SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Winfield has a flair for the dramatics.
So as John Marshall put forth a far better showing Thursday against the Generals than what had transpired one day earlier, it was almost tough not to sense a Generals’ rally in the works even as each of their first 14 batters were retired.
Once the first one got on and the first run came in, however, there would be no turning back for Winfield as the No. 2 seed scored one run in the fifth, two in the sixth and four in the top of the eighth before finishing off the Monarchs for the Class AAA state championship and a fourth consecutive title at The Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.
“It shows as much about their character and who they are,” Winfield coach Steve Hensley said. “Last year and this year, we were in very difficult regions and we were down in the region the last two years. It would have been easy to pack it in and say let’s do it next year. But they didn’t quit. They never have all four years they were here. A lot of those players helped out on our 23 team. It’s a credit to them. They come every day ready to work and do everything the right way. I know our school is proud of them.”
FINAL: Winfield 7, John Marshall 3 (8 innings)
Generals capture Class AAA state championship to complete four-peat.
Winfield trailed 3-0 at one point. #wvprepsb pic.twitter.com/rbwMCBlJfB
— Greg Carey (@gcarey938) June 4, 2026
With the Monarchs in front 3-0, Madeline Taylor broke up what was a perfect game through 4.2 innings from John Marshall’s Ella Finley, who put forth nothing short of a heroic effort in the circle.
“They’re a good team. We played really hard,” John Marshall coach Robby Blake said. “I’m proud of the girls for responding. They could have laid down. They battled after getting run-ruled yesterday. We played a couple good softball games today and I’m really proud of that.”
Taylor took second on a wild pitch and scored her team’s first run moments later on Ella Black’s single to right. While the Monarchs maintained a two-run advantage through five, the Generals started the sixth in the exact fashion they seemed with consecutive singles from No. 9 hitter Sienna Smith and leadoff hitter Ava Cole.
“We can be down and struggle, but we’re never out of a game,” Hensley said. “We’ve played a good schedule this year. We went to MB and saw four really good teams and saw two teams from Kentucky. Our team has been in tough games and atmospheres and when you get here, that pays off. They’ve been there and seen good pitching and been through those situations.”
At that point, on came the No. 1 pitcher for the No. 1 seed as Lily Dijkstra entered the circle for Finley.
A sacrifice bunt from Emeri Nelson moved both courtesy runner Sophie Sizemore and Cole up a base, and both scored when Ryle McClellan hit a sharp single to left-center to tie the matchup at 3.
“Rylee is a stud and she’s done it for us every year,” Winfield pitcher Mattie Carroll said. “We all trust and believe in her and she believes in herself, because we believe in her.”
Winfield stranded the go-ahead run at second and John Marshall’s Elaina Taylor led off the home half of the sixth with a single, but a pop up on a bunt amounted to a double play and helped ensure the game remained tied after six innings.
After neither team threatened in the seventh, Winfield got a one-out single from Cole followed by Nelson’s double to put a pair in scoring position in the 10th.
An intentional walk to McClellan loaded the bases and Brooklyn Cole answered the call with a two-run single to left that gave the Generals their first lead at 5-3.
Two batters later, Taylor added a two-run double to double the advantage and Carroll worked around Masyn Inclan’s leadoff single in the home half of the eighth to wrap up the win and finish off an eight-inning effort in the circle.
“Every time we win, I feel like we just won it for the first time again,” Carroll said. “It’s still so exciting.”
One day after Winfield knocked off John Marshall 9-0 over five innings, the Monarchs answered the call earlier Thursday with a 7-4 win over Herbert Hoover, then took a 3-0 lead in the third, which began with Emma King’s leadoff double. An infield single from Nora Shock added to the Monarchs’ momentum, and they gained a 1-0 lead when Kaylee White doubled.
Inclan, who was stellar throughout the state tournament, doubled in a pair to leave Winfield with a three-run deficit.
From that point, forward, Carroll, the reigning state Softball Player of the Year, never allowed another Monarch to get into scoring position.
“The biggest thing about Mattie is she puts so much work into what she does. her competitive spirit is just so strong,” Hensley said. “She does not want to lose and that’s reflective in the way she plays the game and carries herself as a person. She’s a really good softball player, obviously, but she’s probably a better person. That’s the best compliment I can give her.”
The reigning state Softball Player of the Year, Carroll struck out eight.
Over five innings, Finley was charged with three runs on four hits.
“We lose three seniors,” Blake said, “so now the rest get a taste of it and they’re going to be hungry to come back next year and finish the job.“