JUDA - As the Juda-Albany softball coach, Bill Davis never rests in a game until the final out.
With ace freshman pitcher Nicki Becker on the mound in relief and the Panthers leading Brodhead 6-3 going into the seventh inning, Juda-Albany looked to be in a good position to get a win. But the Cardinals battled back and Brodhead senior Payton Wright crushed a grand slam off Becker to stun the Panthers 7-6 Saturday.
Juda-Albany defeated Stockton 10-8 and finished the tournament 1-1. With the split of games Saturday, Juda-Albany improves to 16-2, 11-0 Six Rivers East.
"Sometimes things like that happen," Davis said. "The ball was up and the girl (Wright) went and got it. To tell you the truth, it will probably be a play she never forgets ... you think you have things in hand and they snatch it away from you. Nicki is strong. I think she will bounce back."
Wright went 3-for-4 to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead senior Taylor Gerlach and Cassie McGuire were each 2-for-3.
Brodhead senior Brooke Boegli pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up five earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out three and walked three.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler pitched two innings and gave up two earned runs on two hits while walking five. Becker pitched five innings in relief and gave up four earned runs on six hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk. Juda-Albany sophomore Sara Jordan went 2-for-4 and senior teammates Katlyn Steinmann and Molly Marass were each 2-for-4.
Monticello went 2-0 in the tournament and had a dominating performance from senior Courtney Leuzinger. Leuzinger tossed a no-hitter to help the Ponies beat Deerfield 7-0 and she pitched a compete game in leading Monticello to a 6-2 win over Brodhead. There were only two balls hit out of the infield in two games off Leuzinger. With the wins, Monticello improves to 13-5, 8-4 Six Rivers East.
Leuzinger struck out eight against Deerfield and was a walk and one error away from a perfect game.
"She pitched one of her best games this year," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She hit every spot she had to hit. With Courtney being on her game right now, we are as good as anyone. She is keeping the ball down and our defense is making plays."
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Senior teammate Jordan Garrison also went 2-for-3.
Against Brodhead, Leuzinger induced 13 ground-ball outs. She pitched a complete game to get the win. Leuzinger gave up two runs on six hits. She struck out seven and walked three.
Monticello senior Brooke Bidlingmaier went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Bidlingmaier hit a solo home run in the fourth and had a key two-run double in the Ponies' three-run sixth.
"We are getting consistent pitching right now," Garrison said. "We know we can play with anyone. We just have to get the big hit when it arises."
Brodhead junior Amber Pickel and Gerlach were each 2-for-3.
Boegli pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits. She struck out 11 and walked three.
Juda-Albany bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Brodhead to beat Stockton 10-8.
The Panthers had a five-run third to break open a 7-2 lead. Jordan pitched six innings to get the win. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out five and walked eight.
Juda-Albany junior Jessica Crull hit a solo home run in the first to help the Panthers jump out to a 2-0 lead. Juda-Albany sophomore Alexis Goecks, Alexis Kennedy, Crull and Becker were each 2-for-4.
"We hit the ball very well all day," Davis said.
With Juda-Albany hosting Cassville in a makeup game today, Davis said he wanted to save Becker to pitch Monday.
With ace freshman pitcher Nicki Becker on the mound in relief and the Panthers leading Brodhead 6-3 going into the seventh inning, Juda-Albany looked to be in a good position to get a win. But the Cardinals battled back and Brodhead senior Payton Wright crushed a grand slam off Becker to stun the Panthers 7-6 Saturday.
Juda-Albany defeated Stockton 10-8 and finished the tournament 1-1. With the split of games Saturday, Juda-Albany improves to 16-2, 11-0 Six Rivers East.
"Sometimes things like that happen," Davis said. "The ball was up and the girl (Wright) went and got it. To tell you the truth, it will probably be a play she never forgets ... you think you have things in hand and they snatch it away from you. Nicki is strong. I think she will bounce back."
Wright went 3-for-4 to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead senior Taylor Gerlach and Cassie McGuire were each 2-for-3.
Brodhead senior Brooke Boegli pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up five earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out three and walked three.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler pitched two innings and gave up two earned runs on two hits while walking five. Becker pitched five innings in relief and gave up four earned runs on six hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk. Juda-Albany sophomore Sara Jordan went 2-for-4 and senior teammates Katlyn Steinmann and Molly Marass were each 2-for-4.
Monticello went 2-0 in the tournament and had a dominating performance from senior Courtney Leuzinger. Leuzinger tossed a no-hitter to help the Ponies beat Deerfield 7-0 and she pitched a compete game in leading Monticello to a 6-2 win over Brodhead. There were only two balls hit out of the infield in two games off Leuzinger. With the wins, Monticello improves to 13-5, 8-4 Six Rivers East.
Leuzinger struck out eight against Deerfield and was a walk and one error away from a perfect game.
"She pitched one of her best games this year," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She hit every spot she had to hit. With Courtney being on her game right now, we are as good as anyone. She is keeping the ball down and our defense is making plays."
Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Senior teammate Jordan Garrison also went 2-for-3.
Against Brodhead, Leuzinger induced 13 ground-ball outs. She pitched a complete game to get the win. Leuzinger gave up two runs on six hits. She struck out seven and walked three.
Monticello senior Brooke Bidlingmaier went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Bidlingmaier hit a solo home run in the fourth and had a key two-run double in the Ponies' three-run sixth.
"We are getting consistent pitching right now," Garrison said. "We know we can play with anyone. We just have to get the big hit when it arises."
Brodhead junior Amber Pickel and Gerlach were each 2-for-3.
Boegli pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits. She struck out 11 and walked three.
Juda-Albany bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Brodhead to beat Stockton 10-8.
The Panthers had a five-run third to break open a 7-2 lead. Jordan pitched six innings to get the win. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out five and walked eight.
Juda-Albany junior Jessica Crull hit a solo home run in the first to help the Panthers jump out to a 2-0 lead. Juda-Albany sophomore Alexis Goecks, Alexis Kennedy, Crull and Becker were each 2-for-4.
"We hit the ball very well all day," Davis said.
With Juda-Albany hosting Cassville in a makeup game today, Davis said he wanted to save Becker to pitch Monday.
