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CHARLESTON — The future looks extremely bright for the George Washington softball team with freshman standout pitcher Kynzi Bellamy leading the way.

Fortunately for GW, the present is just as bright as Bellamy led the Patriots to the state tournament with a 4-2 home win over Parkersburg South at John Adams Middle School Wednesday

GW (23-5) is the Class AAAA South Division Co-Champion and will await their seed, opponent, and time at the state tournament to be held at Little Creek Park in South Charleston May 27 – June 4.

“This is awesome,” GW coach Bub Hobbs said. “It’s been a huge feat for us, and I am so pleased and happy for these girls. We are glad to be there (state tournament) but the job is still not finished and we’re not satisfied.

“These kids wanted it so bad and this is the first time that I know of that a GW softball team has been undefeated at home.”

Bellamy struck out 12 South batters, including the side in both the first and second inning and only allowed two hits, drawing high praise from Hobbs.

“Kynzi Bellamy deserves every accolade coming her way and has earned all the respect that she deserves,” Hobbs said. “The kid is 15 years old, and she went out and did absolutely everything that you could dream of.

“She is special and is going to be special for years to come. That is what she has been bred to do. She feels no pressure. To have 12 K’s and only give up two hits in a regional championship as a freshman, we can’t write it up any better than that.”

Bellamy was pleased to be able to deliver for GW in such a big moment.

“This is such a great feeling for me and my team,” Bellamy said. “To make the states in my first year is heart filling and I’ve never felt like this before. It was a lot of pressure, but this is a game we really wanted and needed to win. I felt amazing helping them out.”

Parkersburg South opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Abbie Corbin led off by getting hit by a pitch and Shyanne Hays doubled with one out. Payton Mackey laid down a bunt and when Bellamy threw to first, Corbin scored.

South scored another run in the second inning, thanks to two GW errors. Allison Curfman reached on an error by the shortstop. Bryleigh Pickens hit one in front of the plate, but the catcher threw it away, allowing Curfman to score all the way from first.

GW was able to tie the score at two in the bottom of the third inning, but this time it was the South defense that led to both unearned runs coming around.

Bellamy led off with a walk for GW, and courtesy runner Regan Wolfinburger reached third with two outs. Nat Tomblin hit a pop up to the South second baseman, but it was dropped. After two stolen bases, an error by the shortstop scored the tying run.

GW scored two runs in the fifth inning to take the 4-2 lead. Sloan Graley led off with a single and Niah Verdula also reached on an infield single, and a South error on the play allowed runners on second and third with no outs.

Tomblin hit an RBI groundout to second base to allow the first run to score for GW. Ava Armstrong laid down a bunt and when the South third baseman threw to first, Verdula scored from third.

South (18-7) committed five errors, and GW also had four errors. South still has an opportunity to earn a spot in the state tournament when they host a winner take all game later in the week.

“We had some key errors, and that’s just the way it went,” South coach Tim Burch said. “We will finish up at home, and we will feel good there. We are more comfortable there obviously and there are no bus rides and things like that.”