The pieces are in place for a special Demon softball season this summer and the veteran Washington bunch will look to propel the program to new heights in the shortened season.

The Demons finished third in the Southeast Conference standings last year with a 22-15 overall mark and 10-6 in the league. The team lost slugger Haylee Wilson and a consistent pitcher in Molly Sparks to graduation, but there is no experience lacking with seven of nine starters returning. With a three-headed monster in the circle last summer, the Demons are sitting fine with Cara Linnenkamp and Alexa Mitchell returning. Linnenkamp led the league in ERA with 1.29 in 59 innings of work while Mitchell was not far behind with a 2.69 ERA in 68 innings. The top of the order will be in good hands with all state selection Kellie Dallmeyer looking to improve off of a .461 batting average and 27 RBI as a sophomore. Senior twins Alexa and Kaitlyn Mitchell had almost identical batting production with .341 and .340 averages, respectively. Kinsey Duwa and Halle Leyden round out the senior class of four with plenty of game experience in the outfield. 

Fifth year head coach Ben Obermann tells KCII Sports he likes where his team is at, despite just two weeks of practice before game one. “We didn’t have a spring league like we normally have so we may be a little behind physically, but we are an experienced group and that helps out with the mental part of the game. These first two weeks we are getting into the swing of things and hammering on fundamentals. Working on the mechanics of our swing and getting our pitchers ready has been a big focus.”

The season gets underway Monday when the Demons travel to Fairfield in a doubleheader that can be heard on FM 106.1 KCII.