11th victory of the season.
Orndorf was selected this week as the Area Player of the Year for a second consecutive season at a meeting of the area’s head coaches.
“Winning the Area Player of the Year is a huge honor and an amazing accomplishment to finish off my high school career,” Orndorf said. “I couldn’t have done it without the best defense behind me. Relying on my defense allowed me to be more efficient and pitch deeper into games this year.
“I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my coaches for always being behind me. It’s great to have a strong support system that is there for me. Special thanks to the writers and coaches who voted for me this year. I’d also like to thank Aaron Laffey for making me the pitcher I am today and for always being there when I need him.”
Orndorf’s honor is Frankfort’s seventh Player of the Year in school history, breaking a tie with Northern for second-most all-time behind Allegany’s nine.
Other Falcon winners include Caleb Hare (‘19), Jeff Conley (‘10), Corey Dolly (‘05), Justin Jenkins (‘02) and Josh Dolly (‘01).
Orndorf becomes just the second repeat winner of the award, joining former Allegany standout Kohen Madden, who won consecutive honors in 2022-23 before heading to James Madison.
“It means so much to me to be only the second player to win this award multiple times and the only West Virginia player to win twice,” Orndorf said. “Griffin Madden was one of the best players to ever come through this area. I remember watching him when I was a freshman and being completely shocked at how differently he played the game.
“With all the other great players this area had, it was harder to win than last year. To again put my name with other Frankfort greats like Caleb Hare, Jeff Conley, Zach and Brady Whitacre, Josh and Corey Dolly, and Justin Jenkins is such an honor.”
Eight coaches attended the area baseball meeting, and Orndorf received seven votes. Allegany’s Kohen Madden received the other.
The University of Charleston signee finished with an 11-3 record, 0.58 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 84 innings.
“Lanson had a great season, both offensively and on the mound,” his skipper Matt Miller said. “His ERA was .58, which is dominant. He was 11-3. All three losses were to teams that weren’t in the area. So he had a great year.
“His control and his ability to keep his pitch counts down and stay in the game for the entire seven innings lets us win a lot of ball games.”
Orndorf’s mental fortitude was on full display in the state championship game.
With his team trailing 2-0 midway through the third inning, the ace put up four straight scoreless innings to allow his offense to complete the comeback.
It was par for the course for a senior who finished the year allowing just three earned runs over his final 60 2/3 innings.
“His confidence is very high because he prepares so well,” Miller said. “His scouting reports for other teams are always really good. He also works harder than most pitchers that I’ve ever had. Constantly throwing long toss, doing his full pens, getting his midweek work in, and that’s why he’s better than everybody.”
Orndorf also hit .413 at the plate, belting Frankfort’s lone home run with a triple, 14 doubles, 27 runs batted in and 27 runs scored. He struck out just four times and walked 25 times, finishing with a team-high on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.119.
Miller beamed about Orndorf’s work ethic and his jump in leadership as a senior, bringing younger players under his wing.
Orndorf also became just the second area player in history to win the John Lowery Award as West Virginia high school Player of the Year, joining Circleville’s Travis Harper (1994).
More importantly, he helped lead his school to the promised land, a journey that began as a bat boy as a four-year-old beside his father, assistant coach Mike Orndorf, and ended with two state championships and a runner-up over his final three seasons.
“Frankfort baseball has meant so much to me for so long,” Orndorf said. “To represent this school and community these past four years has been incredible. I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else.”