WIAA Regionals
Thursday's Softball
Division 2
- Monroe at Beloit Turner, 5 p.m.
Division 3
- Orfordville Parkview at Brodhead, 4:45 p.m.
Division 4
- Monticello at Juda-Albany, 5 p.m.
Wednesday's Baseball
Division 4
- Black Hawk at Burlington Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
JUDA - When the going got tough, the Juda-Albany softball team delivered.
Kirstie Kauk stroked a two-out, bases-loaded single to break up a scoreless duel in the fourth inning to back Amber Ramos' three-hitter and lead the Panthers to a 5-0 victory over Argyle in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Tuesday at Community Park.
Juda-Albany (16-7) will host Monticello in Thursday's regional championship game at 5 p.m.
"It was one of our better games with clutch hits," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "Kirstie Kauk had a nice base hit. Those are the things you have to do."
It was the third meeting of the season between the Six Rivers East rivals.
Juda-Albany won the first game 8-1 in eight innings and the second 11-0 in five innings.
The game was a pitchers' duel between Ramos and Orioles sophomore Jessica Treuthardt until Ramos tripled leading off the fourth inning. The right-handed hitting Ramos drilled a long shot to deep right field to begin a three-run rally.
"They just kept telling me that if I got a pitch on the outside part of the plate that I should drive it to right field," Ramos said.
Jessica Rackow drew a walk one out later. Carlie Peters then loaded the bases when Argyle was unable to make a play on her roller to the third base side of a drawn-in infield.
Courtney Moisan drove in the first run with a pop-up that fell just inside the left-field line, and Kauk followed with her clutch two-run shot down the third base line for a 3-0 lead.
Ramos started the Panthers' two-run fifth inning with a one-out double. Rackow and Moisan each had RBI singles in the inning for Juda-Albany.
"They got some clutch hits with runners on," Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt said. "We missed a couple of opportunities early. If we could have scored, then it could have been a different ballgame."
Kayla Ostby reached on an error to open the second, moved to second on a passed ball and later stole third but was stranded as Ramos struck out the side. Frida Cuevas opened the fourth with a single but the Orioles were unable to advance the runner.
Argyle threatened with two outs in the fifth inning when Hannah Saalsaa was hit by a pitch, Jenna Langmeier singled and Rachel Tollakson walked to load the bases. But Ramos recorded yet another strikeout to end the threat.
"I keep them guessing the whole time," Ramos said. "I don't want to be a predictable pitcher."
Ramos struck out 13, walked one and hit a batter.
Are the young Orioles closing the gap on Juda-Albany?
"We wanted it to be today but it didn't happen," Dan Treuthardt said. "I'm happy with my kids."
Kirstie Kauk stroked a two-out, bases-loaded single to break up a scoreless duel in the fourth inning to back Amber Ramos' three-hitter and lead the Panthers to a 5-0 victory over Argyle in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Tuesday at Community Park.
Juda-Albany (16-7) will host Monticello in Thursday's regional championship game at 5 p.m.
"It was one of our better games with clutch hits," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "Kirstie Kauk had a nice base hit. Those are the things you have to do."
It was the third meeting of the season between the Six Rivers East rivals.
Juda-Albany won the first game 8-1 in eight innings and the second 11-0 in five innings.
The game was a pitchers' duel between Ramos and Orioles sophomore Jessica Treuthardt until Ramos tripled leading off the fourth inning. The right-handed hitting Ramos drilled a long shot to deep right field to begin a three-run rally.
"They just kept telling me that if I got a pitch on the outside part of the plate that I should drive it to right field," Ramos said.
Jessica Rackow drew a walk one out later. Carlie Peters then loaded the bases when Argyle was unable to make a play on her roller to the third base side of a drawn-in infield.
Courtney Moisan drove in the first run with a pop-up that fell just inside the left-field line, and Kauk followed with her clutch two-run shot down the third base line for a 3-0 lead.
Ramos started the Panthers' two-run fifth inning with a one-out double. Rackow and Moisan each had RBI singles in the inning for Juda-Albany.
"They got some clutch hits with runners on," Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt said. "We missed a couple of opportunities early. If we could have scored, then it could have been a different ballgame."
Kayla Ostby reached on an error to open the second, moved to second on a passed ball and later stole third but was stranded as Ramos struck out the side. Frida Cuevas opened the fourth with a single but the Orioles were unable to advance the runner.
Argyle threatened with two outs in the fifth inning when Hannah Saalsaa was hit by a pitch, Jenna Langmeier singled and Rachel Tollakson walked to load the bases. But Ramos recorded yet another strikeout to end the threat.
"I keep them guessing the whole time," Ramos said. "I don't want to be a predictable pitcher."
Ramos struck out 13, walked one and hit a batter.
Are the young Orioles closing the gap on Juda-Albany?
"We wanted it to be today but it didn't happen," Dan Treuthardt said. "I'm happy with my kids."
