Article and photos by T Ray Henry
When the 2026 Marshall High School softball team was preparing for the upcoming season, the team would get together and establish team goals. This year’s goals were no different than the goals from the previous three seasons: win 20 games, win a Little Illini Conference, win a regional, and compete for a sectional championship. In the three prior seasons, Marshall won at least 20 games each year and won a regional championship. The conference championship and competing in the sectional round eluded the Lions each time.
This year, the Lady Lions checked off all four boxes. They won 25 games. They won the Little Illini Conference championship. They won the regional championship, and they competed in the sectional round and had chances to advance further than any team in school history. Unfortunately, the squad came up on the short end of a 4-3 score to Bloomington Central Catholic in the sectional semifinal round played at Monticello High School.
The Lions battled back throughout the game after spotting the Saints two runs in the first inning via a walk, a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt, a passed ball, and a steal of home plate. The Lions cut the lead in half in the top of the third when Lynn Welborn ripped a triple to the fence in left field and came home to score on a bunt single by Lauren English to make it 2-1. Bloomington Central Catholic answered with a run in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead.
In the top half of the fifth inning, with Lynn Welborn standing on second base with two outs, McKenzie Davis launched a 2-2 pitch high and deep over the fence in left field for a 2-run home run to tie the score at 3 as Marshall fans in attendance roared.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bloomington Central Catholic pushed across a run on a squeeze bunt play to take a 4-3 advantage. Marshall kept the pressure on the Saints, but the Lions left runners stranded on base in both the sixth and seventh innings as they could not get the timely hit to bring across any more runs. When the final out was recorded, Bloomington Central Catholic advanced to the sectional championship with a 4-3 win as the sun set on Marshall’s magical season.
McKenzie Davis (HR, single, 2 RBI) and Lauren English (2 singles, RBI, stolen base) led Marshall with 2 hits apiece. Lynn Welborn (triple, stolen base, 2 runs scored), Klaire York, Avery Cornwell (double), and Lilly Nickles each had one hit.
Kyla Gustafson pitched six innings, giving up 4 runs (2 earned), 3 hits, and 4 walks. Gustafson struck out 11 along the way. Marshall outhit Bloomington Central Catholic 8-3, but the Saints’ 7 stolen bases and speed & aggressiveness on the base paths proved to be the difference in the game.
After the game, Marshall head coach Ryan McGuire said, “We battled and battled all game long after giving them two runs in the first. Their speed did not surprise us; we just didn’t execute like we normally do. When the margin of victory and defeat comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes, we got bit today, and with a win or go home tournament, the final result just didn’t go our way.
“I am so very proud of this team for what they were able to accomplish this year. Most wins in school history, a conference championship, a regional championship – I just wanted them to go further because they are so much fun to watch and coach. McKenzie Davis kept us in the tournament with three home runs in as many games. With her, Lauren English, Kyla Gustafson, Klaire York, Lilly Nickles, Olivia Strohm – all of whom started for us this year, we have a solid nucleus next year. We hope to get Karsyn Johnson back, and we hope to have Catie Nave, Abby Engerski, and Raegan Kent back as well to contribute. We also hope to have some players come out and play to keep this program as successful as it has been.
“Our senior class (Avery Cornwell, Caitlyn Hilliard, Ella Mattas, Katelyn McNeely, and Lynn Welborn) will have a special place in this softball program. They finish their careers with the most wins in a four-year span in Marshall history (92 wins, outdistancing the previous record of 81 set by last year’s senior class).
“Our pitching staff struck out an amazing 300 batters during the campaign (for a 10 1/3 strikeouts per game average), and the 65 total runs scored against us is also record by over 70 runs. There are so many more individual and team records to mention, so one loss at the end of the year does not diminish what this special group was able to accomplish during the season. This team raised the bar for Marshall softball.“
Marshall finishes their amazing season with a record of 25-4.
Lynn Welborn, who scored two runs for Marshall, races around second base on a triple against BCC
McKenzie Davis had two hits including a huge 2-run home run to tie the game against BCC
Avery Cornwell knocks a blast to the fence on the fly for a double against BCC in the sectional semifinal
Lauren English had two hits, a stolen base, and an RBI in the sectional semifinal game against BCC
