The Washington fast-pitch softball team was defeated by Lone Grove in the finals of the State softball tournament, 13-2.

The Warriors defeated Adair (14-2) and Perry (7-0) in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Adair

Washington opened State with Adair on Thursday.

The Warriors got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Adair scored one run in the second inning and one in the third inning but by that time the Warriors had all the runs (5) they needed to win the game.

Washington scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth and six style points in the sixth inning.

Emersyn Massey was red-hot at the plate, going 4-4 with two RBIs. She also walked and scored three times.

Kinzlee Pogue had three ribbies in a 1-3 day.

Olivia Palumbo was 2-3 with an RBI.

Defensively, Palumbo got the start in the circle and struck out four batters in six innings of work.

“We played really, really well,” head coach Tylor Lampkin said. “Our coaching staff put together a good game plan for all three games and the girls did an amazing job making adjustments and they did some good things with it.”

Perry

Washington defeated Perry in the semi-final game on Friday, 7-0.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning when Washington put one on the board after a single by Massey.

She was 3-3 in the game with a walk. She had an RBI and scored twice.

Massey was 7-9 in the tournament at the plate.

“She had a huge tournament,” Lampkin said. “She is a true character kid who worked her tail off to get back for the playoffs after a knee injury.”

Julie Hoehner’s homer in the fourth gave the Warriors another run and Washington broke the game open in the fifth inning when they scored three more.

Those runs came off the bat of Ava Salcedo when she homered, knocking in all three runs.

Washington scored runs in the sixth and seventh innings as well. The run in the sixth came courtesy of Pogue’s home run.

In the circle, Palumbo only allowed two hits while striking out three.

“Olivia pitched unbelievable in the first two games,” Lampkin said. “She was just in a different state all season and she stepped up in a leadership role and demanded a lot out of our girls to do the things they needed to do.”

Lone Grove

Lone Grove sophomore pitcher Braylee Spence struck out 12 Warrior batters in the finals while only giving up two hits.

“She’s one of the best pitchers in the state,” Lampkin confirmed.

Sophomore Raelee Adkins’ two-run homer in the second inning opened the scoring for the game.

All four starting sophomores hit home runs in the tournament.

“I was really proud of our young kids,” Lampkin said. “I’m proud of those kids for stepping up in big moments.”

Palumbo got the only other hit for Washington in the game, a triple in the top of the third inning.

Washington’s five errors were also critical in the loss.

“I told them the only way we’d lose was if we beat ourselves,” Lampkin said. “When you’re playing a team of that caliber you can’t do that.”

The Warriors, who finished the season 39-4, graduate seven seniors off the team.

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

“I appreciate everything these seniors have given the program to continue to build it,” Lampkin said. “I appreciate their efforts.”