There’s a running joke about track meets at the Erickson All-Sports Facility.

If the EASF is the host site, there’s a good chance Mother Nature is going to be in the mix.

Turning the clock back to Saturday afternoon at Don Godbey Fields, the Parkersburg South softball team of head man Tim Burch had to deal with some pesky rain en route to reaching the state softball tournament for the first time since 2012 when current athletics director Jennifer Null guided the Patriots to a Class AAA state runner-up finish.

The Patriots, who are in year one of Class AAAA, have put together quite the season, but they aren’t done yet.

Of course, in the game of softball it helps to have a strong pitcher inside the circle and that’s not lost on Burch.

“When you talk about Annie you just put it on repeat,” quipped Burch of right-hander Annie Shelton. “She stands in there, throws hard and has a wonderful catcher, Abbie Corbin, and she handles her well. She moves the ball really well for her when she needs it moved.

“In these conditions and it’s wet, for the catcher and the pitcher, for that battery, it’s ridiculously tough, but they fought through it. They are gamers. They are players. They are hard workers, even in practice.”

Getting the win against Buckhannon-Upshur and advancing to the state tournament on Tuesday, June 2 was always the goal.

However, it was extra special since it was the final game at Godbey Fields before the Patriots move to their new home next spring at the EASF.

“It’s an amazing senior year,” admitted Jaiden Vargas. “I love these girls, especially in this kind of situation. It’s insane. I’m glad the girls are behind me all the way.

“Godbey has always had a special place in all of our hearts forever since I’ve been here. I started on varsity my freshman year, so now ending in right field my senior year it’s eye-opening.”

The bottom line for Burch was a simple one.

“We clicked when we needed to click and I was very proud of the kids,” said the coach.

Although there’s plenty of talent on the diamond for the Patriots, having a strong left side of the infield that features a pair of seniors in shortstop Shy Hays and third baseman Payten Mackey doesn’t hurt.

“It’s awesome,” Hays admitted while the rain was still coming down. “I mean it’s such a bittersweet feeling and there’s no other team I would want to be with than this one right here.

“We’ve had ups and downs, but to come out on top today it’s just super special and it’s a feeling that we’ve needed for a while.”

Mackey added “It’s honestly just really exciting and I think the team really needed this win. It’s also pretty sweet because I mean we went to states together for volleyball and it’s awesome that for our senior year we get to go one last time together.”

As for Shelton, she’s just happy the Patriots were able to leave the field victorious and secure one of the eight spots in the state tournament.

“I’m glad we went out with a bang here for sure, but last year I’m not going to lie,” Shelton admitted. “We wanted to be there and we didn’t get the job done, so build off that. Let’s just go attack, get better and we knew that we could do it.

“We had people doubting us, but we didn’t doubt ourselves. It feels great and I love my teammates. We all work really well together and we can do this. Let’s go.”

Shelton, who fired a one-hit shutout and also homered along with teammate Annalynn Windland, is just glad to be part of the proverbial band.

“It’s awesome. I love seeing my teammates succeed,” said the sophomore. “I mean to me that means more than anything. I love to succeed myself, but being there for my teammates and like once she (Windland) hit that ball I knew right off the bat like ‘that’s gone.’

“I was so happy for her and we all pulled through. I was happy for everybody. All their success, it just feels so good, especially being a part of it with them.”

Hays and Mackey were key cogs on the Patriots’ state volleyball team for head coach Emily Tracewell, and suffice it to say they are more than stoked to be able to continue their careers together for a little bit longer.

“It’s just like volleyball our sophomore year,” Hays recalled. “Our team hadn’t gone for close to 17 years and then we went again this year for volleyball. It’s just been awesome. A good couple years for South sports in general, especially female sports.

“I feel like we’ve all kind of stepped up and are getting a little bit more recognition for that, which is a good feeling. Just super exciting and ready to see what we can do at states and hopefully make a good run there, too.”

Although the Patriots won’t be favored to bring back a state title to Wood County, that doesn’t bother Mackey.

“I feel like we were definitely kind of like the underdogs,” said the Patriot. “Nobody really expected this from us, but I mean we expected it and I just feel like we’re proving everybody wrong because we had a lot of people doubt us and think we couldn’t make it this far. I’m just so glad we were able to accomplish it.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com