In a battle of state-ranked softball squads, the Washington Demons ended the regular season by knocking off Albia in a 3-2 thriller last night.

A single run by the number-12 team in the state in Class 3A in the second inning meant that Washington trailed most of the night, but the Demons rallied by scoring three times in the sixth and holding off Albia from there.

Junior Alyvia Anderson had team highs of two hits and two runs batted in for Washington, while sophomore Leighton Salazar and junior Ella Greiner each came up with one hit and one run scored.

The real stars of the night were the Demon pitchers. Freshman Colbie Greiner got the victory and combined with juniors Bella Salazar and Halle Cuddeback to give up just five hits while working around five walks allowed.

With the win, Washington, ranked 13th in Class 3A, concludes the regular season with a record of 23-11 and secures their first stretch of back-to-back winning seasons in over a decade.

Demon baseball would not have the same good fortune, falling 13-4 to Grinnell. The game was scoreless until Grinnell put up five runs in the top of the third, and even when Washington responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half, the 10th-ranked team in Class 3A scored another seven times in the fourth to seize control.

Sophomore Caden Greiner and freshman Blayze Richardson each had two hits for the Demons, with Greiner picking up a RBI. Junior Mason Morgan and sophomore Kael Williams each added a hit and a run scored.

Washington finishes the regular season at 5-20. While Demon baseball now prepares to start the postseason Friday by traveling to Central DeWitt, Washington softball will begin the playoffs tomorrow evening by hosting Midland.

You can catch Demon playoff softball tomorrow night starting with the Roder Epoxy Pregame Show at 6:30 on 106.1 FM KCII