JUDA — Juda-Albany’s defense allowed just three hits and played clean defense in a 4-0 shutout win over Wauzeka-Steuben in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal game May 22.

“Avary (Briggs) was making the pitches, and the defense was making the plays behind her,” Juda-Albany head coach Bill Davis said. “It was a great team effort, and a real nice win against a great team.”

On paper, the 5-4 matchup looked to be a close one. The Panthers finished second in the Six Rivers East, three games back of Barneveld. They began the season ranked on the WisSports.net Coaches poll but dropped off in Week 3. Conversely, the Hornets were winners of Ridge & Valley with a two-game cushion. They have been ranked all season — as high as No. 3 — and always been above Juda-Albany.

“Coming in, we knew we had to take it one game at a time,” Juda-Albany senior Avary Briggs said. “The rest of the season doesn’t define this game.”

Juda-Albany came out strong, nearly scoring in the first inning. Avary Briggs led off with a four-pitch walk, and Anna Ellinger moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Alana Durtschi also drew a walk, and both runners moved up 60 feet on a passed ball. The Panthers left two batters stranded, though, with two groundouts.

Avary Briggs quickly put the bats back into her teammates’ hands, retiring the Hornets in 10 pitches with two strikeouts.

More patience in the second frame led to more baserunners. Kiearra Cleasby drew a two-out, full-count walk. No. 9 batter Lavinia Rufer also walked, turning it over to the top of the order. Avary Briggs hit an RBI single to center, putting Juda-Albany on the board. 

Ellinger walked to load the bases for three-hole hitter Alana Durtschi, who took just two pitches to rope a two-RBI single down the right field line.

Avary Briggs threw another shutdown inning, enforcing two groundouts and racking up another strikeout.

In the bottom of the fourth, Juda-Albany tacked on an insurance run against relief pitcher Cameron Hurda. Ellinger drew a full-count walk, and Durtschi singled on a 3-2 count. Emerson Briggs then came up clutch with a two-out RBI single to right, thanks to a slide-by from Ellinger. 

“I came in knowing that she could be throwing anything,” Emerson Briggs said. “I was going up to the plate and looking for my pitch.”

Juda-Albany could have extended its lead more but ran into a pair of outs on the base paths. Rufer beat out a dribbler up the third baseline, but flex player Allison Rhyner was caught stealing to end the inning in the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Avary Briggs led off with a double. Ellinger attempted to bunt her to third, but the sacrifice stopped dead right in front of Hornet catcher Emma Wall, who threw Avary Briggs out at third.

“On the bunt, we are thinking get it down,” Davis said. “We just didn’t push it out far enough. The only way they get that out is the catcher fields it — she’s a great player — and makes a great throw. A few plays like that we have to clean up, but overall a solid performance.”

The mental errors didn’t come back to hurt the Panthers, as Avary Briggs struck out the side in the top of the seventh to secure the win. She earned the complete-game win, allowing just three hits and striking out nine.

At the plate, Avary Briggs was 2-for-3 with a double, one walk, one run scored and one RBI. Durtschi finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Emerson Briggs had a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The victory sets up a rematch with 1-seed Belmont. Last season, the Braves bested the Panthers 9-3 in a regional final. Belmont also shut out Juda-Albany 5-0 on April 13 this year.

“We know we haven’t had very good history going over there and playing,” Davis said. “You could say we are the underdog. We have to play relaxed and make them make the plays.”