Winfield Captures Fourth Straight Softball State Title

 By Ben Anderson


    The Winfield Generals softball team launched its dynasty, winning its fourth consecutive WVSSAC State Softball title, defeating John Marshall 7-3 in 8 innings on Thursday afternoon in the WVSSAC Class AAAA Softball State Championship game.


    John Marshall entered the contest as the No. 1 seed, needing to defeat the No. 2 seeded Generals twice to capture the title, after defeating Herbert Hoover 7-4 earlier in the day.  


    The Lady Monarchs dominated the early portion of the game, especially in the circle with starting pitcher Ella Finley having a perfect game through the first 4.2 innings. 


    John Marshall exploded on offense in the bottom of the third, scoring all three of its runs on four hits. The party started with four straight base hits, including back-to-back singles from lead-off hitter Emma King at the nine spot to right field, and Nora Shock with an infield base hit and an RBI Double to left field from Kaylee White to take 1-0 lead. Mason Inclan in the very next at-bat sent a 1-1 pitch to left-center two bring home two runs to make it 3-0


    That proved to be the only offense from the Lady Monarchs, as it was held to just three hits for the remainder of the contest.


    When all hope seemed lost for the Winfield Generals, they turned it on in the fifth inning by breaking open for two hits which results in an RBI single from Ella Black to cut the deficit to 3-1.


    “I think our dugout woke up a little bit,” Winfield head coach Steve Hensley said. “I really thought from the fifth inning on, we played really well and really competed.”


    The Generals then in the sixth, with John Marshall putting in reliever Lily Dijkstra. Rylee McClellan came up clutch against the reliever with a 2-run single into deep right field to tie the contest at 3-3.


    To the surprise of many, the Generals forced extra innings and showed off the exciting offense that it showed yesterday in its 9-0 victory over the Lady Monarchs. Winfield this time around scored four runs off five hits to take a 7-3 lead.


    The party started with the Generals getting five straight batters on base with one out. Ava Cole reached on a single to right, Emeri Nelson smacked a double to left, McClellan was intentional walked, and Brooklyn Cole crushed a two-run single through the left side. The Generals added the insurance runs when Madeline Taylor tattooed a pitch to right field to bring home two more runs and give the Generals the victory.


    Hensley said that the Winfield seniors are a special group that have forever stamped their legacy on the program. 


    “It shows as much about their character and who they are,” Hensley said. “We were down in the region the last two years, and it would have been very easy for us to just pack it and say let’s do it next year, come back for it. But they didn’t quit. They never have. All four years they’ve been here, and a lot of those players helped out on our 23 (2023 championship winning) team. They won the first championship.”


    “It’s just credit to them that they come every day ready to work and do everything the right way,” I know our school’s proud of them, and I know our town and community really is (proud of them).”


    Maddie Carroll led the way in the circle for the Generals, going eight innings, allowing eight hits, three runs with all being earned, and striking out one batter. 


    “The biggest think about Maddie is she puts so much work into what she does and she’s always kind of fine tuning her craft a little bit,” Hensley said. “Her competitive spirit is just so strong that she just does not want to lose. That’s reflective in the way she plays the game and the way she carries herself as a person.”


    McClellan had a big game, going 1-3 with a run scored and two RBI, and showed her presence throughout the tournament, making great contact with the ball as well as phenomenal defense.


    "She’s just a leader,” Hensley said. “She’s the type of player and student athlete that every coach wants on their team because when you get down to the end of the day, that leadership matters. She’s just a resilient, tough-nosed senior that’s been through a lot of big games.”


    With the victory, Winfield is now a four-time defending state champion, while John Marshall will finish as the Class AAA State runner-up after making its first state tournament since 2023 when it was led by Marshall Softball star Ava Blake.


    WVSSAC softball is now complete for the 2026 season. With the tournament bringing a lot of spectacular moments, there will definitely be a lot of hype as we countdown the days till opening day 2027.


WINFIELD 000 012 04 – 7 8 3

JOHN MARSHALL 003 000 08 – 3 8 5

Pitching: W: Carroll, & McClellan; JM: Finley, Dijkstra (6), & Inclan

Hitting: W: McClellan 1-3 R, 2 RBI, Cole 2-4, 2 R; JM: White 2-4, R, RBI, Inclan 2-4, 2 RBI, King 2-3 R

 


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