Washington downed by ranked 4A foe

WASHINGTON — No. 3 (4A) Clear Creek-Amana came into Washington for Tuesday night’s scheduled softball doubleheader sporting a team ERA under one run a game, so it was going to take a lot for the Demons to steal one. As it turns out, Washington only had one chance.

The Clippers shut out the Demons 5-0 in the opening game. Game 2 was called off with nasty storms coming through the area.

Washington’s Alivia Anderson covers first on a Clear Creek-Amana bunt attempt on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Demon starter Bella Salazar kept the Clear Creek-Amana offense relatively quiet through three innings. The Clippers scored three runs in the third inning, but that was their only scoring frame in the first four.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Washington had runners on the corners and the top of the order up, but the Clipper defense stood tall and shut down the Demons’ best opportunity of the game.

Washington’s Bella Salazar winds up for a pitch on Tuesday night against Clear Creek-Amana. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Clear Creek-Amana tacked on one more run in the sixth.

Four Demons had hits on the day. Ava Turner and Alyvia Anderson each went 1-for-3. Bella Salazar was 1-for-3, and Leighton Salazar finished 1-for-4.

“We are young, and they haven’t played a lot of varsity games, or played against a lot of really, really good teams,” said Washington head coach Ben Obermann. “This is the type of team you have to beat to get to the state tournament, and we’re not very far away.”

Washington’s Ella Greiner slices a ball into right field in the Demons’ 5-0 loss to Clear Creek-Amana on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

The loss came on the heels of a stretch of seven wins in nine tries for the Demons. Washington, a 3A team, has played a lot of Class 4A powers close and even knocked off Burlington last week.

“I don’t know if our girls realize how close we are to being at that elite level,” Obermann said. “I think they’re starting to believe that we can beat those teams, because we’ve played a lot of good teams close.”

Washington’s Emmy Wenger sends a ball to the left side during the Demons’ nonconference loss to Clear Creek-Amana on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutisnger/The Union)

The Demons moved to 10-16 overall with the loss. After Wednesday night’s game at Marion, they will put their 7-7 Southeast Conference record on the line against league-leading Fort Madison (13-11, 12-2) on Thursday.