12/06/2025
VHSL Class 1-2A Softball Quarterfinals
"Spartans and Warriors return to Salem"
VHSL 1A Softball State Semifinals
The Eastside Spartans are set to take on Buffalo Gap on Friday at 10 a.m. The Spartans earned their spot in the semifinals after an 11-1 victory over the George Wythe Maroons in the quarterfinals at UVA-Wise.
Eastside pitcher Braelyn Hall finished the game with ten strikeouts alongside another great defensive performance by the Spartans, only allowing the Maroons one run for the game.
Offensively, the Spartans were firing on all cylinders.
"We went through a bit of a hitting slump earlier in the year," Spartan's Coach Atwood said. "But right now we are just passing the bat around."
Eastside looks to make it to back-to-back state championships. The Spartans fell short to their Cumberland District rival, Rye Cove, last season, but many had the Spartans on their list to make it back to Salem.
"They expected we would be here, but it was a little rocky there for a while," Coach Atwood said. "The leaders got everyone together and just had their own practice one day and straightened some things out."
The Spartans' roster looks different this season with some key players graduating, but they still found a way to make it back to Salem.
"It feels good, definitely different missing Emily and Taylor, but our freshmen have really stepped up, and I am super proud of them and hope they have a wonderful experience," Braelyn Hall said.
VHSL Class 2A Softball State Semifinals.
It will be a battle of the "Centrals" in the 2A state semifinals, as the Wise Central Warriors will take on Central Woodstock for a spot in the state championship.
Wise Central advanced to the semifinals after an 11-1 win over Chatham on Tuesday. Central scored nine of their eleven runs in the third inning.
Before the eventful third inning, Central junior Maci Gibson smashed her first-ever varsity home run, giving the Warriors a 2-0 lead after two innings.
"It was definitely crazy, it's not something that you think is going to happen," Gibson said. "It just felt good to know that I was able to help my team."
In the third inning, the Warriors found their groove offensively. Kaelyn Dales kicked things off with a solo home run, and Adele Dingus found her way onto base with a double who would be knocked in shortly after by Sophie Fleming's RBI Double. Abigail Sturgill and Spencer Short each contributed RBI Singles in the inning as well. Sophia Carter, who struck out earlier in the inning, would bounce back with a two-run RBI triple before stealing home herself after a wild throw by Chatham. Just one inning after her first-ever home run, Maci Gibson was inches away from her second as she joined in on the action with her own RBI triple.
"I was just shocked I hit it that good again," Gibson said. "I thought it was gone for a second."
Central Coach Allison Short couldn't be happier with her team's performance.
"The girls' approach at the plate was what we wanted today," Coach Short said. "They stayed back on balls and attacked, and they did what we needed to do."
