SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — John Marshall is one of the most established softball programs across West Virginia.
Its opponent in the WVSSAC Class AAA State Tournament opener, Robert C. Byrd, was in unfamiliar territory while competing on a new stage and faced a daunting challenge as a No. 8 seed matched up with the Monarchs.
That showed throughout the Tuesday morning contest as No. 1 John Marshall took care of business early and often, scoring at least three runs in all four at bats and finishing off the Eagles early in a 14-0 five-inning victory at The Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.
The result sends the Monarchs (26-5) to a Wednesday winner’s bracket matchup where No. 5 Keyser awaits.
RCB (15-18) produced its lone hit in its first at bat as Lexi Hardy connected for a leadoff double.
Lily Dijkstra struck out the next three batters to prevent Hardy from advancing any further, and JMHS took control by scoring three runs in the bottom of that inning, which featured a Masyn Inclan run-scoring double as well as Ella Finley’s triple that brought the second run in.
Inclan’s run-scoring triple highlighted a three-run second that allowed the Monarchs to double their lead, and she connected for a double to bring in another run during the team’s four-run third that left the Eagles facing a 10-0 deficit.
After Dijkstra retired RCB in order in the fourth, the Monarchs continued to expand their advantage and scored four more that inning, including run-scoring singles from Riley Polsinelli and Kaylee White. Inclan added a sacrifice fly in that inning, and Dijkstra overcame a leadoff error in the top of the fifth to keep the five-inning shutout intact.
Inclan finished 3-for-3 and accounted for four of her team’s nine RBI.
Dijkstra struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Torrin Strawderman pitched 2.2 innings and Chloe Barlow the remaining 1.1 in defeat.
The Eagles hurt their cause with eight errors.