Washington softball battles at Iowa City West Softball Classic

IOWA CITY — Washington softball headed up to Iowa City on Friday and Saturday to compete in the Iowa City West Softball Classic.

It was a weekend full of tough competition, but the Demons held their own.

Despite finishing with a 1-2 overall record, Washington played some darn good softball.

To kick off the tournament on Friday, the Demons took on No. 8 (Class 5A) Muscatine. Washington fell in the contest 8-2. To cap off Friday action, the Demons were set to take on host Iowa City West, but the game was canceled due to weather.

On Saturday, the Demons opened with a 6-3 loss to No. 1 (Class 2A) Regina Catholic. Washington bounced back in the final game of the tournament with an 8-3 victory over Mid-Prairie.

Against Muscatine it was a tough one right out of the gate.

The Muskies scored in each of the first two frames, while the Demons were held scoreless.

Muscatine brought three runs home in the first and added two more in the second to make it 5-0.

After a scoreless third, the Muskies scored an additional three to push their lead to 8-0 and the Demons could never make it up.

Washington scored a pair in the bottom half of the fifth, but that’s all they could get.

Isabella Salazar and Alyvia Anderson notched the Demons two hits in the loss. Both went 1-for-2. Anderson had an RBI as well.

Colbie Greiner and Halle Cuddeback pitched a combined four innings, giving up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks.

Against the Regals, the Demons held the advantage for three straight innings.

Both squads scored one each in the opening inning and Washington went on to add one more in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1.

However, after a scoreless third, Regina Catholic brought four runs across home plate and would never trail again.

The Regals scored one more in the fifth to make it 6-2.

Washington tried to get back into it in the sixth, but were only able to get one run.

Leighton Salazar, Ella Greiner and Kendall Kinrichsen all finished with a pair of hits for the Demons. Salazar finished 2-for-2 with an RBI. Greiner and Hinrichsen both went 2-for-3 with Greiner picking up an RBI as well.

Alyvia Anderson had one hit too.

Halle Cuddeback pitched, giving up six runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks.

In the final game of the weekend against Mid-Prairie, the Demons put it all together.

Both teams failed to score a run in the first frame, but Washington went on to score three in the bottom half of the second and they would never trail.

Through two and a half innings, Mid-Prairie was able to knot the game at 3-3 with a run each in the third, fourth and fifth.

As quick as the game was tied up though, the Demons pulled away once again with three of their own in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3.

Mid-Prairie never scored again and the Demons put the game on ice with two additional runs in the sixth.

For Washington, Leighton Salazar and Colbie Greiner both finished with two hits. Salazar finished with an RBI as well.

Ella Greiner went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and one home run.

Alyvia Anderson, Isabella Salazar and Kendall Hinrichsen all had one hit. Hinrichsen and Halle Cuddeback both had an RBI as well.

Isabella Salazar pitched for Washington, giving up three runs (three earned) on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

For Mid-Prairie, Dakota Mitchell, Brenna Jehle, Sophie Miller, Hannah Sellers, Sydney Knebel, Olivia Swartzendruber and Madeline Schrader all had one hit. Knebel, Miller and Jehle finished with one RBI each in the loss.

Kadence Grout threw from the circle for the Golden Hawks. Grout gave up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits, six walks and had two strikeouts.

After the weekend of action, Washington moves to 8-4 on the season and Mid-Prairie is now 6-3. The Golden Hawks played just one game in the tournament.