On an overcast and sometimes drizzly day at Bulldog Field on the campus of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, the Marshall High School softball team faced off against the Tigers from Paris High School for a Regional Championship in Class 2A on Friday, May 22nd. Marshall advanced to the championship game by defeating host St. Anthony in the semifinals, while Paris advanced by defeating Effingham in their semifinal contest.
Marshall had already accomplished some notable milestones this season: achieving the fifth 20-win season in school history (and 4th straight), the most wins during a season in school history, a Little Illini Conference championship for just the second time in school history, allowing the fewest runs ever in a season, striking out the most batters in a season - the list goes on and on. The one achievement this team wanted more than any other was to win a fourth consecutive regional championship to give this year's senior class, which has been part of the most wins in a 4-year span in Marshall High School history, a regional championship during every year of their high school softball careers.
Standing in their way of this milestone were the Paris Lady Tigers, who experienced an up and down season in 2026, at one time holding a record of 11-4 with a win over Mount Carmel along the way, but they ended the regular season losing 10 of their last 12, beginning with a deflating 10-0 loss at Marshall. In the last 10 meetings between these two schools in softball, Marshall is 9-1 (winning the last 9 straight, including the game earlier this season where Marshall’s Kyla Gustafson recorded every out in the game via a strikeout of every Paris batter who made an out). The rematch, however, was for the much higher stakes of crowning a regional champion.
For the title game, Marshall sent junior pitcher Kyla Gustafson into the circle, while Paris countered Leah Sanders. In the top of the first inning, Paris wanted to play small ball with their leadoff hitter bunting, but Marshall's third baseman Lauren English was on the spot by charging in, grabbing the ball, and throwing to first for the out. The small ball strategy was out the window for the Lady Tigers the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the first, Marshall’s McKenzie Davis ripped a base hit to left field. After Klaire York walked and was replaced on the base path by Olivia Strohm, Avery Cornwell stepped in and laced a single to center field to score Davis with the Lions first run of the game. Up to the plate next was Ella Mattas, who looped a single to center field, bringing home Strohm to make the score 2-0 after one inning of play.
There was no scoring thereafter until the home half of the fourth, when Marshall's Lynn Welborn smashed a home run over the fence in left center field to put the Lions ahead 3-0. The homer was Welborn's 30th of her career as she joined Cheyenne Thompson and Haley McGuire in the 30-HR club at Marshall High School.
Paris squeaked across a run in the top of the fifth on a two-out blooper which was almost caught on an amazing diving play by Marshall's Caitlyn Hilliard that would have ended the inning. The Lions shut down any further scoring threat when Kyla Gustafson struck out the next batter to end the inning with Marshall leading 3-1.
It took the Lions little time to get that run back in the bottom of the 5th when Avery Cornwell, who has been on fire at the plate in the tournament, laced a shot to the fence in center field for a leadoff double. She later came in to score on a single by Kyla Gustafson to make the score 4-1.
In the bottom of the 6th, Lauren English bunted her way on base with a single, then she stole second base, her third stolen base of the game. McKenzie Davis then launched a drive high and deep over the fence in left center field for a 2-run home run that put Marshall up 6-1 as the Big Red faithful began celebrating.
In the top of the 7th, Paris strung a couple hits around a walk to score a run, but Marshall's Kyla Gustafson struck out the final two batters to close the door and give the Lions the championship by defeating Paris 6-2.
Kyla Gustafson struck out 13 Paris batters in the game, making it a total of 28 strikeouts in two outings this season against the Tigers. At the dish, McKenzie Davis went 4 for 4 (3 singles and a huge home run), scored 2 runs while driving in 2 others to lead the Lions. Lauren English (3 stolen bases, run scored) had 3 hits, while Avery Cornwell (single, double, run scored, RBI) had 2 hits. Lynn Welborn (HR), Klaire York, Ella Mattas (RBI), and Kyla Gustafson (RBI) each had one hit.
After the game, Marshall head coach Ryan McGuire said, “I could not be more proud of these girls. They’ve battled all season with this title on their minds. To win their fourth straight regional championship, it is an amazing accomplishment, especially since these four championships are the only ones in school history in softball. It’s hard to win a regional in 2A, with powerhouses like Teutopolis, St. Joe-Ogden, Westville, and now Effingham dropping down from 3A with a head coach who has over 500 wins under his belt. I have been blessed with so many good, fundamentally sound softball players who grew up in the Marshall youth softball program. I know Kenny Grooms is smiling down from Heaven, calling the girls by the same nicknames he created.
“Conference championship, regional championship, the most wins in school history ‘ I don’t believe this team is satisfied yet with what they’ve accomplished so far. They’ve got bigger goals, and it all starts next Tuesday in Monticello.”
With the regional title safely in hand, Marshall's record now stands at 25-3 as they advance to the Monticello Sectional of the IHSA Class 2A state tournament, where they will play Bloomington Central Catholic on Tuesday, May 26th at 5:00 PM. The game will be played on the turf at Monticello High School.
Lynn Welborn smashes this pitch over the fence against Paris for her 30th career homer
McKenzie Davis hit her second huge home run in as many games for Marshall in the regional tournament
Avery Cornwell has had a fantastic tournament, hitting 667 as Marshall won its fourth straight regional championship
Marshall celebrates McKenzie Davis' home run against Paris at home plate
Marshall's softball team and coaches celebrate with all four regional championship plaques
