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Washington Baseball

Warriors are State bound

Washington baseball team on title defense

John Denny Montgomery
Posted 5/15/25

The Washington baseball team defeated Valliant twice in the Super Regional tournament to advance to the State tournament.

It’s the fourth-straight State berth for the three-time defending …

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Washington Baseball

Warriors are State bound

Washington baseball team on title defense

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The Washington baseball team defeated Valliant twice in the Super Regional tournament to advance to the State tournament.

It’s the fourth-straight State berth for the three-time defending State champions.

Head coach Brad Lucas said his team is playing at a high level as they enter the final stretch of the season.

“We’re playing some really good ball right now,” he said. “They’re playing hard, they’re enthusiastic and they bring the energy every day.”

Washington took care of business in the first game and cruised to a 9-4 victory.

Washington scored six runs in the first inning after allowing two to Valliant.

They spread out three more runs the rest of the game and Valliant could only score two more in the fifth inning.

Jackson Rico doubled in the first inning to knock in Liam Keltner to get Washington on the board.

Rico finished the game 2-4 and Keltner was 1-3 with a walk.

Jack Brady doubled later in the evening, driving in two runs. He was 1-3 at the plate.

As a team the Warriors had seven hits.

Owen Andrews got the start on the mound and struck out four batters in six innings of work.

Keltner came on in relief and finished the final inning.

“All year I’ve said we can really pitch it and defend it,” Lucas said. “We did that again and we swung the bats pretty well too.”

The second Valliant game, a 7-2 win, didn’t come quite as easily.

Washington score a run in the first inning but Valliant tied it in the second.

After the Bulldogs scored another run in the fourth inning, Washington trailed 2-0.

A 30-minute lightening delay after the fifth inning changed the trajectory of the game.

“We exploded in the sixth inning after the delay,” Lucas said. “Their pitcher was dominant up to then. During the delay we refocused and reset and went out and ran his pitch count up.”

Washington score five runs in the inning to take the lead for good.

They added one more run in the seventh inning.

Spencer Barton started the game on the mound and struck out six batters in five innings.

Keltner was the reliever again and closed the final two innings. He was also 2-4 at the plate with two doubles.

LD Vinzant was 1-2 with two RBIs.

State

Washington will play Lone Grove (31-6) in the first round of State at 4 p.m. today (Thursday) at Noble High School.

Lucas said Lone Grove does a lot of things well and will put pressure on his defense.

“They do it by bunting and running and they swing the bats well,” he said. “We have to be ready to stop some of that.”

Lucas is happy with where his team is.

“It’s a fun group and they like to compete,” Lucas said. “This week will be fun.”

Washington is 24-10.

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