JUDA - The Juda-Albany softball team knocked a familiar conference opponent out of postseason play with their 6-0 win over the visiting Vikings.
Earlier in the season, Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis thought that his team had a tough time scoring at the start of games. But in their game against Pecatonica, the Panthers drew first blood.
"I think what we had been lacking all year is scoring runs early," Davis said. "As we've progressed, we've become a late-inning team, but we did a good job in pushing runs in early tonight."
With a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth, Juda-Albany added three runs to give Tabatha Davis more room to work with on the mound.
With the lead, Davis finished strong, pitching all seven innings for Juda-Albany, allowing three hits, no runs, one walk, while striking out eight. Alexis Goecks (2-for-4), Katlynn Steinmann (2-for-2), and Morganne Goecks (1-for-3, two RBIs) paced Juda-Albany at the plate.
Julia Meyer pitched for Pecatonica, allowing six runs on nine hits and one walk to go with five strikeouts.
Juda-Albany will again face a familiar opponent as they travel to play Argyle on Tuesday.
"Argyle has had our number all year long," Davis said of the upcoming game. "Hopefully we'll be able to work on a few things and see if we can go over there and find a way to beat them this time."
Argyle 12, Southwestern 1
ARGYLE - Led by senior Jessica Treuthardt on the mound, the Argyle softball team opened their postseason play with a bang by downing Southwestern 12-1.
Behind Treuthardt's pitching, the Orioles erupted for five runs in the fourth inning after an RBI single by Jessica Geissbuhler brought in teammate Kari Fischer for the game's first score. After a three-run triple by Aysha Monahan, Treuthardt contributed the additional run with an RBI single.
Coming back in the fifth inning, Argyle's bats got hot again, as the Orioles added more run support. After a walk and a couple of singles to load the bases and score a run, Treuthardt blasted a three-run triple to end the game.
Treuthardt went 3-for-4 with two triples, a double and four RBI. Argyle's Hannah Saalsaa went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Amber Dammen was 2-for-3.
Treuthardt allowed only one hit while on the mound. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
Argyle (18-6) will take on conference opponent Juda-Albany in next week's round of postseason play.
WIS. Heights 16,
New Glarus 2
MAZOMAINNE - The third-seeded Vanguards collected 16 runs off of 16 hits in their 16-2 victory over Capitol South opponent New Glarus on Thursday's opening day of postseason play.
Wisconsin Heights took a 9-0 lead into the fourth inning before New Glarus answered with two runs to start the inning. Unfortunately for the Knights, the Vanguards answered with an additional seven runs of their own.
Wisconsin Heights' pitcher Mackenzie Kraemer threw all five innings, allowing only two hits to go along with nine strikeouts.
Maya Kramer finished with a double for New Glarus.
Black Hawk 5, Shulls.-Benton 2
SHULLSBURG - The Black Hawk softball team lived to see another day, as they upended host Shullsburg-Benton 5-2 on Thursday.
Maintaining a 5-0 lead, Warriors ace Rachel Richard held the fourth-seeded Zephyrs scoreless through the first five innings. Despite scoring two runs in the final two innings, Shullsburg-Benton didn't have enough to hold off Black Hawk.
"It all really comes down to pitching," Warriors coach Jim Baumgartner said. "Rachel did a good job in not giving up any walks; it was great to see her be confident on the mound."
Jen Wellnitz batted 2-for-4, including a double and a triple to lead the Warriors offensively.
Black Hawk will play against top-seeded Monticello next Tuesday, May 27.
Belleville 13, Darlington 4
BELLEVILLE - Behind pitcher Chantel Roberts, the host Wildcats downed the Darlington softball team in their opening game of postseason play.
Belleville scored in each of the first four innings, while limiting the Redbirds to only one run, which came in the first. Down by eight runs heading into the fifth, Darlington responded with three runs, only to have the Wildcats fire back with four runs of their own in the sixth inning.
Roberts limited the Redbirds to six hits as a team, while the Wildcats collected 10.
Chloe Hinderman finished 2-for-4 at the plate for Darlington, while teammate Taylor Cox added a home run.
Earlier in the season, Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis thought that his team had a tough time scoring at the start of games. But in their game against Pecatonica, the Panthers drew first blood.
"I think what we had been lacking all year is scoring runs early," Davis said. "As we've progressed, we've become a late-inning team, but we did a good job in pushing runs in early tonight."
With a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth, Juda-Albany added three runs to give Tabatha Davis more room to work with on the mound.
With the lead, Davis finished strong, pitching all seven innings for Juda-Albany, allowing three hits, no runs, one walk, while striking out eight. Alexis Goecks (2-for-4), Katlynn Steinmann (2-for-2), and Morganne Goecks (1-for-3, two RBIs) paced Juda-Albany at the plate.
Julia Meyer pitched for Pecatonica, allowing six runs on nine hits and one walk to go with five strikeouts.
Juda-Albany will again face a familiar opponent as they travel to play Argyle on Tuesday.
"Argyle has had our number all year long," Davis said of the upcoming game. "Hopefully we'll be able to work on a few things and see if we can go over there and find a way to beat them this time."
Argyle 12, Southwestern 1
ARGYLE - Led by senior Jessica Treuthardt on the mound, the Argyle softball team opened their postseason play with a bang by downing Southwestern 12-1.
Behind Treuthardt's pitching, the Orioles erupted for five runs in the fourth inning after an RBI single by Jessica Geissbuhler brought in teammate Kari Fischer for the game's first score. After a three-run triple by Aysha Monahan, Treuthardt contributed the additional run with an RBI single.
Coming back in the fifth inning, Argyle's bats got hot again, as the Orioles added more run support. After a walk and a couple of singles to load the bases and score a run, Treuthardt blasted a three-run triple to end the game.
Treuthardt went 3-for-4 with two triples, a double and four RBI. Argyle's Hannah Saalsaa went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Amber Dammen was 2-for-3.
Treuthardt allowed only one hit while on the mound. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
Argyle (18-6) will take on conference opponent Juda-Albany in next week's round of postseason play.
WIS. Heights 16,
New Glarus 2
MAZOMAINNE - The third-seeded Vanguards collected 16 runs off of 16 hits in their 16-2 victory over Capitol South opponent New Glarus on Thursday's opening day of postseason play.
Wisconsin Heights took a 9-0 lead into the fourth inning before New Glarus answered with two runs to start the inning. Unfortunately for the Knights, the Vanguards answered with an additional seven runs of their own.
Wisconsin Heights' pitcher Mackenzie Kraemer threw all five innings, allowing only two hits to go along with nine strikeouts.
Maya Kramer finished with a double for New Glarus.
Black Hawk 5, Shulls.-Benton 2
SHULLSBURG - The Black Hawk softball team lived to see another day, as they upended host Shullsburg-Benton 5-2 on Thursday.
Maintaining a 5-0 lead, Warriors ace Rachel Richard held the fourth-seeded Zephyrs scoreless through the first five innings. Despite scoring two runs in the final two innings, Shullsburg-Benton didn't have enough to hold off Black Hawk.
"It all really comes down to pitching," Warriors coach Jim Baumgartner said. "Rachel did a good job in not giving up any walks; it was great to see her be confident on the mound."
Jen Wellnitz batted 2-for-4, including a double and a triple to lead the Warriors offensively.
Black Hawk will play against top-seeded Monticello next Tuesday, May 27.
Belleville 13, Darlington 4
BELLEVILLE - Behind pitcher Chantel Roberts, the host Wildcats downed the Darlington softball team in their opening game of postseason play.
Belleville scored in each of the first four innings, while limiting the Redbirds to only one run, which came in the first. Down by eight runs heading into the fifth, Darlington responded with three runs, only to have the Wildcats fire back with four runs of their own in the sixth inning.
Roberts limited the Redbirds to six hits as a team, while the Wildcats collected 10.
Chloe Hinderman finished 2-for-4 at the plate for Darlington, while teammate Taylor Cox added a home run.
