VIENNA, W.Va. — Treating the Class AAA softball state tournament like merely another session of batting practice, Hurricane mercy-ruled Washington 13-2 and John Marshall 12-1 on Wednesday, closing in on a championship three-peat.
The Redskins (35-1), on a 22-game winning streak since April 7, will face one of those teams again Thursday for the title.
Can either challenger keep it close?
“Give it up to Hurricane — they’re a great team,” said Washington coach Amanda Orkoskey. “They’ve got all the D-I recruits for a reason.
“But they are beatable. I mean they’ve got a loss, so they’re not unstoppable.”
Hurricane certainly looked unstoppable on Day 1 of the state tournament, unleashing 32 hits over just eight at-bats while ending both blowouts early. Every starter had at least one hit in each game.
Katie Adams launched a prodigious grand-slam over the left-center scoreboard, while Paige Scruggs hit a three-run shot and Jayme Bailey added a two-run homer against Washington starter Taylor Cenate.
In the nightcap against John Marshall pitcher Lauren Garcia, the Redskins didn’t hit homers but relied on a 14-hit barrage. It became their 19th game scoring in double figures this season.
“We’ve faced a lot of really good pitching all year. I feel like we’ve seen the best pitchers in the state,” said Hurricane coach Josh Caldwell. “We were dialed in today. Just had a good approach both games.”
All that run support provided ample cushion for freshman Harlie Vannatter, who pitched three shutout innings against Washington and allowed one run over five innings to John Marshall.
Washington (12-4) rebounded to beat George Washington 5-2 in a losers-bracket game, and will meet John Marshall (26-5) in another do-or-die game Thursday morning.
“We really pulled it together against GW,” Orkoskey said. “Our goal for the first day was to make it to Day 2, so our next goal is to make it to the championship game, and hopefully we’ll see Hurricane again”
Regardless of which underdog survives that elimination game to earn a rematch, Scruggs said Hurricane will take them seriously.
“We’re going to get something to eat and then we will be in bed early. We were probably in bed (Tuesday) night by 9 o’clock,” Scruggs said. “We have to stay focused because we know any team can be beat at any time.”
Class AAA state softball
Wednesday results
John Marshall def. George Washington 3-1
Hurricane def. Washington 13-2
Washington def. George Washington 5-2 (GW eliminated)
Hurricane def. John Marshall 12-1
Thursday schedule
John Marshall (26-5) vs. Washington (12-4), 10 a.m.
Hurricane (35-1) vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m.