MONTICELLO - The Juda-Albany softball team is one step away from making a trip to Goodman Diamond for the state tournament after the Panthers beat Belmont 5-1 in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal Tuesday.
"Our goal at the beginning of the year was state," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "You always set your goals pretty lofty. We are one game from it."
With the win, Juda-Albany (23-4) advances to play Cashton in a Division 4 sectional championship game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Riverdale High School in Muscoda. With a win, the Panthers would clinch a state tournament berth.
Juda-Albany freshman pitcher Nicki Becker stymied Belmont's strong hitting lineup. She pitched a complete game and gave up just one earned run on six hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"She (Becker) pitched a very solid game and kept them off-balance," Davis said.
Juda-Albany freshman Hailey Kammerer went 2-for-3 with one RBI and sophomore Alexis Goecks was 2-for-4. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. Becker singled and Katlyn Steinmann moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Danielle Dieckoff then delivered an RBI single to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Goecks used her speed to set up the next run for the Panthers in the third. Goecks singled and Molly Marass moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Juda-Albany junior Jessica Crull popped out to Belmont's third baseman who made the catch while back pedaling. Goecks tagged up and scored to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
Juda-Albany broke the game open with a three-run fourth. Steinmann walked and Kammerer and Goecks both followed with singles. Marass then came through with a two-run single. When Marass was caught in a rundown between first and second base, Goecks raced in to score from second to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead.
"I told Goecks to go to third and she is just so fast she scored," Davis said.
Kammerer has batted No. 9 in the lineup this season, but she has been a clutch hitter for the Panthers.
"You only bat in the No. 9 spot once," Davis said. "That No. 9 spot is an important spot. That person has to have speed and get on base for the top of the order and she (Kammerer) has done that this year."
Davis expects another game down to the wire against Cashton.
"I know they have a good lineup that scores a lot of runs," he said. "I'm not sure if they have seen a pitcher the quality of Becker."
"Our goal at the beginning of the year was state," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "You always set your goals pretty lofty. We are one game from it."
With the win, Juda-Albany (23-4) advances to play Cashton in a Division 4 sectional championship game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Riverdale High School in Muscoda. With a win, the Panthers would clinch a state tournament berth.
Juda-Albany freshman pitcher Nicki Becker stymied Belmont's strong hitting lineup. She pitched a complete game and gave up just one earned run on six hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"She (Becker) pitched a very solid game and kept them off-balance," Davis said.
Juda-Albany freshman Hailey Kammerer went 2-for-3 with one RBI and sophomore Alexis Goecks was 2-for-4. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. Becker singled and Katlyn Steinmann moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Danielle Dieckoff then delivered an RBI single to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Goecks used her speed to set up the next run for the Panthers in the third. Goecks singled and Molly Marass moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Juda-Albany junior Jessica Crull popped out to Belmont's third baseman who made the catch while back pedaling. Goecks tagged up and scored to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
Juda-Albany broke the game open with a three-run fourth. Steinmann walked and Kammerer and Goecks both followed with singles. Marass then came through with a two-run single. When Marass was caught in a rundown between first and second base, Goecks raced in to score from second to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead.
"I told Goecks to go to third and she is just so fast she scored," Davis said.
Kammerer has batted No. 9 in the lineup this season, but she has been a clutch hitter for the Panthers.
"You only bat in the No. 9 spot once," Davis said. "That No. 9 spot is an important spot. That person has to have speed and get on base for the top of the order and she (Kammerer) has done that this year."
Davis expects another game down to the wire against Cashton.
"I know they have a good lineup that scores a lot of runs," he said. "I'm not sure if they have seen a pitcher the quality of Becker."
