A trying season for the Washington Demon softball team (7-27 overall) came to an end Thursday evening. As heard on AM/FM KCII and KCIIRadio.com, the Demons traveled to Fairfield for their Class 4A Region 5 quarterfinal clash against their Southeast Conference rivals the Trojans (25-11). Demon fielding errors led to multiple big innings for the Trojans, highlighted by a nine-run fourth, helping Fairfield cruise into the regional semifinals with a 15-2 victory in five innings.

Washington earned home field advantage on the scoreboard via a coin toss before the game, and Fairfield jumped out to a multiple run lead in the opening inning. Forcing a pair of walks in the first, Fairfield drove in two runs on a single by sophomore Kenady Waugh for an early 2-0 lead. Washington’s lone offense came in the bottom of the inning as the Demons loaded the bases with a Megan Mitchell single and walks forced by Morgan Brinning and Kolbi Breard. Freshman Brooke Stout drove in two of her teammates with a single, tying the game at 2-2.

After a scoreless second inning, the remainder of the quarterfinal clash belonged to the Trojans. Washington committed three fielding errors in the top of the third, allowing two runs to cross home plate for a 4-2 Fairfield lead. A one-two-three third inning for Washington advanced the game into the fourth. Five fielding errors in the fourth inning helped Fairfield bring 14 batters to the plate, allowing nine runs to be scored to catapult the lead to 13-2. Washington’s final hit of the evening came in the ensuing inning, a two-out single by eighth grader Haylee Wilson before a strike out ended the Demons’ fourth inning.

Fairfield added two additional runs in the fifth inning on a two out double by Brynna Bowman, extending the lead to 15-2. Washington went down in order in the bottom frame, bringing the final score to 15-2.

Washington’s season ends with a 7-27 overall record. The Demons lose Kolbi Breard and Anna Wheeler to graduation, but expect to return 13 players with varsity experience next season.