Demons oulast Bloodhounds

FT. MADISON - It took 12 innings to decide the first Southeast Conference softball game Thursday and just four for the second as Washington swept the road doubleheader 8-5 and 12-2.

'Even if we would've ended up on the short end of the stick in the first game, I still would've been so proud of our girls' fight and resiliency,” WHS coach Ben Obermann said. 'We showed great mental fortitude to fight back each time we took a punch. Game One put us in a lot of pressure situations in all three phases of the game, which will help prepare us so well for the stretch run and is a game we can touch on as a reference point about rising up in the moment come regional play in a few weeks.”

Trailing 1-0, the Demons got three runs in the top of the seventh inning of the opener, but the home team tied it with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Each team scored twice in the eighth.

'So many kids came up clutch,” Obermann said. 'Whether it was Cara Linnenkamp and Alexa Mitchell grinding it out on the mound, Kellie Dallmeyer in the seventh inning, Anna Venenga and Molly Sparks coming up clutch with hits in extra innings, or Kinsey Duwa's outfield assist to gun down the potential game-winning run, we received so many contributions from so many different girls. It was a complete team effort, and this is the type of game that can get us on a roll.”

Linnenkamp pitched seven innings with three hits, two strikeouts and six walks. Mitchell threw five innings with 10 hits, two walks and four K's.

Venenga, a sophomore, went 4 for 5 in her first plate appearances of the season with a double and three runs batted in.

'Venenga is a tireless worker for us and earned an opportunity through her work ethic, positive attitude, and success at the JV level,” Obermann said. 'I couldn't be more happy for her. She has battled through some injuries this year, and it was just awesome to see her have an outstanding night. Anna is a great teammate that pulls for everyone on the team no matter what her role is on a given night. Seeing her flourish in her opportunity, which was her first varsity start and first varsity at-bats, was awesome, and she provided a great spark for our offense at the bottom of the order.”

Venenga was 1 for 2 in the next game with three runs scored and two RBI.

Sparks got the win and was 2 of 4 in the batter's box.

'Game Two, we did what we needed to do,” Obermann said. 'We knew they would be short-handed pitching-wise, and our girls had great approaches at the plate. Everybody in our lineup reached base and we put the pressure on them early in the game. Molly was outstanding in the circle and was a strike machine once again, and our defense made the plays behind her. After an emotional Game One, our girls did a nice job turning the page and taking care of business in the second game.”

Washington is 15-10 overall and 7-5 in the league with two home games (Pekin and Monticello) Saturday and a home doubleheader with Keokuk Monday.