JUDA — Despite losing three All-Conference players in Briannah Dahl, Emileigh Dallman and Anna Skoumal, the Juda-Albany co-op is poised to contend for another Six Rivers East Conference title.

“We should compete for a conference title and go far in playoffs,” head coach Bill Davis said.

This is largely due to the pitcher-catcher combo of Avary Briggs and Myah Johnson. The pair have been back-to-back All-Conference selections with state experience.

Alana Durtschi and Ciarrah Davis were also All-Conference selections a year ago. Combined with Gracie Freitag, Jackie Nusbaum, Tamarra Boss and Allison Rhyner, who were also part of the 2021 state-runner up team, that makes eight players with elite-level experience.

“There’s good leadership,” Davis said. “The players we have back have played lots of varsity innings.”

Also returning are juniors Delani Blakely, Briliey Swedlund, Lavinia Rufer and Grace Gold, and sophomores Anna Ellinger and Kierra Cleasby. Freshman Emerson Briggs will see some varsity innings in the infield or pitching.

Around the horn, the Panthers will have Avary Briggs and Johnson at pitcher and catcher, with Freitag at first. Durtschi, who played primarily third base last year, will move over to shortstop to fill in for Dahl. Davis then will come in from the outfield to play third base. Jackie Nusbaum will remain in the outfield, as she and her sister Katie alternated in right.

That leaves second base open, previously played by Dallman, and two outfield spots, including center, which was home to Skoumal.

“We have a couple spots to fill,” Davis said. “It will be a matter of finding the right combination of players to fill those spots. But we will have a great pitching staff and strong defense.”

Although Davis is optimistic about his defense pitching staff, he’d like to improve at the plate.

“We need to hit better,” Davis said. “As a team last year, we hit .230 [which is down from .280 in 2020]. We have to get better at being more aggressive at the plate and putting balls in play to get runs.”

Health will be another key to the Panthers’ success, as Johnson and Swedlund have suffered injuries in the past two years that have taken them out of multiple games.

With all the pieces in place, Juda-Albany can compete for the Six Rivers East title with Pecatonica and Barneveld. In cross-over games, Davis sees Highland and Belmont as stiff competition in the West.