Washington wins 2 Southeast Conference games from Keokuk

WASHINGTON — Aiming something where it is supposed to go and it ending up in that place are not always the same thing. Not always, but Monday for Isaac Vetter, those two things were equivalent.

“My curveball was moving more than it usually does,” Vetter said. “The fastball was going where I wanted and the curve felt smoother, so it all felt really good. Everything was just working.”

Vetter’s fourth start this season yielded his first win. He nearly doubled his time on the hill as the sophomore now has 13 innings pitched.

During the second game of a Southeast Conference baseball doubleheader, Vetter pitched six and a third innings for a 10-7 win as the Washington Demons swept the night from visiting Keokuk after a five-inning 11-1 triumph. Kole Williams tossed the first game, getting the win with a strikeout, three walks and four hits.

“What made the night was Kole Williams, Isaac Vetter and Travis Leyden,” Washington coach Nathan Miller said. “Isaac and Kole did a great job throwing first-pitch strikes.”

Leyden got the last two outs after Vetter tired in the seventh inning. Vetter had seven hits, five strikeouts, three walks and only two earned runs in his best performance.

“It was all there, everything seemed on point,” Vetter said. “It’s been a while so it felt really good to get out there.”

Pitching was a concern of Miller’s before the season due to the inexperience of the group.

“In the beginning of the year, I was pretty nervous playing varsity,” Vetter said. “As the season has gone on, it’s less about the nerves, and I know more about what I’m going to do out there.”

The Demons pitching staff is steadily improving as more hurlers get experience on the hill. Vetter’s fourth start this season yielded his first win. He nearly doubled his time on the hill as the sophomore now has 13 innings pitched.

“More game sense, knowing the situations, knowing how to attack a count all makes a difference in their play,” Miller said. “I don’t know what we’re doing for the postseason as far as who’s starting and who’s coming in, but we have to get every one of our guys experience taking the mound from the bench or from the field.“

The Demon bats were there in the first game and steady throughout. Williams batted in three runs and hit a double to help his cause in the opener while Wilx Witthoft hit two doubles, Lucas Kroll one, and Reece Mayer had a triple. Mayer had three RBIs and brought in another three runs in the second game. Witthoft had another double and Ethan Zieglowsky had two RBIs.

“In the second game, it seemed we were there early and then coasted,” Miller said. "We lost our focus defensively in some spots, like not charging a ground ball and a dropped routine double play.“

The Demons had an error in the first game, two in the second.

“We cannot assume it is going to happen we have to make it happen,” Miller said. “It’s important we keep our mental sharpness through every play.”

Washington is fielding the ball at 94 percent over the season. “We are making strides forward,” Miller said.

“Guys working their tail off on the mound, so we want to make sure our defense is doing the same thing,” Miller said. “Isaac is a young guy, and he did a good job keeping his emotions in check and staying calm.”

Washington is 12-7 overall, 8-6 SEC while Keokuk 2-20, 1-13.