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JM In AAA Driver’s Seat At State Softball Tourney

SOUTH CHARLESTON - With a pair of victories Wednesday at the W.Va. Class AAA state softball tournament, John Marshall has put itself in the driver's seat at Little Creek Park.

The Monarchs (29-4) advanced to within one win of their third overall state crown, and first since 2012, with triumphs over Cabell Midland and George Washington at The Rock. They opened with a come-from-behind, 3-2, nod over the No. 2 Knights in the opener and then used a 7-run fourth to take down the Patriots, 10-2, in six innings. The first title came in 1998 under the legendary Pancho Flores.

"To win the first two games in a tournament like this is huge," veteran John Marshall head coach Ed West admitted of the double-elimination event. "Now we just sit and wait on whomever wins the early game."

John Marshall will play the winner of today's elimination game between George Washington (22-12) and Cabell Midland (22-6), which knocked out defending state champion Jefferson, 3-1. That winner will have to beat John Marshall twice, with the first championship game starting at approximately 2:15 p.m. If needed, a second game would begin 30 minutes after the first one ends.

"We really hit the ball in the second game," West said of the 11 safeties. "That could've been due to Cabell Midland's pitcher being a little better than George Washington's, but hey, we'll take it."

Trailing 2-1 at GW scored a run in the top of the fourth, the Monarchs erupted for a 7-spot to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Paytyn Tucker keyed the outburst with a 2-run triple and Kaylee White and Masyn Inclan had run-producing singles.

White finished with a single and triple, while winning pitcher Kadence Pettit singled and doubled. Inclan added a double to her single and Ava Blake's RBI double invoked the 8-run mercy rule after 5 innings.

"Pretty good day," West added. "The girls played hard and smart. That's what it takes."

Pettit fanned four which gave her 600 for her career. She didn't allow a free pass and yielded seven hits.

John Marshall 3, Cabell Midland 2

The Region I champion Monarchs started their day with a huge win over Cabell Midland as Reese Ward tripled to the corner in left leading off. She then raced home on a bouncer to short, but was ruled out on a bang-bang play. However, the ball was jostled loose and the call was reversed, giving them a 3-2 lead.

Pettit retired the Knights in order in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Pettit struck out nine and walked just one among her 98 pitches.

Cabell Midland finally broke through against Pettit, who had retired the first 10 batters she faced, in the fourth. With one out, Pettit issued her lone free pass to Rebecca Conrad, who promptly stole second. Christina Wallace singled past second to drive in Conrad. Wallace then swiped second as JM shortstop Ava Blake lost her glove and the ball during the tag. Olivia Bell drilled a 3-2 pitch to deep right that allowed Wallace to score.

Of Pettit's 98 offerings, 34 of those came in the fourth. Cabell Midland only had one baserunner outside the fourth, that being Nicole Harris who reached on an error in the fifth with one out. She was thrown out attempting to steal by Inclan.

"Kadence pitched awfully well," West noted. "Besides the fourth inning, she was nearly perfect."

The Monarchs responded in their next at bat. Ward, leading off, went to second when her fly ball to left was misplayed. After Carlee Yoho walked, White laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that advanced both runners. On the first pitch she saw, Cumberledge belted a drive over the centerfielder's head for a game-tying two-run double.

"I wasn't surprised she hit the ball, but I was surprised how far she hit it," West said.