SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Buck Davidson had seen this script play out before. With his team tied at 2 in the sixth inning against Wahama in the championship round of the WVSSAC Class A State Softball Tournament, his Wheeling Central Catholic Maroon Knights pounded out 10 runs on 10 hits in the final two innings to win 12-2. The title is Central’s first since 2018.
“My girls give a good at bat every at bat. The more they see the pitcher, the more comfortable they get. It just seemed like in the sixth inning when we were going out to hit, for some reason a calmness came over them and they just came to the plate and just started raking the ball,” said Davidson.
“That’s been our forte throughout the year, especially at home with the bigger schools and the really good pitchers. It usually takes us four or five innings. But we know we can do it if we keep the game close and start hitting the ball.”
Wahama (26-13), won three consecutive elimination games to remain alive in the bracket after falling to the Maroon Knights Thursday in a winners bracket semifinal. The White Falcons defeated Pendleton County 11-0 (5 innings) and Man 5-4 (8 innings) earlier on Friday to set up a rematch with Central.
The White Falcons scored a pair of runs in the first inning to build a 2-0 lead. Audrey Reynolds scored on a throwing error and Eve Smith sent Fiona Van Matre to the plate with a sacrifice fly. However, that’s all the offense Wahama could muster against WCCHS pitcher Olivia Kiaski. She went the distance in the circle, scattering seven hits. Kiaski was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
“Liv doesn’t have a ton a strikeouts. But she got a little rattled in the first inning. And then the senior vibes took over and she settled down. What really helped her was hitting that double. When she hit that double (in the third inning), she settled right down and started hitting the spots. It was a great effort.”
With the game tied at 2 in the sixth inning, Seneca Heller’s two-run double gave Central their first lead of the game. Taking a 5-2 advantage into the seventh, Central sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on six hits. Chloe Groome hit a three-run home run and Morgan Miehle added a three-run triple later in the seventh.
Heller led Central with three hits while Mattie Miehle, Morgan Miehle and Sydney Hupp each added two hits.
The Maroon Knights (23-8) posted a perfect 4-0 record in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 28-8.
“In that first game against Wahama, and then that one-run game against Man, those one-run games like that build character. My girls just eat that stuff up and they just take it to the next game.”
Wheeling Central Catholic has won a dozen state softball championships since 1995.
“I am so proud of my girls for doing this, coming back and taking this back to the school. It has been a long time since we’ve had one in softball.”
Wahama has finished as state runners-up in back-to-back seasons. Raylee Zirkle went 3-for-3 for Wahama in the tournament finale.
Congratulations to the Class A All-Tournament team:
Brielle Redden (Greenbrier West)
Kinsley Price (Pendleton County)
Sydney Hupp (Wheeling Central)
Bella Rine (Wheeling Central)
Lexie Lowe (Sherman)
Mia Johnson (Man)
Fiona VanMetre (Wahama)
Mary Brinker (Wahama)
Gracie Banks… pic.twitter.com/r2ovpAf00t— TheWVSSAC (@TheWVSSAC) May 29, 2026