Coming off a seven-win campaign last summer, the Washington Demon softball team is looking for a resurgence under new head coach Ben Obermann. Three years removed from a collegiate baseball career at Luther College, Obermann began his coaching career as the head baseball coach of the South Winneshiek Warriors. In his second season, he guided the Warriors to the state tournament, winning 34 games. Last summer, Obermann was an assistant coach for Nathan Miller and the Washington Demon baseball program.

Obermann takes over the softball program left by Angie Shrader, who held the position since 2000. Shrader took the squad to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013. The Demons have won a total of 21 games since their last appearance in Fort Dodge, including finishing 7-27 in 2015.

Freshman Morgan Brinning, the Demons’ lone first team all-conference performer last season, says the team needs to keep an open mind as Obermann has implemented some new things into the program. The most notable is the team will be wearing wristbands this season with the team’s different offensive and defensive formations on them.

The Washington softball season begins Monday evening as the Demons travel to rural Riverside for a non-conference game versus the Highland Huskies. KCII Sports will provide live play-by-play action from Highland High School beginning with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 7 p.m. on FM 106.1 and KCIIRadio.com.