Someone looking up at the crowds that filled the Virginia Tech softball field stands on Friday afternoon or at Radford University on Saturday morning could easily be forgiven for thinking that the Mathews Lady Devils were playing on their home turf … and not on some softball field five-plus hours away. The blue and gold faithful certainly packed the stadium.

The Mathews fans were out in full force on both days as the Lady Devils survived a nine-inning pitchers’ duel against Patrick Henry on Friday and brought home the state trophy on Saturday with a 4-1 win over the Holston Cavaliers.

Yes, there were plenty of parents in attendance. But there were also aunts and uncles, classmates and former coaches, neighbors and friends, grandparents and others who made the long trek across the state just to watch their girls win the state title.

Those who couldn’t make it to the game followed the team’s exploits online, as one of the parents live-streamed the games on Fac...