SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — Pitcher Rebecca Munslow, infielders Brooke Allen and Christina Franco and outfielder Chloe Cowan have helped lead a formidable group of fresh-faced freshmen as Jefferson’s softball team qualified for one of the four state tournament berths.

In eliminating Washington in the Sectional tournament’s pitcher dominated series and then stopping Hedgesville in consecutive Regional games, the Cougars took a 24-5 record to Charleston to face John Marshall in the opening round of the double elimination state event staged earlier this week.

The solid group of younger players have made winning softball music with seniors Kendall Guy, Lacie Lewis and Emilie Mason. Added to the potent mix have been juniors Shelby Harris and Taylor Presley as well as sophomore Kalee Dalton.

Jefferson has won with some exceptional defense and timely hitting as well as its game-changing pitching.

In the Regional tournament, Jefferson tamed a Hedgesville team it had twice defeated during the regular season.

Washington had taken the measure of recent Jefferson teams. In one of the three games needed to settle the Section champion, the Patriots edged Jefferson, 1-0, in 13 innings despite the complete game pitching effort of Munslow, who struck out 21 and allowed only five hits.

Munslow then blanked the Patriots, 2-0, in a six-hit, six strikeout masterpiece. Earlier in the season, Munslow authored a no-hitter against Washington.

Also qualifying for the four-school state tournament were St. Albans (24-5) and Lincoln County (23-4).

Jefferson has not visited the state tournament in a number of years, but with Lewis leading the way with a high-profile batting average Washington finally gave way here in 2022.

Lewis led the team in runs scored and RBIs as well as her soaring batting average.

Allen and Harris were both hovering above the .400 batting average mark with more than half the season played.

When Munslow came right back and pitched a shutout the next day after Jefferson suffered the 1-0 loss to Washington in 13 innings, she signaled her stamina and endurance to be able to pitch on consecutive days in the state tournament.

Runs could be at a premium in any state tournament game. That is where Jefferson’s defense should help in deciding any low-run game.