Demons overcome nerves to win their season-opener at Columbus

Washington took a lead early in Monday?s season-opener at Columbus and then poured on runs late to win 11-1 in six innings.

Washington senior Maddie Bohr led off in the top of the first inning with a walk, and she stole second base. Senior Sammy Ellingson followed with a single, and she swiped second as well. Both Bohr and Ellingson scored on junior Stephanie Fishback?s double.

Columbus, which finished last season with a 15-20 record, answered with a run in the bottom of the first when the first three Wildcats got hits off of Washington junior Ashley Rausch. But Rausch settled in after that and did not allow another hit in the contest. She struck out five batters and walked two in six innings.

The Demons added to their lead in the second inning, as a run scored on an error and Ellingson hit an RBI single.

Washington, which finished 32-10 last season and fourth in Class 4A at the state tournament, put the game away in the fifth and sixth innings. The Demons scored four runs in the fifth and added three more in the sixth to open up a 10-run margin.

?Once we got focused and on track, we scored four in the fifth and three in the sixth,? Washington head coach Angie Shrader said. ?We had kids with nerves, and they openly admitted they were scared to death their first at-bat. It was the first time that group of girls had been on the diamond at the same time [this season]. It was just getting accustomed to playing softball and working together a little bit.?

Junior Addie Shive went 2-for-4 in the contest with a double and three RBIs. Ellingson and senior Kaitlin Buchholz both were 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Fishback hit a two-RBI double. Senior Tamera Alexander drove in a pair of runs, and senior Joni Erwin had an RBI.

Senior Caitlin Chaney, junior Coree Winters and sophomore Torie Johnston had hits for Columbus, and Winters scored the Wildcats? lone run.

Washington will host Highland for a non-conference game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.