The Washington Warriors defeated Sperry twice in the Super-Regional tournament to punch their ticket to the State fast-pitch tournament.

It marks the 14th consecutive trip for the Warriors and 27th consecutive appearance when slow pitch is included.

The streak doesn’t go unnoticed among the players and coaches.

“At times it weighed on us as a group,” head coach Tylor Lampkin said. “We know what the program is.”

The Warriors dug down deep late in the season and are on a five-game winning streak heading into the State tournament where they’ll play Keifer at 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday).

The Warriors are also playing at their highest level of the year.

“We’re playing our best softball of the season right now,” Lampkin confirmed.

Sperry

Washington defeated Sperry 3-0 and 15-3 in two games in the Super Regional.

Lampkin was pleased with his team’s performance in the tournament, especially on the defensive side.

“Olivia Palumbo was unbelievable in the circle in the first game,” Lampkin said. “She makes us really tough when she’s pitching like that and she gives us a chance to win ball games.”

Palumbo recorded seven strikeouts in seven innings of work, retiring 21 batters. She allowed three hits and walked two batters.

Behind her, the defense played a clean game with no errors to ensure the shutout.

Offensively, Emersyn Massey was 3-3 at the plate and scored a run. Emjay Lucas homered in the sixth inning to give Washington a little breathing room.

“Emjay’s homer was a big moment,” Lampkin said.

Shelbie Caveness went 1-3 with a trip and knocked in a run.

Daphne Palumbo was 2-3 with two doubles.

Game two

Washington opened things up offensively  in the second game.

They got off to a fast start with a seven-run first inning.

They scored at least two runs in each of the next three innings to steamroll Sperry.

Julie Hoehner was on fire, going 4-4 with three RBIs.

“Julie Hoehner hit it really well in that second game,” Lampkin said.

Halle Andrews was 2-3 and scored twice.

Ava Salcedo went 2-4 with an RBI and scored twice.

All together, Washington had 15 hits in the game.

“Overall we hit the ball better,” Lampkin said.

Emjay Lucas got the start in the circle and worked three innings.

Salcedo came on in relief for the final two innings and struck out two batters.

Once again, the defense was clean with no errors.

The defense got the Warriors out of a sticky situation in the first inning when Sperry loaded the bases with no outs.

“We got out without giving up a run,” Lampkin said.

State

So the Warriors find themselves back in familiar territory in the State tournament; this time at the Ballfields at FireLake in Shawnee.

“I’m hoping we’ll be relaxed and go do what we can do,” Lampkin said. “If we can put three games together we have a shot. We just have to take care of us and what we do.”

They open with senior-dominated Keifer, who is 31-5 this season.

“They have eight or nine seniors and most of them start,” Lampkin said. “They swing it really well (at the plate) and have been to the tournament before, getting beat by Tishomingo last year.”

The Warriors are now 24-12 this season.

“I’m really proud of this group of girls for answering the call and doing what we need to do,” Lampkin said. “They’ve kept fighting this whole season.”