Demon girls run past Cardinals in postseason action

The Washington softball team got off to a fast start on Thursday night, and that speed helped the Demons move on in the Class 4A regional tournament.

An early 7-1 lead quickly diminished with the help of a Maquoketa four-run fifth inning, but the Demons hung on for the regional quarterfinal win, 8-6, over the Cardinals.

?We were really the aggressor early on in that game,? Washington softball head coach Ben Obermann said. ?We went into that game thinking we really wanted to be the more aggressive team, and so we got some girls on early in the game and just ran. We had nine stolen bases and that was the difference. Then we had big hits with runners in scoring position. That was big for us to get a lead early after a long trip over.?

The scoring started off a Kinsey Duwa one-out single in the first inning, which was followed up by singles from Jessie Buchholz and Megan Mitchell, as the Demons took a 2-0 lead.

In the second frame, Mackenzie Knutson, Duwa and Buchholz all came around to score, with Duwa and Buchholz each notching RBIs.

After Maquoketa notched a run in the third, the Demons responded with a Haylee Wilson leadoff double before Knutson and Duwa added hits to make it a 7-1 game.

Maquoketa added a run in the fourth, before a couple of Demon errors piled up in the fifth inning, allowing four Cardinal runs to score, drawing Maquoketa within one run.

The Demons withstood another Maquoketa chance in the sixth, when a pair of Cardinals reached base, keeping the score square.

Buchholz added another run for the Demons in the sixth inning, giving the Demons a cushion, allowing Washington to withstand a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

Freshman pitcher Molly Sparks shut the door in the frame, claiming her first postseason win in her first postseason start.

?We gave up the four-run fifth inning with some defensive miscues, but we were able to overcome it and find a way,? Obermann said. ?We gave ourselves a cushion in that sixth inning, and so that was nice. We did a little of everything. We played well defensively and offensively, and it was a big win for the program.?

The win marks the 12th victory for the Demons on the year, with a trip to the regional semifinals next up on the docket.

Waiting for Washington is conference champion Mt. Pleasant, who holds a 4-0 record against the Demons so far this season, including a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday night.

?Mt. Pleasant is playing really well right now,? Obermann said. ?They can hit, they can pitch and they can field; they don?t beat themselves. For us to compete and play with them, we can?t afford to give them extra outs defensively and give them free bases. Then we need to force the issue a little bit. If we put together our effort from last night, minus the fifth inning, I think we have a great opportunity.?

With a young team, Obermann noted that getting the first-round game out of the way with a win should help his team.

?Playing last night, there?s a bit of a benefit to playing that first-round game as opposed to having a bye,? Obermann said. ?We got the nerves out last night, and now we?ll be able to relax and play ball tomorrow.?

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday in Mt. Pleasant with a trip to the regional finals on the line.