Twice is nice

Washington clinched the Class 3A State fast-pitch softball championship Saturday after defeating Tishomingo 2-0.

The win seals a back-to-back championship run for the team and sends Washington’s talented senior class out with a career record of 141-31.

The seniors were State runners-up their freshman and sophomore years and champions as juniors and seniors.

Ironically, the runners-up losses were both to Tishomingo.

This year’s seniors are Skylar Wells, Abby Wood, Daisy Lampkin, Ellie Loveless, Tinley Lucas, Maggie Place and Elly Allison.

“For these seniors to get to go out on top against Tishomingo is something they’ll always remember,” said Washington head coach Tylor Lampkin.

Defense wins championships

The Warriors played dominating defense during their run to the title pitching three shutouts, including a no-hitter.

“We had one error over three games,” Lampkin said. “The defense played  really well as a whole. The outfield played great and the infield took away run after run.”

The coach also bragged on senior catcher Tinley Lucas.

“She makes 97% of the pitch calls herself and keeps the batters off balance,” he said. “And Maggie is really, really good.”

They opened the tournament with a 6-0 win over Morris.

Wood and Lucas were both 2-3. Lucas also had two RBIs.

Emersyn Massey was 2-4 with two ribbies herself.

Place had 10 strikeouts and no walks in the circle while giving up just two hits.

“We were relaxed and confident going into the tournament but a little unsure of a couple of the teams (like Morris),” Lampkin said. “They didn’t lack confidence.”

Lindsay

Washington next beat Lindsay, 9-0, in the semifinals in an electric setting.

“I wish they could have taken a picture of the crowd from the outfield because it was so big and so loud,” Lampkin said. “I might remember this game more than the championship because of the rivalry between Lindsay and Washington.”

The game wasn’t lacking for emotional or memorable plays.

With the game knotted in a scoreless tie in the fifth inning Lampkin called on daughter Daisy to pinch hit.

“She doesn’t get to play a whole lot but she’s kind of a spark plug and this was a situation that could give us some electricity,” Lampkin said. “She got a base hit and it was special for her in her role and special for me as a dad.”

Lampkin’s hit led to the first run of the game.

Washington added another run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead.

Lampkin wouldn’t be the only Warrior coach with an ear-to-ear grin in the game.

Assistant coach Brad Lucas watched his daughters Tinley and Presley both hit homers in the seventh inning to help the Warriors blow the game wide open.

“When the Lucas sisters homer in the same inning ... it was awesome,” Lampkin said.

Not to be overshadowed, Wood went 4-5 at the plate.

Washington put up seven runs in the seventh to put the game away.

They didn’t even need all the offense though with Place dealing in the circle.

She threw a nine-strikeout no hitter to make sure there would be no Leopard heroics.

Tishomingo

In the finals against the Indians Place was good for five strikeouts and allowed a mere one hit.

Tinley Lucas went yard again and finished 1-3 with an RBI.

Loveless tripled and Allison was 1-3 with an RBI.

With the Warrior defense playing the way it was two runs proved to be more than enough to hoist another State trophy.

“This season was just awesome,” Lampkin said. “It’s so hard to repeat and the two seasons were so different. Everyone thought we’d score all kinds of runs and we didn’t. We won it with our defense.”

Washington finished the year 38-3.