Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and Greenbrier Christian primed for softball state championship repeats
After playing each other for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II softball state championship in 2019, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and Greenbrier Christian Academy played in separate classifications a year ago. Both won state titles.
This week they will go for the double, with NSA in search of a third consecutive VISAA Division II crown, while GCA seeks to defend its D-III title. Their quests begin Tuesday as No. 1 NSA (21-2) hosts No. 8 Roanoke Catholic at 4:30 p.m., and No. 2 GCA (17-8) hosts No. 7 Portsmouth Christian at 5.
NSA, No. 1 in the 757Teamz rankings, enters the Division II state tournament as a huge favorite, thanks in large part to All-Tidewater Player of the Year Madison Inscoe. The Auburn-bound senior led the Saints to a 3-0 win over GCA in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools championship game Sunday.
Her two-run home run and nine strikeouts in the victory capped a big week during a big season in which she again has established herself as the area’s top player. Inscoe pitched all 11 innings last week in a 4-1 win over No. 3 Hickory, striking out 18.
Inscoe has 210 strikeouts in 104 innings, pitching primarily against the Saints’ toughest opponents while playing shortstop otherwise. She is batting better than .410 with six home runs and 25 RBIs.
“Madison is genuinely one of those players who’s gotten better and better each year, and to see the strides she’s made as a pitcher from last year to this year is incredible,” NSA coach Brittany Thornburg said. “She has such command and knows exactly what she wants to throw, depending on the count.
“She’s also been a force at the plate.”
She has been far from alone. Leadoff batter Rylea Nelms (.400 batting average, 28 runs, 19 RBIs), No. 2 hitter Kayla Kosiorek (.460, 28 runs) and George Mason University-bound cleanup batter Maya McGowan (.514, seven home runs, 33 RBIs) give the Saints a first four in the order as good as any in Hampton Roads. McGowan’s seventh home run of the season was a three-run shot in the 11th inning that gave the Saints the memorable win over Hickory.
“She leads us in every offensive category and has come up big in so many clutch situations,” Thornburg said. “With her at cleanup, we’re fine when people pitch around Madison to get to her.”
Like NSA, Greenbrier is playing its best softball heading into the state tournament, despite dealing with personnel losses. One key player has been out the past three weeks, while leading hitter Kristina Love (.373) missed the TCIS Tournament.
“We expect to have Kristina back for the state tournament,” Gators coach Dan Moore said. “If we have all of our players back, I think we have a shot to win it.
“Brunswick Academy, the top seed, us and (third-seeded) Kenston Forest are all about the same. You could shake the three of us up in a bag and any could come out as state champion.”
Moore said Kenston Forest boasts a strong pitcher, so his ace, Linda Hodge (10-5), will have to be on. “Linda has pitched every hard game for us and done well,” he said.
Brunswick Academy depends more on its bats to win, Moore said. His top hitters — Love, Hodge (.365), Hayley Downes (.375), Abby Englar (.309) and Cayden Thomas (.268) — will have to match them should the Gators reach Friday’s championship game at the Dinwiddie Sports Complex.
“We’re going to have to play our A-game to win it,” Moore said of the Division III tournament. “Nansemond-Suffolk is the cream of the crop in (in Division II) and should win it.”
Thornburg thinks that would be a fitting ending for seniors Inscoe, McGowan and Rory Rockwood (.355, 14 runs, 13 RBIs).
“It would mean the world for them to win it, because it would mean they won a state championship every season since ninth grade,” Thornburg said. “That would be a great experience for them.”
