ALBANY - Amber Ramos struck out 10 as Juda's softball team upended Albany in six innings Monday, 12-1. However, the game was the sideshow for the crowd and players all night long.
The two teams combined for the first of two "Strike Out Cancer" events. Both teams dawned nearly identical T-shirt jerseys that helped bring attention, honor and recognition to loved ones lost or affected by cancer. The schools are raising money together to donate to the American Cancer Society.
"It's such a great feeling, especially when Albany decided they wanted to be involved," Juda assistant coach Pam Green said. "I think it's great that we get the communities involved too and the teams are there to support each other. Right now it's not all about softball. There are other things involved with life as well."
The grand finale of the event will take place in Juda, May 10. Two days earlier, May 8, Juda will hold a car wash and bake sale outside of the Juda firehouse. On May 10, a Bratfest will also be held to donate money and each team will release a balloon into the sky for every strikeout during the game. T-shirts will also be available for $12.
Albany joined the effort with little more than just an offer to join.
"Pam brought it to me through e-mails. They had done it last year when they played us and it was a lot of fun to see it and we enjoyed it," Comets head coach Connie Wunschel said. "She asked me if we wanted to be apart of it so I brought it to the girls and they instantly wanted to do this. It's fun to be apart of it because I have never been a part of one before. A few of the girls are really diving in and trying to make things work out. I'm glad that they are excited about it."
Monday's game already had a different feel, with two usual rivals smiling and enjoying their time on the field.
"I think the girls were really looking forward to it. They were talking about it all week. It's really a good thing, it's for a really good cause," Juda head coach Bill Davis said.
In the game Monday, Ramos dazzled on the hill, walking just two and allowing three hits.
"Albany's got a good team," Davis said. "Putting a full game together against them feels pretty good."
Albany scored its only run in the fourth inning, cutting the Panthers' lead to 3-1. In the fifth, the wheels fell off for Comets pitcher Katie Krupke.
After retiring the first two hitters, Krupke then allowed two singles and center fielder Megan Farley dropped a fly ball on the run to continue the inning. Juda scored two in the frame to take a 5-1 advantage, leaving bases loaded when Albany shortstop Clare Koopmans made a running over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning.
"(Krupke) didn't think she was getting tired, but you really could see she was getting tired," Wunschel said. "People were in a lot of different positions (on defense). Pitcher and catcher were the same and Clare has played shortstop, but I kind of mixed it around to try and find a spark."
The Panthers added on to Krupke's fatigue in the sixth, scoring seven runs while batting around the order. In all, Juda sent 36 batters to the plate, collecting five walks and 11 hits. Aly Pierce was 3-for-4, Ramos was 2-for-3 with a double, Tabitha Theiler was 2-for-3.
"C.J. Dunwiddie (1-for-4, double), her hitting is really coming around. That's going to help us out. The big thing is we really wanted to get our offense going," Davis said. "Sometimes I think it makes a difference if you see a pitcher once before. We got it going the second time around the order."
Albany hosts Argyle Thursday while Juda is at Pecatonica May 3.
The two teams combined for the first of two "Strike Out Cancer" events. Both teams dawned nearly identical T-shirt jerseys that helped bring attention, honor and recognition to loved ones lost or affected by cancer. The schools are raising money together to donate to the American Cancer Society.
"It's such a great feeling, especially when Albany decided they wanted to be involved," Juda assistant coach Pam Green said. "I think it's great that we get the communities involved too and the teams are there to support each other. Right now it's not all about softball. There are other things involved with life as well."
The grand finale of the event will take place in Juda, May 10. Two days earlier, May 8, Juda will hold a car wash and bake sale outside of the Juda firehouse. On May 10, a Bratfest will also be held to donate money and each team will release a balloon into the sky for every strikeout during the game. T-shirts will also be available for $12.
Albany joined the effort with little more than just an offer to join.
"Pam brought it to me through e-mails. They had done it last year when they played us and it was a lot of fun to see it and we enjoyed it," Comets head coach Connie Wunschel said. "She asked me if we wanted to be apart of it so I brought it to the girls and they instantly wanted to do this. It's fun to be apart of it because I have never been a part of one before. A few of the girls are really diving in and trying to make things work out. I'm glad that they are excited about it."
Monday's game already had a different feel, with two usual rivals smiling and enjoying their time on the field.
"I think the girls were really looking forward to it. They were talking about it all week. It's really a good thing, it's for a really good cause," Juda head coach Bill Davis said.
In the game Monday, Ramos dazzled on the hill, walking just two and allowing three hits.
"Albany's got a good team," Davis said. "Putting a full game together against them feels pretty good."
Albany scored its only run in the fourth inning, cutting the Panthers' lead to 3-1. In the fifth, the wheels fell off for Comets pitcher Katie Krupke.
After retiring the first two hitters, Krupke then allowed two singles and center fielder Megan Farley dropped a fly ball on the run to continue the inning. Juda scored two in the frame to take a 5-1 advantage, leaving bases loaded when Albany shortstop Clare Koopmans made a running over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning.
"(Krupke) didn't think she was getting tired, but you really could see she was getting tired," Wunschel said. "People were in a lot of different positions (on defense). Pitcher and catcher were the same and Clare has played shortstop, but I kind of mixed it around to try and find a spark."
The Panthers added on to Krupke's fatigue in the sixth, scoring seven runs while batting around the order. In all, Juda sent 36 batters to the plate, collecting five walks and 11 hits. Aly Pierce was 3-for-4, Ramos was 2-for-3 with a double, Tabitha Theiler was 2-for-3.
"C.J. Dunwiddie (1-for-4, double), her hitting is really coming around. That's going to help us out. The big thing is we really wanted to get our offense going," Davis said. "Sometimes I think it makes a difference if you see a pitcher once before. We got it going the second time around the order."
Albany hosts Argyle Thursday while Juda is at Pecatonica May 3.
