LYNDEN — The first time was great. The second was special. But the third time is simply — well — charming.

Following in the footsteps of what she accomplished in the fall with the Nooksack Valley volleyball team and in the winter with the girls’ basketball team, Erika Ramstead is heading back to state, this time with the Pioneers softball team.

“I really wanted to get to state in volleyball,” Ramstead said Thursday. “And after we were there, I thought it would be really nice to go back in basketball during the winter. And then I thought in would be great to go during the fastpitch season. So I guess it was a goal to go to state in all three sports in one year. Now that I’ve done it, it is pretty special.”

Though she got plenty of help from her Pioneers teammates, Ramstead played a large role in making sure the Pioneers would be headed back to the softball state tournament for the sixth straight year and the eighth time in nine seasons.

She allowed only one hit during Thursday’s Class 1A tri-district tournament at Bender Fields ... in two games. She pitched a no-hitter in a first-round 10-0, six-inning win over Cascade Christian to open the afternoon and then followed it with a one-hitter in an 11-0, six-inning win over Orting in the tournament semifinals.

In 12 innings of work, Ramstead faced only two batters over the minimum and struck out 20 of the 38 batters she did face — 12 in the first game and eight in the second.

Not a bad day’s work. But Ramstead was quick to deflect the credit to her teammates.

“It really helps when I get that kind of defense behind me,” Ramstead said. “I mean, to see Ashley (Lambert) diving for the ball the way she did at second base, it really inspires me. It’s completely a team effort. They all make my job a whole lot easier.”

The Pioneers (16-7) hope to give Ramstead more support like that on Saturday, when they play Lynden Christian for the tri-district tournament title. The Lyncs, like Nooksack Valley, have already punched their ticket to next week’s Class 1A state tournament, so Saturday’s game, which is currently scheduled to be played at 2 p.m. at Sprinker Field in Spanaway, is for the trophy, bragging rights and the tri-district’s top seed to state.

Nooksack Valley coach Tom Harmon also was impressed by the way his defense played, committing only one error in the two games and cleanly fielding all other balls Cascade Christian and Orting were able to put in play off Ramstead.

“They have to work really hard and stay focused with every pitch,” Harmon said. “When somebody is pitching the way Erika did today, they’re not going to see many opportunities. I mean, our left fielder didn’t field the ball all day. But she has to make sure she stays focused and is ready with every pitch.”

Nooksack Valley jumped out to early leads in both games, building a 4-0 advantage after two innings against Cascade Christian in the first game and a 7-0 lead after four against Orting.

Their opponents certainly helped the Pioneers’ cause, combining for 18 errors in the two games — the same number of hits the Nooksack Valley offense pounded out.

The biggest hit of the day was an inside-the-park home run by Amanda TeVelde in the second inning against Orting. TeVelde ripped the shot to the right-field fence. Brianna Wilson scored on the play from second base, and TeVelde beat a throw that was a little short to the plate.

“Today we did a good job of putting the ball in play,” Harmon said. “Sure they helped us out a little bit with the number of errors they had, but we had some girls that were swinging the bat well and hitting it hard.”

TeVelde led the way, finishing 5 for 8 with two doubles, a triple, the home run and seven RBI combined in the two games.

If the Pioneers can keep getting that kind of production offensively and performances like Ramstead turned in, next week it could be a special trip to Spokane for the state tournament.

But right now, the Pioneers are just happy to be going to state.

“We’ll take it,” Harmon said. “Going to state never gets old.”