COLD SPRINGS — West Point enjoyed winning last year’s Cullman County Softball Tournament so much it decided to go ahead and repeat the process just for kicks.

The Warriors scored early, held their breath late and ultimately earned a 5-3 win versus Good Hope on Wednesday to notch back-to-back championships and their second county title since 2008.

West Point’s victory came shortly after defeating Fairview 13-4 in a resumed game from Tuesday’s weather-shortened activities at Cold Springs.

However, no amount of rain or sloppy conditions could dampen the mood inside the Maroon and White’s dugout following the triumph over the Raiders.

“It’s really nice to repeat,” senior Kayla Sullins said. “We couldn’t have done that without everyone in a Warrior uniform, though. Being a senior, I couldn’t ask for anything better than this.”

Added soon-to-be graduate Karra Elam: “It’s amazing. Again. It’s a great feeling to win this tournament. This is huge for us moving forward into area tournament play, because we just want to keep winning and keep going past that. It’s great momentum.”

Elam put West Point on the board in the first inning with an RBI double that scored Jeri Beasley, who reached with a two-base knock of her own. Karli Beck proceeded to plate her with a groundout before Darana Campbell launched one off the scoreboard in left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Warriors added another run in the second frame on a Sullins double but left the bases loaded with only one out — opening the door for a Good Hope comeback.

The Raiders did their best, too, scoring two runs in the third on a Josie McDonald single and trimming their deficit to just one on a long Bailey Starnes home run in the fifth.

Still, Elam and Co. didn’t worry too much.

“I felt as long as we didn’t let them tie us, we’d be OK,” she said. “We didn’t want to have to start over and give them chances to make something happen.”

And sure enough, that’s exactly what transpired.

West Point tacked on a run late on an error and made a few key defensive plays to add just enough cushion to keep its blood pressure down en route to the win.

Sullins wouldn’t recommend making a habit of it, though.

“I was so nervous the whole game, it was bad,” she said. “When we got that last out, man, there’s just no better feeling than that. I was happy. Especially it being the county championship game.”

It was, by definition, a total team effort for the Maroon and White.

Eight players had one hit apiece, Beasley struck out seven Good Hope batters in a solid performance and the Warriors played a solid defensive game to preserve the win.

Coach Kevin Sullins couldn’t ask for much more, lauding his five seniors (Sullins, Elam, Beck, Campbell and Mallory Walker) for a strong showing of leadership throughout the tournament.

“That group set a goal and did it,” he said. “We had to battle to the end, too. Good Hope has a good team that’s very well coached, and it wasn’t easy. We just made a couple more plays there late. The girls rose up and got it done. That’s all I can say about it.”

Sullins, Elam, Campbell, Walker, Beasley, Jordyn Kimbrell, Tess Hembree and Bailee Yearwood had the hits for West Point.

On the other side, it was a spirited run for Good Hope, which had a few chances to turn the tide in the title bout — but couldn’t get over the hump.

In spite of the loss, coach Wayne Harris was pleased with the fight his squad showed as they gear up for next week’s area tournament.

“They’ve got such a great hitting team, that for us to hold them to five runs was great,” he said. “We battled and battled and stayed resilient. A few more hits and who knows what happens. Nothing to hang our heads about, though. It was a great effort, from both sides really.”

The Raiders were led by Skylar Tucker and Erika Woodall, both of whom tallied two hits. McDonald, Starnes, Jami Stinson and MaKailey Speegle rounded out the offense with a base hit each.

Although West Point’s season won’t end with hoisting another county trophy — the Warriors have their sights set on a monster run through the playoffs — coach Sullins couldn’t help but lament just how much the girls would enjoy this win down the road.

“It’s something they’ll never forget,” he said. “They can always take it with them. It’s nice for them to have bragging rights and be No. 1 for another year, though. I’m sure they’ll enjoy that more than me.”