Demons pursue another surprise

FORT DODGE -- When the Washington Demons look in the mirror, they don't see Cinderella."I think other people do," Coach Angie Shrader said Wednesday as the seventh-ranked Demons (32-8) prepared for a Class 4A semifinal against No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes (34-5) at the state softball tournament. "A lot of people don't see softball in Southeast Iowa. We've got a tough road, but that's why we're here."Four area teams have reached the semifinal round. Two of them are veterans:* Top-ranked Clear Creek Amana (42-1) is making its 33rd state appearance and faces No. 4 Indianola (29-11) in a 4A contest at 5 p.m.* No. 1 Solon is here for the eighth time in 10 years. The Spartans (36-6) take on No. 5 Estherville-Lincoln Central (28-6) in a 3A battle at 3 p.m.Then there's the newbies.In addition to Washington (which beat No. 3 Carlisle for its first state-tournament win), there's Iowa City West, which made a successful state debut Tuesday with a 5-0 win over Ottumwa.The No. 9 Women of Troy (37-6) face No. 1 Ankeny (37-6) in a 5A semifinal at 7."They're going to be tough," West pitcher Mackenzie Laux said. "Getting to state, that was the first step. Winning the first game, that was the next step. Now, Ankeny is the next step."Washington made its first trip to state in 1997, when it went 0-3 and placed eighth. This time, the Demons are guaranteed a top-four finish."No matter what we do, we're doing what we're supposed to do," Shrader said. "If we get beat, well, people expect us to get beat. If we play Demon softball, we've done our job."This team expects to win. But they shouldn't feel any pressure."If the Demons are to complete a championship run, they'll probably have to pull a trifecta against No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1."It will be tough to do, but we're capable," said first baseman Lauren Vittetoe, the Demons' lone senior. "Everybody would be surprised, wouldn't they?"

Call to the HallJackie Sorensen of Clear Creek Amana and Courtney Strang of Solon are among four players that will join the Iowa Girls High School Softball Hall of Fame.The induction ceremony is slated for Friday between the 3A and 4A championship games, around 4:30 p.m.Sorensen posted a 136-19 record from 1998 through 2002. She pitched the Clippers to the championship in her senior season.Strang burst onto the scene immediately, pitching Solon to the 2A title in 2003. The Spartans won it again in 2007, when she was a senior. She ended her career with a mark of 154-19.Morgan Paulson (Fort Dodge, 2005) and Jamie Kelling (Davenport West, 2004) also will be honored.