Photo Courtesy of Washington High School Activities

The Washington Demons finished up the 2025 softball season yesterday with a 3-1 loss to Estherville Lincoln Central in the 2025 Class 3A state tournament consolation games at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Washington fell behind after ELC scored two runs in the second inning, and while back-to-back singles by junior Leighton Salazar and senior Ella Greiner would get one back for the Demons with two outs in the third, they would have just one base runner the rest of the game against Lincoln Central senior pitcher Rylee Yager.

Salazar and Greiner had two hits each for Washington, while senior Bella Salazar allowed just six hits and one walk in six innings pitched and struck out four batters in her final career game. Afterwards, Demons head coach Ben Obermann joined KCII Sports on the postgame show to praise his team.

“We have nothing to hang our heads about,” Obermann said. “We made a lot of people proud. We competed [and] we showed that we belonged. I told [the players] after [the game that] results right now aren’t what’s important. What’s important is [to] enjoy their last couple days here together as a team. There’s just not enough good things to say about them.”

Washington finishes the season with a record of 29-11, their most wins in a single season since their last trip to state in 2013. The Demons will lose four seniors to graduation, including Greiner, Bella Salazar, Alyvia Anderson and Halle Cuddeback.