The Washington Demons will look to take a big step towards making state softball when they face perennial powerhouse Davenport Assumption tonight in the Class 3A Region 8 semifinals, a game you can hear on KCII. Washington has won 10 of its last 12 games to reach 24-12, the most wins in a season for the program in a decade, and it was announced earlier this week that the Demons are ranked 14th in the state in 3A.

Washington’s 10-1 win over Central Lee in their first playoff game Thursday night was emblematic of what has made the Demons so good. Freshman Leighton Salazar and sophomore Ella Greiner each had multiple hits at the top of order to further their excellent seasons.

Salazar’s .555 batting average, 71 total knocks and 58 runs scored are all top-five in the state statistically, while Greiner’s 25-game hitting streak has helped her hit .487 this year with nine doubles, five home runs, 40 runs scored and 39 runs batted in.

Sophomore pitcher Bella Salazar got her 16th win of the season in the circle against Central Lee and lowered her earned-run average to 3.27. Mix in the power of eighth-grader Colbie Greiner with 16 total extra-base hits and a lineup that combined is the sixth-highest scoring in 3A, and you can see why Washington head coach Ben Obermann believes his team is poised to handle this big playoff moment.

“We’ll go up to Assumption [and] give them our best shot,” Obermann says. “This group’s going to compete no mater what, whether they’re up 10 [or] down 10. We’re excited for the opportunity to play a storied program.”

The Demons will need their best effort to knock off the best opponent they’ve seen all season. Assumption is not only ranked second in the state, but behind the second-highest team batting average in 3A and senior pitcher Leah Maro’s minuscule 0.61 ERA, the Knights are 30-6 and have been to the state championship game each of the previous two seasons.

Washington will try to dethrone Davenport Assumption and move on to the 3A Region 8 finals. You can hear all the action between the Demons and the Knights this evening on 106.1 FM KCII and streaming on KCIIradio.com. Coverage begins with the Dino’s Pizza & Steakhouse Pregame Show at 6:30.