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The Sioux Falls Washington softball team has let the loss to Sioux Falls Jefferson in the 2025 Class AA state championship game fuel their 2026 season, and the Warriors are off to a 6-0 start.
Instead of putting that defeat behind them, the Warriors leaned fully into it. They put in the work to build off their 18-3 season from a year ago, and the girls and head coach Kim Bazata all feel the improvement is noticeable.
"We're seeing the ball better than we have the past couple years," Bazata said. "We're producing runs and we're just having quality at bats. We're taking pitchers three, four, five, six pitches into the count and wearing them out."
That offense was on full display at the Spring Scramble on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. The Warriors beat Northern Cass (ND) 12-0, Eden Prairie (MN) 13-3 and St. Louis Park (MN) 20-6.
Maddy Mescher led the Warriors all weekend, going 7-for-10 with two home runs, two doubles and 11 RBIs at the plate while getting the win in the circle against Eden Prairie by allowing six hits and three runs while striking out eight.
"I was just trying to time up the pitches on deck, really just read them," Mescher said.
It may not have been the star junior's best performance in the circle, but she had to battle high-30s to low-40s temperatures and whipping winds.
"Cold day, but it's all mental," Mescher said. "Just stay positive, know that I can do it and have confidence."
Senior Emily Akkerman also picked up a pair of wins on the weekend, striking out 21 batters in nine innings against Northern Cass and St. Louis Park.
Pitching has been the calling card for Washington these last few years, and that has been there this season as well. Both Mescher and Akkerman have been dominant again in 2026, but they've gotten plenty of help this season.
"Maddy's great and she thrives under pressure, but it's nice when she doesn't have to be under constant pressure," Bazata said. "It's nice to take some of that pressure off and say we can play back and get an out and not worry about the runner at third."
Washington, like Jefferson, now has a target on its back after a trip to the Class AA state championship game. Bazata feels her girls have responded to the pressure well by remembering why they play the game.
"That's the point of this game is that we're having fun," Bazata said. "We're just focusing on the things that we can do and we try to get better every day."
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Washington softball continues dominant run to start 2026 campaign
Continue reading...
Instead of putting that defeat behind them, the Warriors leaned fully into it. They put in the work to build off their 18-3 season from a year ago, and the girls and head coach Kim Bazata all feel the improvement is noticeable.
"We're seeing the ball better than we have the past couple years," Bazata said. "We're producing runs and we're just having quality at bats. We're taking pitchers three, four, five, six pitches into the count and wearing them out."
That offense was on full display at the Spring Scramble on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. The Warriors beat Northern Cass (ND) 12-0, Eden Prairie (MN) 13-3 and St. Louis Park (MN) 20-6.
Maddy Mescher led the Warriors all weekend, going 7-for-10 with two home runs, two doubles and 11 RBIs at the plate while getting the win in the circle against Eden Prairie by allowing six hits and three runs while striking out eight.
"I was just trying to time up the pitches on deck, really just read them," Mescher said.
It may not have been the star junior's best performance in the circle, but she had to battle high-30s to low-40s temperatures and whipping winds.
"Cold day, but it's all mental," Mescher said. "Just stay positive, know that I can do it and have confidence."
Senior Emily Akkerman also picked up a pair of wins on the weekend, striking out 21 batters in nine innings against Northern Cass and St. Louis Park.
Pitching has been the calling card for Washington these last few years, and that has been there this season as well. Both Mescher and Akkerman have been dominant again in 2026, but they've gotten plenty of help this season.
"Maddy's great and she thrives under pressure, but it's nice when she doesn't have to be under constant pressure," Bazata said. "It's nice to take some of that pressure off and say we can play back and get an out and not worry about the runner at third."
Washington, like Jefferson, now has a target on its back after a trip to the Class AA state championship game. Bazata feels her girls have responded to the pressure well by remembering why they play the game.
"That's the point of this game is that we're having fun," Bazata said. "We're just focusing on the things that we can do and we try to get better every day."
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Washington softball continues dominant run to start 2026 campaign
Continue reading...
