WINFIELD — Herbert Hoover and Winfield have combined to win the last seven Class AA softball state championships, and 2025 could be no different.
The host Generals topped the Huskies 2-1 on Friday in the teams’ first meeting this season.
Ava Cole’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth scored Kenlie Zigmond to break a 1-1 tie and deliver Winfield its fifth victory in as many games in a matchup of two of Class AAA’s top teams, as well as the top contenders in the Cardinal Conference.
The game-winner came off Hoover freshman pitcher Kaylyn Harper, who took the defeat despite pitching a complete game and allowing just two earned runs on five hits and three walks.
Herbert Hoover shortstop Sadie Wehrle (11) tags out Winfield pinch runner Natalie Cook after she was forced to run from second base on a hit by Rylee McClellan to Wehrle during their softball game played at Winfield Friday, March 28, 2025.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Winfield pitcher Mattie Carroll (center) fields a bunt by Hoover’s Emma Hanson as Winfield third baseman Ava Robinson (left) and catcher Rylee McClellan (right) converge during a high school softball game Friday, March 28, 2025, at Winfield.
- CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Harper’s performance was just about good enough to match Winfield’s Mattie Carroll, but not quite good enough. Carroll went seven innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven and surrendering one earned run.
Huskies coach Missy Smith, who guided Hoover to the 2022 state championship, was impressed by her pitcher.
“She’s a freshman,†Smith said. “This was her first complete game. We had been sort of rotating her and Hannah [Shamblin]. We have been rotating their starts, and then about three or four innings switching them through.â€
“She threw a really good game, and I didn’t want to pull her. I wanted her to finish it, and she pitched a really good game for us.â€
Smith said she had full confidence Harper would rise to the challenge of facing Carroll, who powered the Generals to a second consecutive title last year.
Carroll earned her fourth victory for Winfield (5-0) and was perfect through five innings. She already has one perfect game this season, and the Generals appeared to have gotten all the run support they would need in the third inning.
Rylee McClellan’s RBI single scored Ava Robinson from second base to put the Generals in command, 1-0.
Carroll’s streak of 16 straight batters retired to start the game came to an end in the top of the sixth when Hoover’s Liz Turner reached on an infield single. The speedster took second on a ground ball to first by Jayley Carper.
Turner then scored on Sadie Wehrle’s line drive that glanced off Cole’s glove at second and went into center field. But Wehrle was forced out at second on the next play to end Hoover’s at-bat.
In the bottom of the inning, Zigmond led off with the only extra base hit of the game — a double off the fence in left-center. Cole then answered with the go-ahead knock with two outs to put Winfield ahead.
Carroll retired the Huskies (4-2) in order in the seventh to end it.
“Her ball moves so well, she’s got really good stuff,†Winfield coach Steve Hensley said of Carroll. “We weren’t able to give her much support tonight, but we were able to get the job done. I thought we had pretty good at-bats for the most part, so give credit to our girls.
“I thought we just played consistent, you know, we stayed in the game. Our girls have been in some big games, so I think that helps them. The experience helps.â€
The two teams are scheduled to stage a rematch in Elkview on April 22.
HERBERT HOOVER 000 001 0 — 1 2 0
WINFIELD 001 001 x — 2 5 0
Harper and Turner; Carroll and McClellan.
Hitting: (H) Wehrle 1-3, RBI; Turner 1-2. (W) McClellan 1-3, RBI; A.Cole 1-3, RBI; Zigmond 1-3, 2B.
