Demons want to capitalize on chances

WASHINGTON - The 2020 season that almost didn't happen due to coronavirus concerns holds a lot of promise for the Washington High School Demons.

'I am grateful for the opportunity we have been given,” Washington head baseball coach Nathan Miller said. 'Our coaching staff is ready to implement the guidelines set by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Department of Education to help make this season successful.”

In the 2019 postseason, the Demons lost by a run to Davenport Assumption, which placed fourth at the state tournament.

in the preseason poll by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association, the Demons did not make the top 10 but got enough votes to be considered for a ranking.

The Demons were third in the Southeast Conference with a 10-6 record and finished the season with a 22-9 slate. Mt. Pleasant (21-11) and Fairfield (26-5) each had a 12-4 SEC record.

Miller has won over 300 games in his 16-year coaching career, 13 at Washington.

'Arm conditioning is the biggest concern of mine headed into the season,” Miller said. 'We are looking at a 16 to 17-game regular season and are keeping our weekly games to no more than four. We want to build our arms up to the post season and not tax our kids' arms because they may not be ready to handle more than a 50-60 pitch count load right away.”

The pitching will need to continue to develop and replacements found for the loss of players Cade Hennigan, Kole Hinrichsen, Chase McDole, Brant Stout, Mitchell Driscoll and Jacob Miller.

The Demons do have returning starters in senior shortstop and pitcher Luke Turner, who has already signed to continue his baseball career at Truman State next year. He was all-district and all-conference last year. Seniors Brady Knutson and Trevor Quigley were also all-conference outfielders and pitchers. Senior Brandon Dickel returns as an utility player.

Turner was third in the SEC with a .406 batting average and tied for second in runs batted in with 38. His earned run average of .88 was second.

Junior third base Wilx Witthoft and junior Reece Mayer, who will pitch when not in the outfield return along with Ethan Patterson, whose contributions on the mound and at second base were crucial last year as an eighth-grader when he received all-conference recognition. Patterson had an ERA of 1.5, which was fourth.

Other letterwinners are sophomores Lucas Kroll (infielder/pitcher), Zeke Slagel (pitcher) and Ethan Zieglowsky (catcher).

Miller sees promise in newcomers Ethan Hunt, a senior outfielder who is back after a few years away and Dillan Sanders, a senior first baseman who is back after one year away.

'We have a nucleus back offensively,” Miller said. 'We have strong leadership, great attitudes and work ethic.”

Miller's work in over a decade as a Demon has developed a positive atmosphere.

'The culture of the program is extremely strong,” Miller said.

As far as weaknesses of the Demons, Miller said work in practice will overcome them and getting the chance to practice and play is a blessing.

'I wouldn't say we have concerns but rather we have areas to continue to develop,” the coach said. 'I was extremely excited about getting to have a season. We have great kids in the program and our coaching staff was praying that we would be able to have some sort of season to send the seniors out on a positive note and to provide some sort of normalcy for all of the players.”