MUSCODA - Juda-Albany freshman Nicki Becker worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and sophomore Alexis Goecks had a key bunt to drive in the game-winning run to lead the Panthers to a 4-3 win over Cashton in a Division 4 sectional championship to clinch the program's first state tournament berth in softball.
Cashton had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the sixth and Becker came through with a strikeout and induced two groundouts in a WIAA Division 4 Riverdale sectional final. In the bottom of the sixth, Juda-Albany's Danielle Dieckoff singled and stole second. Freshman teammate Hailey Kammerer moved Dieckoff into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Goecks then laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to knock in Dieckoff to give the Panthers a thrilling 4-3 win.
"It's our first time to state in softball for Juda and Albany," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "It's great for the kids, school and program. It's an awesome feeling. I'm proud of the kids."
Goecks went 3-for-4 and senior Cheyenne Ambler was 2-for-2. Becker pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up just one earned run on five hits; Becker struck out four and walked one.
Davis said the turning point was limiting Cashton to just one run after they loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth.
Cashton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Panthers. Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler and Becker both walked in the fourth. Juda-Albany junior Katlyn Steinmann moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Dieckoff then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Panthers (24-4) took the lead with a two-run fifth. Goecks singled and stole second and third. Junior teammate Jessica Crull's sacrifice fly drove in the game-tying run. Sophomore Sara Jordan singled and stole second. Ambler delivered a go-ahead RBI single to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead. That set the stage for the heroics in the sixth.
"It's something the kids can always look back on," Davis said.
Cashton had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the sixth and Becker came through with a strikeout and induced two groundouts in a WIAA Division 4 Riverdale sectional final. In the bottom of the sixth, Juda-Albany's Danielle Dieckoff singled and stole second. Freshman teammate Hailey Kammerer moved Dieckoff into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Goecks then laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to knock in Dieckoff to give the Panthers a thrilling 4-3 win.
"It's our first time to state in softball for Juda and Albany," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "It's great for the kids, school and program. It's an awesome feeling. I'm proud of the kids."
Goecks went 3-for-4 and senior Cheyenne Ambler was 2-for-2. Becker pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up just one earned run on five hits; Becker struck out four and walked one.
Davis said the turning point was limiting Cashton to just one run after they loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth.
Cashton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Panthers. Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler and Becker both walked in the fourth. Juda-Albany junior Katlyn Steinmann moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Dieckoff then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Panthers (24-4) took the lead with a two-run fifth. Goecks singled and stole second and third. Junior teammate Jessica Crull's sacrifice fly drove in the game-tying run. Sophomore Sara Jordan singled and stole second. Ambler delivered a go-ahead RBI single to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead. That set the stage for the heroics in the sixth.
"It's something the kids can always look back on," Davis said.
