SOUTH CHARLESTON — Pitching dominated the opening day of the Class AAA and Class AAAA quarterfinals at the WVSSAC softball state tournament.
Three no-hitters, a perfect game and four shutouts highlighted Tuesday’s action at Little Creek Park as the semifinal fields were set in both classifications.
After reviewing performances from all eight quarterfinals, University pitcher Maddie Campbell earned West Virginia Sports Digest’s player of the day honors.
Player of the day: Madeline Carroll, Winfield
The performance helped send the defending champions into the Class AAA semifinals and earned Carroll West Virginia Sports Digest’s player of the day honors
Carroll opened Winfield’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive state championship with a performance worthy of the spotlight.
The Generals’ ace tossed a five-inning perfect game, striking out 11 of the 15 batters she faced while needing just 50 pitches to retire every Brooke hitter in order. She also contributed offensively, finishing 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs in Winfield’s 8-0 victory.
Top performances
1. Maddie Campbell, University
Stats: 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 17 K; 1-for-3, RBI
Campbell threw a seven-inning no-hitter, faced the minimum 21 batters and recorded 17 strikeouts in University’s 2-0 victory over Washington.
2. Drea Watts, Cabell Midland
Stats: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K
The Knights’ ace fired a five-inning no-hitter and retired all 15 batters she faced in a 9-0 victory over Jefferson.
3. Kynzi Bellamy, George Washington
Stats: 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 12 K
Bellamy dominated Parkersburg South, striking out 12 while allowing just three hits in a 6-1 victory.
4. Madison Wisman, Morgantown
Stats: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K; 2-for-3, run scored
Wisman tossed a three-hit shutout and scored the game’s lone run in a 1-0 victory over Hurricane.
5. Masyn Inclan, John Marshall
Stats: 3-for-3, double, triple, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored
The Monarchs’ offensive catalyst produced the biggest offensive performance of the AAA quarterfinals.
6. Becca Conrad, Cabell Midland
Stats: 2-for-3, home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored
Conrad’s three-run homer helped the defending champions turn a close game into a run-rule victory.
7. Ayva Veltri, Herbert Hoover
Stats: 2-for-3, 3 RBIs
Veltri drove in three runs as the Huskies advanced with an 8-0 win over PikeView.
8. Natali Tomblin, George Washington
Stats: 2-for-4, home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored
Tomblin helped spark the Patriots’ offense in a 6-1 quarterfinal victory.
9. Bralee Roush, Point Pleasant
Stats: 2-for-4, 4 RBIs
Roush delivered one of the day’s top offensive performances, including a go-ahead three-run triple against Keyser.
10. Katelynn Harless, Cabell Midland
Stats: 2-for-2, 2 RBIs
Harless helped power a nine-hit attack as the Knights rolled into the Class AAAA semifinals.
By the numbers
- 3 no-hitters were thrown Tuesday (Campbell, Watts and Carroll).
- 39 combined strikeouts were recorded by Campbell, Watts and Carroll.
- 4 shutouts were recorded by quarterfinal winners.
- Three of four Class AAA quarterfinals ended via run rule.
- Four Class AAAA semifinalists combined to allow just four hits and one earned run in their quarterfinal victories.
Game of the day: Keyser 8, Point Pleasant 5
The only Class AAA quarterfinal not decided by run rule delivered the day’s biggest comeback.
Point Pleasant appeared to seize control in the fifth inning when Bralee Roush cleared the bases with a three-run triple to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead. But Keyser answered immediately, erupting for five runs in the sixth inning behind run-scoring hits from Leighton Johnson, Sophie Lambka and Brielle Root.
The late rally sent the Golden Tornado to the semifinals and made Keyser’s 8-5 victory over Point Pleasant the most competitive and entertaining game of Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.