Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC Members of the Wheeling Central Catholic High School softball team celebrate winning the Class A state title Friday in South Charleston.

It took a few years for the Wheeling Central Catholic High School softball team to earn the 13th state title in program history. And while luck might have played a part in that path to another crown, it was the Maroon Knights’ talent that led the way.

Central (21-8) pummeled top-seed Wahama 12-2 on Friday afternoon to win the Class A state championship in South Charleston. It is the team’s first state championship since 2018.

To reach that pinnacle, Central had to face another power in West Virginia softball in Wahama, which won three straight championships from 2021-23. Yet this week, it wasn’t much of a fight. Central outscored Wahama 20-2 over the two games they played in the tournament, winning 8-0 in their first clash.

After allowing two runs in the bottom of the first, the Maroon Knights settled down defensively and exploded offensively. They tied the game with two runs in the top of the third, added three runs in the top of the sixth and blasted Wahama for seven runs in the top of the seventh.

Olivia Kiaski, who was in the pitcher’s circle for every one of Central’s state tournament wins, was named to the Class A tournament MVP. Her teammates Sydney Hupp and Bella Rine joined her on the all-tournament team.