Taytum Hargrave will try and help her Triton softball team win a third straight sectional title (File photo by Mike Deak)

It’s win or the season is over.

That’s the scenario starting Monday as the state softball tournament series commences with sectional action.

Wawasee, fresh off its first-ever conference title this past week, will get an extra day before starting postseason play. The defending sectional champion Warriors will meet either Fairfield or Tippecanoe Valley on Tuesday in a semifinal game of the Class 3-A Lakeland Sectional.

The bye is a good thing for a Wawasee team that has dealt with numerous injuries to key players this spring.

“It’s definitely in our favor,” said Wawasee coach Jared Knipper of only having to win two games instead of three to earn another sectional crown. “We know that we need to play one game at a time and that we will need to play two good games.”

Wawasee, which is 20-5, lost 3-2 at Fairfield early in the season as the Falcons took advantage of a couple of Warrior miscues to score two runs in the sixth inning. The Warriors lost back-to-back league games NorthWood (2-1) and Northridge (5-2) late in the conference season before bouncing back to beat Concord 5-4 on Wednesday to earn the league title.

“The biggest thing for us and our biggest key is to get timely hits,” Knipper said. “Our offense has been streaky at times this season. It’s been a challenge with the injuries, but having a lot of talented kids who can play multiple positions has helped us. And our kids have been willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win.”

Meghan Fretz has stepped up in the circle for Wawasee. The sophomore pitcher has been tough after pitcher Amber Lemberg was lost for the season due to a knee injury.

“The big thing for Meghan is that her level of confidence has improved,” said Knipper. “We knew that she could be a No. 1. Our coaches believed in her.”

Warsaw will start fresh on Monday by facing Goshen in the opening game of the Class 4-A Elkhart Memorial Sectional. The Tigers are 3-19, but beat the Redskins 4-3 to split the season series. Goshen won the other NLC game 9-1.

“We are excited and optimistic about our tourney draw,” said Warsaw coach Kevin Dishman. “We split the season series with Goshen. They are a solid team. We tend to play better on the road, giving up fewer walks and making less errors. Our bats have really come alive in the last week, with everyone making solid contact and we are scoring enough runs to win. When we start play on Monday we will have the same record as everyone in the tourney and our girls recognize the opportunities that are in front of us.”

The Tigers, who beat Tippecanoe Valley Friday night, have been led offensively by the likes of Sarah Shoemaker, Abby Glass, Sydney Hernandez and Lauren Shaffner. Sophomore Glass has pitched a huge majority of the innings for the Tigers.

Goshen sits at 7-20 after going 1-1 in its own tournament on Saturday.

Concord, which is 18-6, is the defending champion at Memorial. The Minutemen, who are led by pitcher RaeAnn Miller, got a bye and play host Memorial on Tuesday in a semifinal contest.

Triton will look to claim its third straight sectional title. The Trojans, who won the program’s first-ever regional championship a year ago, play Elkhart Christian Academy Monday in its own Class 1-A Sectional.

The Trojans, who are 18-10, have defeated all three teams in their sectional.

“Right now we just want to win that first sectional game,” said Triton coach Steve McBride. “The key for us is to throw strikes and play good defense. When we have had bad games this year, we’ve played poorly defensively.

“I’m pretty pleased being 18-10. We have had a variety of kids play well. Our two pitchers have been good for us. This team also plays better at home.”

Sectional champions will play in one-game regionals on June 2. The winners of the Memorial and Trion

Softball Sectional Pairings

Class 4-A At Elkhart Memorial
May 25: 10 a.m.: Warsaw vs. Goshen
May 25: 12 p.m.: Elkhart Central vs. Northridge
May 26: 5:30 p.m.: Warsaw-Goshen winner vs. Central-Northridge winner
May 26: 7:30 p.m.: Elkhart Memorial vs. Concord
May 29: 6:30 p.m.: Championship Game

Class 3-A at Lakeland
May 25: 10 a.m.: Tippecanoe Valley vs. Fairfield
May 25: 12 p.m.: NorthWood vs. West Noble
May 25: 2 p.m.: Whitko vs. Lakeland
May 26: 5 p.m.: Wawasee vs. Valley-Fairfield winner
May 26: 7 p.m.: NorthWood-W. Noble winner vs. Whitko-Lakeland winner
May 28: 7 p.m.: Championship Game

Class 1-A at Triton
May 25: 1 p.m.: Argos vs. Bethany Christian
May 25: 3 p.m.: Elkhart Christian Academy vs. Triton
May 26: 6:30 p.m.: Championship Game