Photo Provided John Marshall's Ella Finley makes a diving catch Tuesday at the Class AAA state tournament against Robert C. Byrd inside Little Creek Park.

CHARLESTON — One game into their experience at the WVSSAC Class AAA state softball tournament, and the John Marshall Monarchs look every bit the No. 1 seed that they entered the tournament as in South Charleston’s Little Creek Park.

The Monarchs (26-5) dominated in their opening encounter in the state tourney, downing No. 8 Robert C. Byrd (15-18) 14-0 in five innings Tuesday, sending themselves to a Wednesday meeting against No. 5 Keyser in the Class AAA winner’s bracket.

Five Monarchs reached multiple times Tuesday, a game where John Marshall scored in each of their four turns at-bat, while Lily Dijkstra pitched a one-hitter, striking out eight inside the circle.

Dijkstra’s lone hit allowed came from the first batter of the game for RCB, a leadoff double by Lexi Hardy. Dijkstra struck out the next three to erase her lone blemish quickly. The sophomore didn’t issue a walk.

Monarchs catcher Masyn Inclan led John Marshall with three hits from the three-hole, finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Inclan singled in the first inning, tripled in the second inning and doubled in the third inning.

Inclan’s single, an Ella Finley triple and an Eagles error each brought in one run for the Monarchs in the first inning to get John Marshall off and running in Charleston.

Kaylee White and Aubrey Lilley each finished with two hits for John Marshall, who tallied 12 hits as a game. The Monarchs also drew three walks and benefited from eight Robert C. Byrd errors.

White and Inclan each finished with three RBI to pace John Marshall. Finley, Paislee Babiczuk, Riley Polsinelli and Emma King also knocked in runs for the top-seeded Monarchs.

John Marshall’s game against the Eagles started at 9 a.m. The Monarchs will have another early game Wednesday against Keyser with another 9 a.m. start time.

Coach Rob Blake and company are competing for their first state championship since 2023. The Monarchs also won state championships in 1988 and 2012.