ARGYLE - Amber Ramos threw down an exclamation point as Juda clinched the Six Rivers East Conference softball championship Monday. The sophomore hurler tossed a heater past the bat of Argyle's Jackie Dammen for the final out in Juda's 8-0 win - the victory also featured Ramos' fourth no-hitter of the season.
"I just really wanted to be conference champs again," Ramos said. "It feels pretty good. I never thought I would even get three in a year."
After splitting a doubleheader against Barneveld Friday, the Panthers (12-6, 10-1) had clinched at least a share of conference for the second straight season. Argyle (14-6, 8-4), was the only other team in striking distance.
"We had them coming in here feeling confident," Orioles coach Heidi Ganshert said. "Ramos is a fantastic pitcher and Juda is a good team. We didn't play our game. (Our girls) were hitting 58 (mile per hour pitches) in practice yesterday. I've seen them do it, now they just have to do it when it's time."
Both teams played in Juda's tournament Saturday, with the Panthers resting many of their starters, including Ramos. The rest paid off Monday.
Ramos finished with 16 strikeouts, two walks, a hit batter and retired the final 12 hitters she faced in order.
"Having that many strikeouts in a game really gives your defense a ton of confidence," Panthers head coach Bill Davis said. "One, they're not hitting the ball hard when they are hitting it, so defensively they know they only have to make six or seven plays, and we did that."
Juda loaded the bases in the first, but Argyle hurler Kelsey Bartels got out of the frame unscathed. Bartels, who tossed a no-hitter Saturday, allowed six hits and nine walks to the Panthers Monday. The Orioles defense didn't help the cause, committing four errors, which allowed for two unearned runs to score.
"We had too many walks and too many errors. That just killed us," Ganshert said. "Today wasn't awful, they just had a few clutch hits that drove in some runs. It wasn't a blowout."
Juda got on the board in the third inning. Ramos and Alycia Grenzow hit back to back doubles and Tabitha Theiler and C.J. Dunwiddie each came in to score later in the inning.
"We had some clutch hitting. There were a couple of times there where people that needed to get hits did get hits," Davis said. "Alycia Grenzow got up and drove in three runs on some key hits and Ramos had a key at bat early too.
"Kelsey is a good pitcher and she's tough when she gets your swinging high. We just told the girls to stay back and wait for a better pitch."
The Panthers added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
"Tonight I thought we hit the ball pretty darn well," Davis said.
"I just really wanted to be conference champs again," Ramos said. "It feels pretty good. I never thought I would even get three in a year."
After splitting a doubleheader against Barneveld Friday, the Panthers (12-6, 10-1) had clinched at least a share of conference for the second straight season. Argyle (14-6, 8-4), was the only other team in striking distance.
"We had them coming in here feeling confident," Orioles coach Heidi Ganshert said. "Ramos is a fantastic pitcher and Juda is a good team. We didn't play our game. (Our girls) were hitting 58 (mile per hour pitches) in practice yesterday. I've seen them do it, now they just have to do it when it's time."
Both teams played in Juda's tournament Saturday, with the Panthers resting many of their starters, including Ramos. The rest paid off Monday.
Ramos finished with 16 strikeouts, two walks, a hit batter and retired the final 12 hitters she faced in order.
"Having that many strikeouts in a game really gives your defense a ton of confidence," Panthers head coach Bill Davis said. "One, they're not hitting the ball hard when they are hitting it, so defensively they know they only have to make six or seven plays, and we did that."
Juda loaded the bases in the first, but Argyle hurler Kelsey Bartels got out of the frame unscathed. Bartels, who tossed a no-hitter Saturday, allowed six hits and nine walks to the Panthers Monday. The Orioles defense didn't help the cause, committing four errors, which allowed for two unearned runs to score.
"We had too many walks and too many errors. That just killed us," Ganshert said. "Today wasn't awful, they just had a few clutch hits that drove in some runs. It wasn't a blowout."
Juda got on the board in the third inning. Ramos and Alycia Grenzow hit back to back doubles and Tabitha Theiler and C.J. Dunwiddie each came in to score later in the inning.
"We had some clutch hitting. There were a couple of times there where people that needed to get hits did get hits," Davis said. "Alycia Grenzow got up and drove in three runs on some key hits and Ramos had a key at bat early too.
"Kelsey is a good pitcher and she's tough when she gets your swinging high. We just told the girls to stay back and wait for a better pitch."
The Panthers added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
"Tonight I thought we hit the ball pretty darn well," Davis said.
