The Washington baseball program has seen their win total climb in each of the last four seasons and the Demons are poised to keep climbing the ladder of success in 2020 despite a shortened year.

Washington finished third in the Southeast Conference last summer with a 22-9 overall record and 10-6 in league play. They lost five contributors to graduation, but return a good core including three of their top four bats. Four-year starter Luke Turner leads that bunch after a .406 batting average and 38 RBI while fellow senior Trevor Quigley looks to improve on a .474 on base percentage and 21 runs scored. Ethan Patterson returns for his freshman season after a .326 batting average as an eighth grader. The Demons will need depth on the mound after losing three starters, but Turner and Patterson will carry the bulk of the load. Turner recorded a minuscule 0.88 ERA in 24 innings of work last year and Patterson dealt a 1.50 ERA in 33 innings with 44 strikeouts. The Demon roster includes seven seniors with Turner, Quigley, Brady Knutson, Brandon Dickel, and newcomers in Ethan Hunt, Dillan Sanders, and Caleb Tanner.

Head Coach Nathan Miller tells KCII Sports the focus in practice has been second to none during the shortened preseason. “Considering all of the guidelines that we are implementing, the first two weeks of practice have been outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of how our guys come to the field each and every day. The pace of practice, focus, and what we are getting accomplished has quite honestly been one of the best two weeks of practice in my 16 years of coaching. That is a tribute to our kids and their mentality coming into the season.”

The Demons gear up for the opener on Monday against Fairfield and the first baseball broadcast on KCII will be Thursday against Mount Pleasant.