ARGYLE - Argyle softball coach Dan Treuthardt spent the majority of the last two seasons calling the pitches for his daughter and Orioles ace Jessica Treuthardt.
Recently, he decided that setup wasn't working.
"When I'm calling pitches, she's slower (between deliveries) and we wanted to try and pick up her momentum," Dan Treuthardt said. "We got in the Juda(-Albany) tournament and we didn't aim. I just said throw it hard. She likes it so I said, 'Well, we can go with it and see how it works."
It's working splendidly.
Jessica Treuthardt fired a three-hitter and worked out of a major jam in the seventh inning Thursday to preserve Argyle's 1-0 victory against Barneveld in a WIAA Division 4 regional tournament opener.
Freshman Jenna Langmeier had two of Argyle's three hits and senior Danielle Treuthardt plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
The Orioles advance to play at Juda-Albany on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Dan Treuthardt said it wasn't an easy decision to stop calling the pitches for Jessica.
"I don't like that I don't know what the pitch is, but she's doing a great job with it," Dan Treuthardt said. "It's different, but she wasn't hitting her spots anyway (with him calling pitches). As long as she mixes a changeup in and moves the ball around, and she's doing that."
Barneveld had just two baserunners through four innings, but mounted threats in the fifth and seventh innings. In the fifth, the Eagles had runners on first and second with one out before Treuthardt got two straight groundouts.
The Eagles' best opportunity came in the seventh when their first two batters reached - Danielle Straubhaar on a single to right field Hailey Kleppe on an error. But Jessica Treuthardt struck out Samantha Evans, then caught Kaitlyn Walker's looping liner over her shoulder and fired to second to double off Straubhaar and end the game.
The sophomore said she tried to use Thursday's blustery conditions to her advantage.
"The wind was so bad, but I was just trying to keep it low and inside and hope they'd ground out, and it worked pretty well," said Jessica Treuthardt, who recorded 12 ground-ball outs. "The wind kind of made my pitches curve a little bit."
Barneveld sophomore Kristen Udelhofen was equally tough in the circle, allowing just a single and a walk through five innings.
But in the sixth, Langmeier reached on a squibber up the first base line that stayed fair. She then stole second base, getting to the bag long after Barneveld catcher McKenzie Sporle's throw but dislodging the ball with her slide.
"She just seems to pull things out - she's one of those scrappers," Dan Treuthardt said of Langmeier. "She was out big time at second base, but she slides into the ball and gets it loose. She gets to third and she says, 'Why was I safe at second?' She's just one of those kids that makes things happen."
Langmeier advanced to third when junior Rachel Tollakson was safe on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and Danielle Treuthardt drove Langmeier in with a line drive to center.
"I got full contact. If the wind was blowing, it would have been over (the center fielder's) head," Jessica Treuthardt said. "I figured it was going to get caught, but I didn't care as long as Jenna scored."
Juda-Albany defeated Argyle in both Six Rivers East Conference meetings - 8-1 in eight innings on April 17 in Argyle and 11-0 in five innings in Juda on May 3.
Dan Treuthardt said his team was "crippled" in the second encounter, when both shortstop Kayla Ostby and third baseman Katie Dammen were sidelined. Ostby has returned to the lineup.
"We're excited to play Juda," the coach said. "I'm so happy with this team."
Recently, he decided that setup wasn't working.
"When I'm calling pitches, she's slower (between deliveries) and we wanted to try and pick up her momentum," Dan Treuthardt said. "We got in the Juda(-Albany) tournament and we didn't aim. I just said throw it hard. She likes it so I said, 'Well, we can go with it and see how it works."
It's working splendidly.
Jessica Treuthardt fired a three-hitter and worked out of a major jam in the seventh inning Thursday to preserve Argyle's 1-0 victory against Barneveld in a WIAA Division 4 regional tournament opener.
Freshman Jenna Langmeier had two of Argyle's three hits and senior Danielle Treuthardt plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
The Orioles advance to play at Juda-Albany on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Dan Treuthardt said it wasn't an easy decision to stop calling the pitches for Jessica.
"I don't like that I don't know what the pitch is, but she's doing a great job with it," Dan Treuthardt said. "It's different, but she wasn't hitting her spots anyway (with him calling pitches). As long as she mixes a changeup in and moves the ball around, and she's doing that."
Barneveld had just two baserunners through four innings, but mounted threats in the fifth and seventh innings. In the fifth, the Eagles had runners on first and second with one out before Treuthardt got two straight groundouts.
The Eagles' best opportunity came in the seventh when their first two batters reached - Danielle Straubhaar on a single to right field Hailey Kleppe on an error. But Jessica Treuthardt struck out Samantha Evans, then caught Kaitlyn Walker's looping liner over her shoulder and fired to second to double off Straubhaar and end the game.
The sophomore said she tried to use Thursday's blustery conditions to her advantage.
"The wind was so bad, but I was just trying to keep it low and inside and hope they'd ground out, and it worked pretty well," said Jessica Treuthardt, who recorded 12 ground-ball outs. "The wind kind of made my pitches curve a little bit."
Barneveld sophomore Kristen Udelhofen was equally tough in the circle, allowing just a single and a walk through five innings.
But in the sixth, Langmeier reached on a squibber up the first base line that stayed fair. She then stole second base, getting to the bag long after Barneveld catcher McKenzie Sporle's throw but dislodging the ball with her slide.
"She just seems to pull things out - she's one of those scrappers," Dan Treuthardt said of Langmeier. "She was out big time at second base, but she slides into the ball and gets it loose. She gets to third and she says, 'Why was I safe at second?' She's just one of those kids that makes things happen."
Langmeier advanced to third when junior Rachel Tollakson was safe on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and Danielle Treuthardt drove Langmeier in with a line drive to center.
"I got full contact. If the wind was blowing, it would have been over (the center fielder's) head," Jessica Treuthardt said. "I figured it was going to get caught, but I didn't care as long as Jenna scored."
Juda-Albany defeated Argyle in both Six Rivers East Conference meetings - 8-1 in eight innings on April 17 in Argyle and 11-0 in five innings in Juda on May 3.
Dan Treuthardt said his team was "crippled" in the second encounter, when both shortstop Kayla Ostby and third baseman Katie Dammen were sidelined. Ostby has returned to the lineup.
"We're excited to play Juda," the coach said. "I'm so happy with this team."
