Grown-up, family-based Washington Demons have become a softball force

They have grown up. And they have arrived.

Youngsters no longer, the Washington Demons have made a steep two-year softball climb.

“We’re more experienced now than most of the teams we’re facing,” Demons Coach Ben Obermann said.

A squad full of second-, third and fourth-year varsity players, Washington is 20-4 and ranked No. 7 in Class 3A.

Two years ago, the Demons were 13-25. They progressed to 24-13 last season, and now the good times are really rolling, with 13 wins in the last 14 games.

“They’re a very connected group,” Obermann said. “It’s a joy to come to the park every day.

“They’re competitive. They play hard. They’re great teammates. They’ve done a good job making mid-game adjustments.”

As for the connectivity, well, bloodlines play a factor in that.

You’ve got the Henrichsen twins: Lauren is a third baseman; Kendall splits her time between shortstop and center field. They are juniors.

And you’ve got the Salazar sisters: Isabella (junior) is the No. 1 pitcher (11-2, 2.33 ERA) and also plays first base; Leighton (sophomore) catches sometimes, and also plays shortstop.

Leighton Salazar and junior Ella Greiner both are hitting in excess of .550.

The Demons won the 16-team Jesup tournament June 7-8.

“It was good to get out of southeast Iowa and play some new teams,” Obermann said. “It’s good to stay overnight. It’s a challenge. In a 16-team tournament, you don’t have time for an advance scout.”

The next pursuit is of a Southeast Conference title, which will be determined in the next nine days.

Washington is 10-0 in league play, a step ahead of Burlington (13-4, 9-1). The teams play two games at Washington (June 24) and one at Burlington (June 28).

Linn-Mar/Alburnett Invite: Elite competition, but ...

As stacked as the Linn-Mar/Alburnett Invitational is, there’s a seven-time defending champion.

Mother Nature.

The last time the two-site, 16-team tournament reached its conclusion and crowned a champion was 2016. Every year since, rain has washed it away.

Led by Class 5A No. 1 Pleasant Valley, 10 ranked teams are in the field, which begins at 11 a.m. Friday both at Oak Ridge Middle School in Marion and the Martin Sports Complex in Alburnett.

Three first-round games match ranked opponents: 2A No. 2 Northeast vs. 4A No. 6 Dallas Center-Grimes, 5A No. 4 Muscatine vs. 4A No. 10 Cedar Rapids Xavier and 2A No. 4 Alburnett vs. 4A No. 5 North Scott.

The championship game is slated for 3:15 Saturday afternoon at Oak Ridge ... weather permitting, of course.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com