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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Go time for Demon softball
Washington brings mix of youth and experience to Class 3A state tournament
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FORT DODGE — For the first time in 12 years, the Washington softball team will be stepping onto the field at Harlan Rodgers Sports Complex, to compete in the Iowa high school state softball tournament, and Demon fans hope Round 1 of 2025 will look similar to the way it did in 2013.
Last time Washington was at the state softball tournament, the Demons picked up a 6-1 upset win over Solon in the first round, utilizing the leadership of four senior starters; Maddie Bohr, Sammy Elingson, Kaitlin Buchholz and Joni Ersin.
Now, 12 years later, Washington (29-9) is in an oh-so similar position. Like the 2013 squad, the Demons have a quartet of seniors ready to lead the way, as Bella Salazar, Ella Greiner, Alyvia Anderson and Halle Cuddeback finally get to take their talents to the big stage.
Coming into the game, the four seniors make up four of the Top-7, and three of the Top-5 hitters in terms of regular Demon starters. Ella Greiner hits .452 with three home runs and 45 RBIs. Salazar hits .366 with 28 RBIs. Anderson bats .358 with two home runs and 30 RBIs, and Cuddeback hits .286 with one home run and 16 RBIs.
Those RBI numbers, of course, are helped out by the fact the Demons have Southeast Conference Player of the Year Leighton Salazar leading off.
Leighton Salazar leads the team with a .530 batting average, and has also collected a team-high 15 doubles, 58 runs, and a ridiculous 53 stolen bases in 57 tries.
And as if five superb upperclassmen isn’t enough, the Demons get a nice little boost from sophomore power hitter Colbie Greiner, as well as freshman trio Makenzie Messer, Natalie Hartman and Reagan Miller, who have given the team a huge boost in the summer of 2025.
Greiner comes into the state tournament with a .479 batting average. She has the team lead in home runs, with four, and triples, with two, while also collecting 39 RBIs.
Messer has bursted onto the season this year, hitting .338 with 28 RBIs, including two in the regional final win over Assumption, which gave the Demons the late lead. Hartman is hitting .264 with 18 RBIs, and Miller is hitting .246 with 14 RBIs.
With Bella Salazar (15-3) 2.66 ERA) expected in the circle, the Demons are poised for big things on the defensive side of the diamond, and if she runs into trouble, the Demons have loads of experience waiting in Cuddeback (7-1, 2.69 ERA) and Colbie Greiner (7-5, 5.38 ERA). Both have pitched big innings for the Demons in their high school careers.
It will be Head Coach Ben Obermann’s first venture into the state softball tournament. Obermann had previously taken the South Winneshiek baseball team to state before moving to Washington and taking over the softball program.
On the other side of the diamond, though, is quite a monster to sleigh. Williamsburg comes in 33-7, champions of the WaMaC and, more intimidatingly, two time defending state champions.
Williamsburg came into the 2025 season as one of the heavy favorites in Class 3A, and it’s easy to see why. The Raiders bring back the vast majority of last year’s state champion team, including junior ace Jersey Metz, who enters with an 18-5 record and a 2.13 ERA.
Offensively, senior Alley Gorsh and sophomore Taylor Sanchez have been insanely good at the plate this season. Gorsh hits .453 with six home runs and 44 RBIs, while Sanchez hits .442 with six home runs and six triples.
Senior Makenzie Hughes hits a cool .430 herself, collecting three home runs, four triples and 23 RBIs this year. Senior Taylor Pitlick is above the .400 mark as well, hitting .426 with 28 RBIs.
Williamsburg’s last two state tournaments have ended in championship victories over Assumption. Now that the Knights have been vanquished by Washington in the regional finals, it seems a new contender will have to step up to try and take down the Raiders, and Washington is the first team standing in Williamsburg’s path to a three-peat.
First pitch for Tuesday’s game is set for 10 a.m. The winner will play in Wednesday evening’s state semifinal against either Estherville-Lincoln Central or Albia, a pair of teams that will be playing on another field in a 10:30 a.m. quarterfinal.
