Keokuk sweeps Demon softball

With three ranked teams, the Southeast Conference schedule is a monster for any team.

The Washington softball team continued their trek through the tough slew of games on Monday night, falling to No. 7 ranked Keokuk in a pair of games.

The Demons led in both games, but fell in the doubleheader 6-2, 9-5, as they saw their record drop to 9-23 on the season.

?The umpires who have had us a lot said they are seeing a lot of growth,? Washington softball coach Ben Obermann said. ?There?s a lot of talent there and you guys are getting better. As we talk as coaches, we are saying, ?man, these are ranked opponents, and we are sitting at 9-23, but we aren?t too far from them. We?d like our win-loss record to be better, but our tough schedule, we hope, will pay off for us in the end.?

That payoff could come in the form of a postseason run, as the Demons head to Maquoketa for a first-round regional playoff game in a week and a half. A win would advance the Demons to the second round where No. 9 ranked Mt. Pleasant (the Demons? Thursday opponent) awaits.

?It was a little bit of a surprise for us to have to go two-plus hours, but we are prepared,? Obermann said. ?The girls know that these last few regular season games are in preparation for the regional tournament. We have confidence we can knock off (Maquoketa), and if we can get to face Mt. Pleasant after seeing them four times, we are optimistic.?

Washington opened up the Monday doubleheader with the first two batters reaching base, and Megan Mitchell bringing them home, as the Demons took an early 2-0 lead.

That lead held up until the fifth inning, when Keokuk notched four runs, and added two more in the sixth, claiming the victory.

?In a lot of ways, we were very good offensively, then we?d go to a stalemate,? Obermann said. ?That?s a credit to (Keokuk?s pitcher). We didn?t beat ourselves, and it just came down to one big inning.?

In Game 2, an early lead dwindled behind a big Keokuk offensive frame putting the Chiefs up by six runs late in the game. A late rally from the Demons fell short, and they were handed the conference sweep.

?We battled well,? Obermann said. ?We had the lead early and in the middle innings, and they had a four-run inning that put them up 9-3, but we battled. There were positives. We didn?t think we were out of the game and Keokuk has a shot at the state tournament and conference championship.?

With a tough battle against Mt. Pleasant looming, the Demons are excited for senior night and hope to add to their fun by spoiling the party for the Panthers.

?They are excited,? Obermann said. ?Going to Keokuk (on Monday), they are embracing the role of spoiler a little bit. With Thursday being senior night for Mackenzie (Knutson), and it being our last home game of the season, we?ll be fired up, and hopefully we?ll be channeling it the right way. It?s a quality opponent and our rival. Hopefully we can prevent them from winning the league.?

First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.