Class 4A softball has 16 teams still playing in Iowa and Washington is one of them after a solid pitching and defensive performance propelled them past Clear Creek-Amana 3-1 on Saturday in a regional semifinal. 

As heard on KCII, the Demons got the offense going early scoring all three of their runs in the first off of a two RBI single from Kellie Dallmeyer that plated Kaitlyn Mitchell and Kinsey Duwa and a knock from Alexa Mitchell to score Dallmeyer. That was all the offense Cara Linnenkamp needed in the circle, as the junior was in control all night en route to a complete game in 109 pitches only giving up one run on seven hits and striking out five. The defense behind her came to play as well, only committing one error on the evening. Washington had five hits from five different players and the only Clipper tally came in the second.

Head Coach Ben Obermann was excited for his team postgame. “I’m just extremely proud of our girls. The regular season did not go as hoped, but we were building for July. These girls are believing in themselves right now and they deserve every amount of success that is coming their way. This is the best we have played defensively and you can’t say enough about Cara. She is getting hot at the right time and pounding the strike zone. Cara and our defense won it for us tonight.”

The Demons move to 10-17 and advance to the regional final tomorrow at West Delaware (20-4) for the right to go to state.