Washington reaches new ground in softball (Video)

FORT DODGE - The goal was for one win.Didn't matter when or how, the Washington Demons just wanted that one victory. They got that out of the way immediately to earned the school's first ever win at the state softball tournament at the expense of traditional power Carlisle.The seventh-ranked Demons dropped the No. 3 Wildcats, 5-2, in a Class 4A  quarterfinal of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state softball tournament Tuesday at Rogers Sports Complex.It is just the program's second state appearance and first since 1997.“It's a great accomplishment for our program and our town,” junior Joni Erwin said. “To knock off a team like Carlisle is just great. We're all really excited and happy to move on in the winners bracket and it's going to be a great week, hopefully.”Washington, which won its first Southeast Conference title this season, displayed how far the team has improved since going 20-17 a year ago. The Demons led the entire game. They weren't intimidated to play on the big stage, or against a team who has been there.“It's somebody else's turn," Washington's Lauren Vittetoe said. "I know everybody was really pumped up, and confident in ourselves because we've done well all year. Beating them shows we're a pretty good team.”A good team that is relaxed and having fun. Vittetoe said nerves were more prevalent trying to get to state than during the quarterfinal. The Demons performance hinged on how they handled early jitters.“It was a matter of how they handle the stress and the pressure,” Shrader said. “I thought that if we can make it through the first inning with them not scoring a run that we would be OK. I think that was the biggest key.”The Demons (32-8) played like they were regulars, grabbing a 1-0 on a home run by Vittetoe that easily cleared the center field fence in the second. She was looking to spark the team, and gave an emphatic fist pump rounding first.“I knew where I wanted to put the ball,” said Vittetoe, who finished 2-for-3. “I knew I needed to swing really hard. I wanted to get something going.“I think that really pumped us up.”After Carlisle's Payton Mercer answered with a solo home run in the third, Washington responded with two runs in the bottom of the third. Chayse Jaspering, who ended with two hits, and Maddie Bohr opened the inning with singles and Vittetoe loaded the bases with a two-out base hit.Erwin came to the plate after a disappointing at-bat the previous inning where she struck out looking. She said she was determined to redeem herself and delivering, driving in the eventual winning run with a base hit to center.“I was just aggressive and I went out there, swung and I got good contact,” Erwin said. “I was confident at the plate and I knew I could do it.”Washington expanded its lead to 5-0 in the fourth on Sammy Ellingson's two-run double. The emphasis is to score first and continue to pressure their foes with constant base runners, and they did.All but two batters had at least one hit.“They all did their job of whatever they were supposed to do, putting the ball in play or scoring the runs,” Shrader said. “It was a team effort.”Carlisle Coach Jim Flaws wasn't surprised by the offensive attack that tagged pitcher Kenzie Flaws (27-8) for five earned runs. She entered the game with a 1.09 earned run average."Not really surprised at all," Jim Flaws said. "Washington is a hitting team. We came out excited and ready to go, but we left too many runners on the bases. Had bases loaded twice and couldn't produce a run. Also had runners on 1st and 2nd and left them stranded too many times."Carlisle (32-9) threatened often, loading the bases with one out in the first and with two outs in the fifth. The Wildcats stranded two in each of the final two innings. Amber Vittetoe and Ashley Rausch (20-4) pitched out of jams thanks to solid defense behind them.“We came out defensively and made some great plays,” Shrader said. “Ashley threw well.”The Demons face No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes (34-5) in a semifinal Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Dallas Center-Grimes beat Sioux City Heelan, 3-0, in the quarterfinals. A state title run might go through the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 ranked teams. They will have to play like they did Tuesday, according to Shrader and Lauren Vittetoe.“We have a lot of talent,” Vittetoe said. “A state championship is possible. We all work together. We have a lot of talent this year. We've worked on it.”