Wire-to-wire there was no 2A softball team as dominant as Gray Collegiate was this season.

Last week, the War Eagles displayed that dominance by capturing the state championship and reclaiming their title of state champions.

Redemption was on the line for Gray, as the War Eagles looked to claim their second state title in three years after losing in the upper state bracket last season. Gray succeeded in its quest after defeating Marion two games to none in the championship series.

The War Eagles and Swamp Foxes played in game one of the softball state championship series May 20. Gray won the contest 9-1 and finished the series at home on May 22.

“This is the most talented team I’ve ever coached,” Gray head coach Doug Frye said.

Aspen Boulware went 3-3 from the plate and hit a home run to help the War Eagles claim game one. This was just after her two home run performance in the May 17 semifinal win over Strom.

Peyton Hendrix pitched a complete game from the mound. She ended with 10 strikeouts against 29 batters faced, while allowing just one walk, one run and nine hits in seven innings.

The War Eagles returned home for game two with a chance to take the title in front of its home crowd.

Many players made contributions from the plate in the game, with no one player standing above the rest. The team earned 11 hits from seven different players to beat Marion 8-4.

Hendrix and Maddox Long were on the mound for Gray. Long got the start, pitching four innings with five strikeouts. Hendrix came in and got the win after three innings of work.

This was Gray’s final run in 2A play, and the team proved it was the best of the bunch before moving up to 4A next season.

Gray got to the title series after a commanding run through the playoffs where the team has yet to lose a game. The War Eagles have been strong all around, often winning games by double-digits thanks to a balance of well-executed offense and defense.

“The work ethic our girls put in from the start, I think everyone had the vision of going to state, and everyone had the attitude that they wanted to be here,” senior pitcher Mackenzie Mathis said. “We expected to be here.”

The War Eagles have been playing for this moment all season. The team had an unusual schedule where before the season started, they were crowned region champions by forfeit. This allowed Gray to schedule unique competition that other teams in the area don’t get to face.

In the playoffs, the War Eagles’ success continued and the skill gap between them and many of the other teams was on full display. The War Eagles made it out of the district brackets after outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 55-5. 

One would assume in the upper state the team would’ve faced a bit more of a challenge, but the War Eagles still outmatched its opponents offensively and defensively, winning all three games by 10 or more runs. 

Gray finished the season 34-2 overall, riding a two-month win streak dating back to March 20. The team was perfect at home.

“We had a tough schedule, but we came out and played well the whole year,” Frye said. “Got a good defense. We pitch well. We don’t walk many people. We’ve had a great year.”