JUDA - Athletes often say the biggest plays in the most consequential games seem like they unfold in slow motion.
That's not exactly how Juda-Albany sophomore Tabatha Davis viewed the best ground out of her young life Friday.
"I had no idea what was happening and when I got on first base, everyone was cheering and I was so happy," Davis said. "A ground ball. That's what I told myself when I went up to hit: 'All I need is a ground ball.'"
Davis delivered, sending a bases-loaded bouncer to third base that plated the game-winner in the 10th inning, giving Juda-Albany a 3-2 victory against Monticello in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional championship game.
Juda-Albany (17-7) advances to face Burlington Catholic Central in a sectional semifinal game on Monday at 5 p.m. at Williams Bay.
The Panthers scored the winning run without the benefit of a solid hit against Monticello reliever Claire Bruns, using a hit batsman, a controversial infield single, a sacrifice and Davis' fielder's choice to claim their third straight regional crown.
"It's just doing the little things, right down to the last run and putting the ball in play to get the run," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said.
"I was absolutely expecting this kind of game out of (Monticello). We played them tight both times (during the regular season) and it just seems like sometimes a team's got you figured out and they kind of did with us.
"But as tight as the game was, you make the key plays and things go your way."
The winning rally started when Bruns hit the Panthers' leadoff hitter, senior Courtney Moisan, with a pitch.
The real trouble began for Monticello (18-5) when Juda-Albany junior Kirstie Kauk hit a squibber down the third base line that Monticello senior third baseman Tayna Smith made a stab at with her bare hand before it bounced foul. The home plate umpire ruled that Smith touched the ball, putting runners at first and second.
Smith and Monticello coach Duane Garrison were adamant on the field that Smith missed the ball when she swiped at it.
"She said she didn't touch it and I thought I saw a gap between the ball and her hand," Garrison said. "But it's a judgment call and you've got to live with it."
Juda-Albany sophomore Morganne Goecks followed with a sacrifice to put runners at second and third and bring Tabatha Davis to the plate. The sophomore first baseman sent a bouncer to third and Smith, who had no chance on the play with Moison running on contact, threw late to the plate as Moisan scored.
"I've been (team) manager since my dad started coaching and it's just awesome to be a part of this," Tabatha Davis said.
"I was really nervous, but I wanted to do it for the seniors."
One of those seniors, ace pitcher Amber Ramos, went the entire 10 innings for the Panthers. She allowed three hits and had 10 strikeouts.
Most impressively, she retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced - the lone Ponies runner during that stretch reaching on an error.
Ramos said she turned up the intensity in extra innings because she desperately wanted to win the rubber game in the season series - the Panthers winning 1-0 at Monticello and the Ponies posting a 2-1 triumph in Juda.
"I just didn't want to lose so I gave it my all till the end," Ramos said. "We did not like that split. In our hearts, we felt we were the better team and we wanted to prove that to everyone."
C.J. Dunwiddie went 2-for-4 and Moisan was 2-for-3 for Juda-Albany, which had five hits total against Ponies starter Karlie Klossner (five innings) and Bruns.
"This is the one we've been talking about all year - you want to win the regional title," Bill Davis said. "That almost means more to me than the (Six Rivers East) Conference championship."
That's not exactly how Juda-Albany sophomore Tabatha Davis viewed the best ground out of her young life Friday.
"I had no idea what was happening and when I got on first base, everyone was cheering and I was so happy," Davis said. "A ground ball. That's what I told myself when I went up to hit: 'All I need is a ground ball.'"
Davis delivered, sending a bases-loaded bouncer to third base that plated the game-winner in the 10th inning, giving Juda-Albany a 3-2 victory against Monticello in a WIAA Division 4 softball regional championship game.
Juda-Albany (17-7) advances to face Burlington Catholic Central in a sectional semifinal game on Monday at 5 p.m. at Williams Bay.
The Panthers scored the winning run without the benefit of a solid hit against Monticello reliever Claire Bruns, using a hit batsman, a controversial infield single, a sacrifice and Davis' fielder's choice to claim their third straight regional crown.
"It's just doing the little things, right down to the last run and putting the ball in play to get the run," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said.
"I was absolutely expecting this kind of game out of (Monticello). We played them tight both times (during the regular season) and it just seems like sometimes a team's got you figured out and they kind of did with us.
"But as tight as the game was, you make the key plays and things go your way."
The winning rally started when Bruns hit the Panthers' leadoff hitter, senior Courtney Moisan, with a pitch.
The real trouble began for Monticello (18-5) when Juda-Albany junior Kirstie Kauk hit a squibber down the third base line that Monticello senior third baseman Tayna Smith made a stab at with her bare hand before it bounced foul. The home plate umpire ruled that Smith touched the ball, putting runners at first and second.
Smith and Monticello coach Duane Garrison were adamant on the field that Smith missed the ball when she swiped at it.
"She said she didn't touch it and I thought I saw a gap between the ball and her hand," Garrison said. "But it's a judgment call and you've got to live with it."
Juda-Albany sophomore Morganne Goecks followed with a sacrifice to put runners at second and third and bring Tabatha Davis to the plate. The sophomore first baseman sent a bouncer to third and Smith, who had no chance on the play with Moison running on contact, threw late to the plate as Moisan scored.
"I've been (team) manager since my dad started coaching and it's just awesome to be a part of this," Tabatha Davis said.
"I was really nervous, but I wanted to do it for the seniors."
One of those seniors, ace pitcher Amber Ramos, went the entire 10 innings for the Panthers. She allowed three hits and had 10 strikeouts.
Most impressively, she retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced - the lone Ponies runner during that stretch reaching on an error.
Ramos said she turned up the intensity in extra innings because she desperately wanted to win the rubber game in the season series - the Panthers winning 1-0 at Monticello and the Ponies posting a 2-1 triumph in Juda.
"I just didn't want to lose so I gave it my all till the end," Ramos said. "We did not like that split. In our hearts, we felt we were the better team and we wanted to prove that to everyone."
C.J. Dunwiddie went 2-for-4 and Moisan was 2-for-3 for Juda-Albany, which had five hits total against Ponies starter Karlie Klossner (five innings) and Bruns.
"This is the one we've been talking about all year - you want to win the regional title," Bill Davis said. "That almost means more to me than the (Six Rivers East) Conference championship."
