JUDA - The Juda softball tournament Saturday brought different agendas for various teams, but Argyle junior Kelsey Bartels wanted to send a message.
"We want to put a scare into them (Juda) for Monday," Bartels said after she pitched a no-hitter in a 5-3 win over Monticello.
Argyle (14-5, 8-3 Six Rivers East) went 2-0 at the tournament and picked up an 8-2 win over Juda. However, Juda, on the heels of splitting a doubleheader with Barneveld to clinch at least a share of the Six Rivers East Conference title for the second straight year, didn't pitch sophomore ace Amber Ramos. Both Juda and Monticello finished 0-2 and Beloit Turner was 2-0.
"You probably get some weary legs after a doubleheader. The goal is still to win," Juda coach Bill Davis said after the Panthers opened the tournament with an 11-1 five-inning loss to Beloit Turner with the only run coming on junior Lauren Dunwiddie's RBI single to center in the third inning. "I don't care who we put out there. We still have enough talent to win."
Argyle and Juda (11-6, 9-1) have been the two hottest area softball teams. Argyle has won nine of its last 10 games and Juda had its eight-game winning streak snapped Friday with a doubleheader split with Barneveld.
Argyle freshman Kayla Ostby had a big tournament as she went a combined 4-for-6 in the two games. Ostby earned the win against Juda. She pitched a complete game. Ostby gave up just two runs on seven hits. She struck out six and walked three.
After Juda sophomore C.J. Dunwiddie lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up five runs and walked seven, Davis brought in junior Aly Pierce in relief. Pierce pitched 6 1/3 innings and she gave up three runs on seven hits. She struck out six and walked three.
"The other goal is we wanted to find out what some of the other girls can do," Davis said. "We wanted to practice certain situations," he said of jams with runners on base and plays at home. Bartels wrapped up a big week for Argyle in which she went 4-0 with a no-hitter, a one-hit shutout and a three-hit shutout.
Despite seven base runners and five walks, Bartels was able to pitch a no-hitter against Monticello in a 5-3 win. Bartels gave up three unearned runs and struck out four.
"I didn't even pay attention to it," Bartels said.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison and the Ponies are now 1-3 against Argyle this year and could face the Orioles again in the regional.
"She threw a hell of a game," said Garrison, whose team was coming off a doubleheader loss to Bartels and the Orioles. "We hit the ball, it was just right at somebody. We struggled hitting her Thursday. I knew if we got on, we had to do a good job base running and make them throw the ball around a little."
Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard walked in the first inning. Monticello sophomore Becky Nelson then hit a grounder to Ostby at shortstop. Ostby faked a throw to first and missed a swipe tag on Hilliard running to third. Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner then followed with an RBI groundout and Nelson later scored on a wild pitch to give the Ponies a 2-0 lead.
Ostby, who was on base all four times she batted (2-for-2 with two walks, three stolen bases and two runs scored), walked leading off the second. She scored on an overthrow at third. Argyle senior Stephanie Cuevas then delivered a game-tying RBI double.
"I think we get better each time," Ostby said of playing Monticello. "We always have one bad inning and then we get down to business."
The Orioles took the lead for good with a three-run fourth. The big inning was set up when Ostby singled and stole second. Argyle's Kim Fischer, who was 2-for-4, had a go-ahead RBI single to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Argyle's Jodi Fischer reached when a throw from Hilliard went to Tanya Smith at third, but the umpire ruled she pulled her foot.
"They hit the ball and we had some mental errors," Garrison said. "The mental errors just killed us."
Monticello (7-10, 3-7) lost its second game of the tournament 9-6 to Beloit Turner. The Ponies pounded out 14 hits, but were plagued by eight errors.
Klossner went the distance and gave up nine runs on nine hits, but the fielding gaffes haunted the Ponies. She struck out two and walked three.
"It was just physical errors," Garrison said. "It's frustrating. I know the kids have the ability to make the plays. We didn't make the routine plays. That's killing us. The sad thing is we were in a position to win both games."
The Ponies had four players with multi-hit games including Klossner (3-for-4), Olivia Doyle (3-for-4), Jordyn Kubly (2-for-4) and Taylor Pfeuti (2-for-4).
"We want to put a scare into them (Juda) for Monday," Bartels said after she pitched a no-hitter in a 5-3 win over Monticello.
Argyle (14-5, 8-3 Six Rivers East) went 2-0 at the tournament and picked up an 8-2 win over Juda. However, Juda, on the heels of splitting a doubleheader with Barneveld to clinch at least a share of the Six Rivers East Conference title for the second straight year, didn't pitch sophomore ace Amber Ramos. Both Juda and Monticello finished 0-2 and Beloit Turner was 2-0.
"You probably get some weary legs after a doubleheader. The goal is still to win," Juda coach Bill Davis said after the Panthers opened the tournament with an 11-1 five-inning loss to Beloit Turner with the only run coming on junior Lauren Dunwiddie's RBI single to center in the third inning. "I don't care who we put out there. We still have enough talent to win."
Argyle and Juda (11-6, 9-1) have been the two hottest area softball teams. Argyle has won nine of its last 10 games and Juda had its eight-game winning streak snapped Friday with a doubleheader split with Barneveld.
Argyle freshman Kayla Ostby had a big tournament as she went a combined 4-for-6 in the two games. Ostby earned the win against Juda. She pitched a complete game. Ostby gave up just two runs on seven hits. She struck out six and walked three.
After Juda sophomore C.J. Dunwiddie lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up five runs and walked seven, Davis brought in junior Aly Pierce in relief. Pierce pitched 6 1/3 innings and she gave up three runs on seven hits. She struck out six and walked three.
"The other goal is we wanted to find out what some of the other girls can do," Davis said. "We wanted to practice certain situations," he said of jams with runners on base and plays at home. Bartels wrapped up a big week for Argyle in which she went 4-0 with a no-hitter, a one-hit shutout and a three-hit shutout.
Despite seven base runners and five walks, Bartels was able to pitch a no-hitter against Monticello in a 5-3 win. Bartels gave up three unearned runs and struck out four.
"I didn't even pay attention to it," Bartels said.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison and the Ponies are now 1-3 against Argyle this year and could face the Orioles again in the regional.
"She threw a hell of a game," said Garrison, whose team was coming off a doubleheader loss to Bartels and the Orioles. "We hit the ball, it was just right at somebody. We struggled hitting her Thursday. I knew if we got on, we had to do a good job base running and make them throw the ball around a little."
Monticello senior Mersadi Hilliard walked in the first inning. Monticello sophomore Becky Nelson then hit a grounder to Ostby at shortstop. Ostby faked a throw to first and missed a swipe tag on Hilliard running to third. Monticello sophomore Karlie Klossner then followed with an RBI groundout and Nelson later scored on a wild pitch to give the Ponies a 2-0 lead.
Ostby, who was on base all four times she batted (2-for-2 with two walks, three stolen bases and two runs scored), walked leading off the second. She scored on an overthrow at third. Argyle senior Stephanie Cuevas then delivered a game-tying RBI double.
"I think we get better each time," Ostby said of playing Monticello. "We always have one bad inning and then we get down to business."
The Orioles took the lead for good with a three-run fourth. The big inning was set up when Ostby singled and stole second. Argyle's Kim Fischer, who was 2-for-4, had a go-ahead RBI single to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Argyle's Jodi Fischer reached when a throw from Hilliard went to Tanya Smith at third, but the umpire ruled she pulled her foot.
"They hit the ball and we had some mental errors," Garrison said. "The mental errors just killed us."
Monticello (7-10, 3-7) lost its second game of the tournament 9-6 to Beloit Turner. The Ponies pounded out 14 hits, but were plagued by eight errors.
Klossner went the distance and gave up nine runs on nine hits, but the fielding gaffes haunted the Ponies. She struck out two and walked three.
"It was just physical errors," Garrison said. "It's frustrating. I know the kids have the ability to make the plays. We didn't make the routine plays. That's killing us. The sad thing is we were in a position to win both games."
The Ponies had four players with multi-hit games including Klossner (3-for-4), Olivia Doyle (3-for-4), Jordyn Kubly (2-for-4) and Taylor Pfeuti (2-for-4).
