John Marshall Wins One, Loses One in Doubleheader Against Washington | Latest Updates on News, Sports, Employment

In a thrilling doubleheader matchup on a snowy Friday afternoon, the John Marshall softball team faced off against Washington High in a battle of top-ranked W.Va. Class AAA teams. The visiting Washington High team took the first game with an 8-6 victory, but John Marshall came back strong in the nightcap, winning 11-2 in just five innings to earn a split.

The Eastern Panhandle Patriots, with a record of 8-2, entered the doubleheader tied for sixth place in the coaches poll. Coached by Amanda Orkoskey, a Wheeling Central graduate, the Patriots put up a tough fight against the defending state champion Monarchs, who currently hold a 10-3 record and were ranked third in the poll.

In the first game, Washington High took an early lead with home runs by Carly Constantino and Courtney Greenfield, building a 7-0 advantage by the fourth inning. John Marshall fought back with a three-run rally in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Washington’s lead.

In the second game, John Marshall’s Shelby Crow pitched a stellar performance, allowing just two hits and leading her team to an 11-2 victory. Alexis Thayer and Ava Blake were standout players for the Monarchs, with Thayer hitting two home runs and driving in five runs, while Blake sealed the win with a walk-off homer in the fifth inning.

Coach Rob Blake praised his team’s resilience and bounce-back performance in the second game, setting the stage for another tough matchup against Jefferson High in the upcoming twinbill. The Monarchs will look to continue their winning streak and solidify their position as a top contender in the Class AAA softball rankings.