JUDA — Bragging rights came into play during Juda-Albany’s 2-0 victory over Waunakee on Friday, April 21. The game featured Bill Davis — head coach of the Juda-Albany squad — and his children Tyler and Tabatha — who coach Waunakee.
“It was a nice rivalry. Part of the reason we did this was yes, I knew the coach, but they are also a good team,” Waunakee head coach Tyler Davis said. “Playing good teams makes us better, so it was something I wanted to do.”
Tabatha and Tyler graduated from Juda in 2014, and Tabatha played for the Juda-Albany softball team in high school.
“It was fun because we all have the same brain for softball,” Tabatha Davis said. “It’s a fun game and to do it with the people you love, even if you are on the other side of the fence, is an awesome experience.”
After a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Panthers scored first in the bottom half of the frame. Ciarrah Davis drew a four-pitch walk, and Myah Johnson drove her home on a double to right. Waunakee relayed the ball in and got Johnson out a third, trying to stretch her double into a triple.
Juda-Albany could have scored more in the second, as all three batters that came to the plate made solid contact. Their hits found the gloves of Waunakee’s outfielders.
“That’s been our MO all season to tell you the truth,” Bill Davis said of the girls’ lineouts. “You still have to go up there and hit — eventually they will fall for you. Keep making good contact and having good at-bats and good things will come your way.”
The Warriors ran themselves out of the third inning, as two runners attempted to steal after reaching on singles. Panther catcher Myah Johnson had pitcher Avary Briggs’s back though, and threw out both would-be base stealers.
Ciarrah Davis sparked Juda-Albany’s offense once again in the fourth inning, drawing another walk. Alana Durtschi, attempting to move Ciarrah Davis into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, reached on an error. Briggs then drove her home with a groundout to short.
The two runs were all Juda-Albany needed to win, as Briggs pitched a five-hit shutout to win.
“Our defense is turning it around,” Bill Davis said, referencing the start of the season where his team committed eight errors in two games. “Beginning of the year we were rough defensively, but right now we’ve developed into a solid defensive team. Avary’s pitching gets us those ground balls. It’s a team effort.”
Johnson recorded the only hit for the Panthers, while Ciarrah Davis drew two walks. Lavinia Rufer and Durtschi also reached base.
JUDA-ALBANY 7, BENTON-SHULLSBURG 0
ALBANY — Avary Briggs threw a three-hit shutout the day prior on Thursday, April 20 to defeat the Zephyrs in a conference crossover game.
The Panthers had a pair of three-run innings where leadoff batter Emerson Briggs plated two runs. She finished 1-for-4 on the day with one run scored. Juda-Albany received multiple hits from Ciarrah Davis (2), Durtschi (3) and Johnson (3).
