Obermann leads Washington to State Softball Tournament

CRESCO - Washington (Iowa) High School Softball Head Coach Ben Obermann, a 2009 Crestwood graduate, recently led the Demon Softball Squad to the 2025 State High School Softball Tournament. 

Obermann just concluded his 10th season as Head Coach of the Demons. The 2025 season marked the fourth time Washington has qualified for the State Softball Tournament (1997, 2012, 2013 and 2025). Ben is the son of former Crestwood Coach and Teacher Jim Obermann.

Competing at the 2025 Class 3A State Tourney in late July, the Demons lost to Williamsburg, 7-2, in the first round; and fell to Esterville Lincoln Central, 3-1, in the consolation round to finish the season at 29-11 and tied for fifth at State.

The Times Plain Dealer recently caught up with Ben Obermann to get some comments about the Demons’ 2025 season.

TPD: What were some key factors in the team qualifying for State in 2025?

BO: We had a strong mixture of veteran leadership and youth. Our four seniors were outstanding, as they led by example on and off the field. We were a talented team, but above all else, this group had some of the most heart, desire, and toughness I've been around during my time as a head coach. 

It has been a goal of this senior group since they entered our program five seasons ago, and everything clicked at the right time this season. We had strong pitching, and our offense was top five in the state in most every category. What became the ultimate key to us getting to State and beating a team like Davenport Assumption to get there was our defense becoming elite. 

We didn't beat ourselves down the stretch and we found a way to neutralize the other team's speed, which was maybe a weakness of ours early in the season. Our girls continuously got better and I would say our practices got better and better toward the end of the season, which isn't always the case. Ultimately, this group was very close to one another as well. Team chemistry can't be overstated and I think when you look at all the teams that make the state tournament, they are a tight knit group who put others' success above their own personal success. This team did that and as a coach, I just tried to put them in the best possible positions to succeed. 

TPD: What are some aspects of coaching softball that you like the most?

BO: I'm a competitor, and in softball, it's such a fast game. There's not a ton of time to make decisions, and I embrace that challenge. I love everything about developing scouting reports, and I always try to make sure that our girls are more prepared than the other team. That challenge continues to drive me, as I never want to go into a game where I feel like the other team is more prepared than we are.

I've always been a teacher first and I think your best coaches have to be teachers of the game. Being able to teach the skills of hitting, fielding, and seeing your athletes embrace the process and continuously improving through the drills and mechanics is what is truly enjoyable. I love seeing how much girls develop and improve over the course of a season and their softball careers. 

Overall, the relationships I have been able to make over the past 10 years, both with the athletes, families, and other coaches. It is a great fraternity. When we qualified for State, it was truly overwhelming how many texts and emails I received from past players, parents, and coaches. 

You sometimes forget just what this game can bring you from a relationship standpoint, and that was humbling. Being able to have those relationships that last beyond their years of high school is something I will never take for granted. It makes me feel old, but I love staying in contact with those who have gone through our program, because those who stay in contact, it shows you just how much this program meant to them.

TPD: How is coaching softball different than coaching baseball? What are the biggest challenges? (Ben Obermann coached the South Winn baseball team during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The 2014 team advanced to the State Tourney).

BO: A lot of it is the same from a teaching standpoint. Hitting mechanics and fielding mechanics are the same. The pitching side is where I initially had to learn the most. There are some little strategic things that you have to do differently on the defensive side than baseball, mostly from a small ball standpoint. In softball, you can't get away with being a poor defensive team against the bunt or small ball, whereas in baseball, you can sometimes get away with it due to longer bases-lines and the infield grass slowing things down a bit. 

Obviously, coaching girls presents some different aspects than boys, but what I've learned is that if you show them you care about them as a person and love them for who they are as a person first, they will die for you on the field. I feel like we often have girls who outperform teams with more talent just because we compete, play extremely hard, and believe in ourselves. And, that's a credit to all our coaches for investing in the girls and believing in them as people and athletes. 

I still love baseball. I watch it when I can, and think it is a great game and was what I loved the most growing up. In high school today, the pitching is so much different with the stricter pitch counts, and I feel at smaller schools it's going to be hard to sustain.