Charleston here they come, again. The John Marshall Monarchs softball team is back in Charleston. Their first trip to the Capital city was to accomplish the goal of winning a state championship. For this trip they will be receiving the accolades that come with winning a title.<\/p>\n
Today, Governor Jim Justice welcomed Coach Ed West and the Monarchs to the Capital Complex to issue the team with a Citation in recognition of their most recent championship. Delegate Charlie Reynolds presented this Citation. The state champion Monarchs were also honored by Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.<\/p>\n
Going into the tournament West knew this would be his last go around with the team. West would be retiring at the end of the season. He had thoughts of it the previous year, but knew this team had unfinished business, as they were runners-up last season. His goal along with that of his team was for him to come away with his second championship and the softball teams third overall.<\/p>\n
John Marshall\u2019s run to the championship started with a 3-2 victory over Cabell Midland in the opening game for the Monarchs. As it always is in the state softball tournament, you want to stay out of the loser\u2019s bracket. Early it did not look like the Monarchs were staying away from the loser\u2019s bracket. Down 2-0 in the 4th<\/sup> inning, it did not seem as though John Marshall was going to break the scoring column.<\/p>\n Alexis Cumberledge changed this with a 2-run double to even the score at 2 each. It was a pitchers dual after this, with John Marshall\u2019s Kadence Pettit not surrendering another run. Then in the top of the 7th<\/sup>, Reese Ward led off with a triple for the Monarchs. Carlee Yoho hit a grounder to short that scored Ward with a play at the plate.<\/p>\n This would be all the Monarchs would need as Kadence Pettit struck out the first batter of the bottom of the 7th<\/sup>. Then got the next two batters to ground out to end the game. A narrow 1 run victory kept the Monarchs in the winner\u2019s bracket.<\/p>\n Next up for the Monarchs was the George Washington Patriots, a win here and the Monarchs would be playing for a state title. As it was in game 1 the Monarchs were down early first 1-0. A Carlee Yoho sacrifice bunt scored Kaleigh Stauffer to tie the game at 1. The Patriots scored again to make it 2-1 George Washington. It was all John Marshall after that.<\/p>\n Reese Ward doubled in Ava Blake to tie the game. Kaylee White then knocked in Carlee Yoho, Masyn Inclan hit in White, and the route was on. Alexis Cumberledge and Tori Finley then scored on Paytyn Tucker\u2019s triple. After it was all said and done the Monarchs would come out on top with an 11-2 victory, sending them to the championship round.<\/p>\n John Marshall would face off against their first game opponent, Cabell Midland, in the championship round. The Monarchs dropped the first game, turning the last game of the tournament a winner take all game.<\/p>\n This one started off much better for the Monarchs as Marshall commit Ava Blake hit the only homerun of the tournament, her 15th<\/sup>, to put John Marshall up 1-0 early. Paytyn Tucker sacrificed Nia Miller home to put the Monarchs up 2-0.<\/p>\n The Knights tied the game at 2, but it was all JM the rest of the way out. Carlie Keyser hit a sacrifice to Cabell\u2019s shortstop to score Ward. Tucker again came up big with a 2-run double scoring Finley and Yoho. \u00a0Pettit brought in the final run by hitting a sacrifice fly that scored Tucker.<\/p>\n Even more impressive was Pettit\u2019s performance on the mound. She struck out 9 in the game, to finish with 614 for her career. She along with Tucker will be taking their talents to West Liberty to continue their academic and athletic careers.<\/p>\n A goal for the Monarchs to start the season was to get to Charleston. Next, in line was to come away from Charleston with a state championship. Check and check on the goals for John Marshall. Now, it is more of a leisure trip to the Capital city to gain the accolades they earned on the softball diamond. Another congratulations to the Monarch softball team, you are champions today and forever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Charleston here they come, again. The John Marshall Monarchs softball team is back in Charleston. Their first trip to the Capital city was to accomplish the goal of winning a state championship. For this trip they will be receiving the accolades that come with winning a title. Today, Governor Jim Justice welcomed Coach Ed West […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-high-school"],"yoast_head":"\n