The Washington fast-pitch softball team is primed to make a run at a State title this season.

Last season, the Warriors went 39-4 and came up one game short of the gold ball, losing to Lone Grove in the State finals.

They have a number of veterans returning with tons of experience, to go along with an athletic underclassmen group to try to finish the job this season.

Among those returning are Kelby Beller, Ava Salcedo, Presley Lucas, Julie Hoehner, Daphne Palumbo, Emersyn Massey, Raelee Adkins and Kinzlee Pogue.

Head coach Tylor Lampkin, in his fifth year as skipper at Washington, says his team’s defense will be a strong point this season.

“The defense has been really solid during our scrimmage week,” he said. “Our athleticism helps a lot with that.”

Lampkin said he and his coaching staff are still tinkering with the line up, but several of his upperclassmen figure to play key roles in the field.

“Palumbo, Pogue and Adkins in some form or another will be out there on the dirt,” he said. “If Julie isn’t catching she will be at first base, or even third.”

The outfield will be anchored by Salcedo at center field. Massey has been playing left field and Beller has been holding down right.

Sophomore Ally Dennis will also rotate in when she’s not pitching.

Pitching duties will be by committee, but will fall heavily on some underclassmen.

Dennis and freshman Payton Blackburn have been handling a lot of the innings so far.

Sophomore Abby Byrd has also been active in the rotation.

Salcedo will also pitch but Lampkin said he prefers her in the outfield.

“Ava has pitched quite a bit but I feel like we’re better with her in center field,” he said. “She’s an elite outfielder.”

Lampkin said some of the other bright spots he’s seen so far in the season are the play of junior Isabella Castillo and freshman Hadley Beard and Bentli Brantley.

Lampkin is excited about the skill level of the younger part of his team and said they will travel to some junior varsity tournaments this fall.

“They’re a super talented group and we don’t want them to sit around idle,” he said. “So we’ll get them into some games and let them play.”

Lampkin said his starting lineup will evolve as the season plays out.

“We’ll figure out who is going to hit, and if they can hit it and put the ball into play we’ll find a spot for them,” he said.

The Warriors graduated seven seniors off the team from a year ago.

They were Olivia Palumbo, Shelbie Caveness, Taylon Elliott, Mikala West, Ava Grimes, Addy Larman and Breanna Lindert.

Right now the focus on this year’s team is to continue their good defensive play and to allow fewer free bases to batters.

“I told them we don’t expect you to strike out five batters a game, just don’t give up walks,” Lampkin said. “I’m really excited about this bunch. We know there will be a few growing pains with the youth that we have, but we have a good core of older leadership on the team – which will help a lot.”

The Warriors will host Little Axe tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. and Jones tomorrow at 5 p.m.