MORGANTOWN—Two teams will enter the week hopeful of qualifying for the 2025 WVSSAC state softball tournament next week at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
The Morgantown and University High softball teams advanced to this week’s Class AAAA, Region I championship series, where they will battle for the right to represent the region in the state tournament.
The clubs split the season series. MHS won the first game 6-3, and the Hawks won game two 8-5.
UHS enters the best-of-three title series 21-5-1 with only one loss since April 22. The Mohigans hold a 21-8 record, winners of 11 out of their last 12 contests.
“Our goal is to go out and play the game we have played most of this season,” UHS coach Mindy Parks said. “These players know each other so well that nothing really comes as a surprise between the two teams. We’ve been focusing on our approach to the plate and how to handle different situations to execute successfully.”
UHS is outsourcing its opponents 219-59 this season and boasts a solid lineup in all game phases. Parks says a one-two punch in the pitching circle of Maddie Campbell and Sophia Lehosit helped her team to the title last season and could be a factor once again.
“Sophia had some time dealing with an injury but has worked her way back into an impactful role,” Parks said. “That helps tremendously when she’s playing and feeling well and makes our team much stronger when we have two healthy pitchers like last year.”
Olivia Masoner leads UHS with a .539 batting average, while Campbell, Lehosit, and Liz Elza all hold averages over .400. Masoner and Campbell have combined for 82 hits and 61 RBI.
They’ll have the challenge of hitting against MHS standout pitcher Maddie Wisman, who is 14-4 this campaign with a 1.74 ERA in 125 innings in the circle and 147 strikeouts.
“Even going back to her freshman season, she has always had the work ethic needed to be successful,” MHS coach Lorri Lipscomb said. “If she’s not at our practice, she’s practicing somewhere else on her own. She just has that mindset, and she hardly ever gets rattled. She has a next-play mentality answer, and on top of all that is a great teammate who is always behind her girls.”
At the plate for MHS, Liz Alsop leads the way with 34 hits and 25 RBI, including seven home runs. The Mohigans have hit 18 total homers this season.
“That’s been very effective for us this season,” Lipscomb said of her team’s power at the plate. “It allows everyone to relax a little bit on offense and get in a better mindset at the plate. We can be more aggressive when we hit rather than trying to guard the plate, so to speak.”
The defending state champion Hawks will host Game 1 on Monday at 4:00 p.m. on Lynch Field. Game 2 will follow at 5:00 p.m. across the complex at Mylan Park from ISS Field. If necessary, Game 3 will return to Lynch Field on Wednesday evening.
