The Mathews High School varsity softball team became back-to-back Region 1A East champions on Friday when it defeated the Luray Bulldogs. Madison South pitched the complete 9-0 shutout for Mathews to earn her 19th win of the season.

The Lady Devils head into the VHSL Group A state tournament on Friday afternoon at Virginia Tech. Mathews will face Patrick Henry, the 1A West runner-up at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will face the winner of the other semifinal (Holston/Luray) for the state championship game on Saturday morning at Radford University.

Mathews clinched a playoff berth with a thrilling 5-4 win last Wednesday in the regional semifinal game, beating Rappahannock with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mathews 9, Luray 0

South was masterful on the mound in Friday’s regional championship game. In seven innings, she faced 27 batters, striking out 11 while allowing only two hits.

Mathews crossed the plate four times in the third inning. Kirsten Beatley l...