Andrew Grimm ALL-STATE — Madonna's Madi Owens was named to the All-State First Team.

Last month’s Class A state softball tournament at Little Creek Park featured eight teams vying for the championship crown instead of the usual four.

When all was said and done the Maroon Knights of Wheeling Central head coach Buck Davidson brought home the big prize following a title-clinching 12-2 victory versus top-seeded Wahama, which finished state runner-up for a second consecutive spring.

From the start of the regular season through their 4-0 march to the school’s first state championship since 2018, the fourth-seeded Maroon Knights had plenty of firepower in their lineup and that included sophomore outfielder and cleanup hitter Chloe Groome, who was named captain of the Class A All-State team selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Groome, who went 2 for 3 in the title game with a double and a three-run homer, walked 19 times and had 43 hits while finishing with a .538 batting average. She added nine doubles, three round-trippers and produced 21 runs-batted-in.

Familiar names dotted the All-State first team, but only Tug Valley senior Bailee Hall ended her career as a four-time honoree on the top unit.

Hall, who was selected at pitcher and had 11 wins with 120 strikeouts and a 1.56 earned run average in 80 2-3 innings, also delivered at the dish. Along with stealing 34 bases and driving in 27, Hall batted .634 with 22 doubles, two triples and 13 home runs.

Greenbrier West, which qualified as the No. 7 seed, was represented for the third time in four seasons on the first team by Brilee Redden. The senior infielder swiped two dozen bases, had 37 RBIs and sported a .558 average with 13 doubles, five triples and six home runs.

Redden’s senior teammate, Brooklyn Adkins, was chosen as one of the first team catchers after hitting .468 with four doubles, three triples, two bombs, 35 RBIs and 21 steals. Lexie Lowe, a junior for No. 2 seed Sherman, was selected as the other catcher after posting a .471 average that included 38 RBIs on the strength of 18 two-baggers, a pair of triples and three homers.

Lowe was one of the four repeat honorees on the first team. She was joined by Wahama junior outfielder Audrey Reynolds, Madonna junior infielder Madi Owens and Magnolia senior infielder Jessa Anderson.

Reynolds was the big bat in the White Falcons’ lineup. Along with swiping 33 bases, driving in 37 and posting a quartet of assists, she finished with a .495 average, 14 doubles, two triples and as many homers.

Owens was more than a tough out evidenced by her .605 batting average that helped produce 55 RBIs. Along with 17 steals, Owens had 11 doubles, tripled five times and launched 15 taters. The Blue Eagle Anderson finished with 29 steals, 12 doubles, a triple and two homers en route to a .487 average.

Gilmer County, which started the campaign 27-0 before being upset by Man in the regional, was represented on the first team by junior outfielder Kaelyn Mullins and sophomore utility Kenley Harsthorn, who won 17 games with a 1.22 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 109 frames. The Titan also drove in 37 and batted .529 to go with 11 doubles and four triples. Mullins, who like Reynolds didn’t commit an error all season, knocked in 37, stole 21 bases and hit .484 with a homer, six triples and 11 doubles.

Joining Hall as the first team pitchers were Ritchie County junior Rocklyn Marcum and Montcalm freshman Adasyn Havens, who was a 12-game winner that carried a 2.90 ERA to go with 302 strikeouts in 145 innings. Marcum was a 15-game winner and finished with a 0.95 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 147 2-3 innings. The Rebel also stole 64 bases while being caught just once. She had a .582 average with 10 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 24 RBIs.

No. 8 seed East Hardy was represented on the first team by senior infielder Madison Strosnider. The Cougar concluded her career by batting .526 with 11 doubles, four triples, a homer, five stolen bases and 22 RBIs.

Also earning nods on the first team were Tug Valley sophomore infielder Katie Hall and Trinity Christian’s Paige Hopkins. The Warrior, who was selected as a utility, carried a .612 average, stole eight bases and had 12 doubles, six triples and 14 RBIs. Hall drove in 40, swiped 15 bags and hit .421 with 14 doubles, three triples and six round-trippers

Wahama sophomore Gracie Banks, who went 13-7 with a 3.07 ERA and had 105 strikeouts in 123 innings, was honored as captain of the second team.

Joining the White Falcon at pitcher on the second unit were Mount View senior Phoebe Dudgeon and Cameron junior Lexie Bogard.

St. Marys senior Brylee McGrady and Trinity Christian junior Josalyn Phillips were the catchers while the infield featured Wheeling Central senior Maddie Miehle, Ritchie County junior Chelsie Jeffrey as well as a trio of freshmen in Wahama teammates Raylee Zirkle and Eve Smith along with Sherman’s Ellie Jeffrey.

The two outfield nods went to Wheeling Central sophomore Morgan Miehle and Sherman junior Makayla Harless.

Gilmer County sophomore Emeri Hickman, senior Titan teammate Paige Montgomery and Madonna sophomore Peyton Conley were the utilities.

Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the player’s name, school, licensed WVSWA logo and year of the honoree are available to all-state first team, second team and honorable mentions, and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.com or Bearwoodcompany.com.

CLASS A

First team

P – Adasyn Havens, Montcalm, Fr.

P – Bailee Hall, Tug Valley, Sr.

P – Rocklyn Marcum, Ritchie County, Jr.

C – Brooklyn Adkins, Greenbrier West, Sr.

C – Lexie Lowe, Sherman, Jr.

Inf – Brilee Redden, Greenbrier West, Sr.

Inf – Madi Owens, Madonna, Jr.

Inf – Madison Strosnider, East Hardy, Sr.

Inf – Katie Hall, Tug Valley, Soph.

Inf – Jessa Anderson, Magnolia, Sr.

Out – Audrey Reynolds, Wahama, Jr.

Out – Chloe Groome, Wheeling Central, Soph. (Capt.)

Out – Kaelyn Mullins, Gilmer County, Jr.

Util – Kenley Hartshorn, Gilmer County, Soph.

Util- Paige Hopkins, Trinity Christian, Jr.

Second team

P – Phoebe Dudgeon, Mount View, Sr.

P – Lexi Bogard, Cameron, Jr.

P – Gracie Banks, Wahama, Soph. (Capt.)

C – Brylee McGrady, St. Mary’s, Sr.

C – Josalyn Phillips, Trinity Christian, Jr.

Inf – Maddie Miehle, Wheeling Central, Sr.

Inf – Chelsie Jeffrey, Ritchie County, Jr.

Inf – Raylee Zirkle, Wahama, Fr.

Inf – Eve Smith, Wahama, Fr.

Inf – Ellie Jeffrey Sherman, Fr.

Out – Morgan Miehle Wheeling Central, Soph.

Out – Makayla Harless, Sherman, Jr.

Util – Peyton Conley, Madonna, Soph.

Util – Emeri Hickman, Gilmer County, Soph.

Util- Paige Montgomery, Gilmer County, Sr.

Honorable mention

Leah Adkins, Greater Beckley; Malayah Barnes, Mount View; Kennedy Dallison, Valley; Paige Harker, Clay-Battelle; Edie Hartley Cameron; Peyton Hicks, Tucker County; Carlee Holley, Hannan; Mia Johnson, Man; Olivia Kiaski, Wheeling Central; Emma Lackey, Tug Valley; Michaela Miller, Valley Wetzel; Peyton Moore, Trinity Christian; Autumn Mossor, St. Marys; Erica Mullins, Man; Katherine Oxley, St. Joe’s; Jessica Parker, Pendleton County; Bella Rine, Wheeling Central; Kalynn Salmons, Tolsia; Ava Satterfield, Ritchie County; Emily Smith, Tygarts Valley; Alexis Stoddard, Gilmer County Fiona VanMatre, Wahama; Susan Vincell, Pendleton County Jenna Williams, Richwood; Kailyn Williams, Richwood; Alyssa Winland, St. Marys; Kailen Yokum, Tygarts Valley.