MONTICELLO - Juda-Albany junior Jessica Crull had lost two battles striking out against Monticello senior pitcher Courtney Leuzinger. But that didn't destroy her confidence.
In the fifth inning Monday, Crull delivered a bloop three-run, two-out single to spark the Panthers to a comeback 4-1 win over Monticello. With the win, Juda-Albany (9-0, 7-0 Six Rivers East) remained unbeaten and is in the driver's seat to win a conference championship.
"I was just thinking about putting the bat on the ball," Crull said. "I wasn't doing very good early on. I just hit it and found a gap."
Juda-Albany is the biggest threat to ending the Ponies' two-year run as conference champions. The Panthers now have a three-game lead in the conference over the Ponies.
"I feel like we are a pretty good team," Crull said. "It just shows that we can come back after being down and we can handle the pressure."
Leuzinger and Juda-Albany freshman Nicki Becker were locked in a pitcher's duel for most of the first five innings. Leuzinger carried a no-hitter into the fifth.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler singled to right to break up the no-hitter in the fifth. Juda-Albany's Riley Adkins as a courtesy runner stole second and freshman Hailey Kammerer singled. Leuzinger walked Molly Marass and that set the stages for Crull's big hit.
"Courtney pitched an amazing game," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "We knew to catch up to her fastball we had to make some adjustments and do some things to get our hands through quicker. She was on tonight. The first two times she (Crull) struck out. I told her to go up there confident because she is a good hitter. The first two times Courtney won the battle. It was a good pitcher against another good player. Jessica put the bat on the ball and made something happen."
Early on, it looked like the Ponies (6-4, 3-3 Six Rivers East) would get the clutch hits they needed to hand the Panthers their first loss. Monticello senior Jordan Garrison reached on an error leading off the first. Senior Samantha DeVoe singled and Becker walked Leuzinger to load the bases. Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly delivered a bloop RBI single just over second base to score Garrison, but DeVoe was thrown out at third. Becker bounced back, striking out Monticello's Jessie Garrison and Brooke Bidlingmaier to end the threat.
Becker pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one run on six hits. She struck out 11 and walked three.
"I was very nervous, but I worked through it," Becker said. "I changed speed and moved my pitches around."
Davis said it was key for Becker to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the first.
"I thought if we gave up just one or two runs we would still be in the game," he said.
Leuzinger reached base every time she batted going 2-for-2 with two walks, a double and a stolen base. The Ponies were 1-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison was impressed by Becker.
"She's one of the best pitchers in the conference," Garrison said. "We will adjust. It's a good learning experience."
Leuzinger pitched a complete game and gave up four runs on four hits. She struck out seven and walked five.
Monticello's Jordan Garrison made a diving catch running into the fence in foul territory just past first base in the sixth and Kubly caught a line drive at shortstop in the seventh. Both Kubly and Jordan Garrison also came within inches of turning two double plays.
"Whenever we play Juda, it's a very good game, especially the last six years," Duane Garrison said. "I'm proud of the way we played. Courtney pitched a very good game and we made plays for her. They gave it their all. We just couldn't get it done on the offensive end. It's a fun game to be in when both teams are playing well and pitching well. Luckily, we will get another shot against them."
In the fifth inning Monday, Crull delivered a bloop three-run, two-out single to spark the Panthers to a comeback 4-1 win over Monticello. With the win, Juda-Albany (9-0, 7-0 Six Rivers East) remained unbeaten and is in the driver's seat to win a conference championship.
"I was just thinking about putting the bat on the ball," Crull said. "I wasn't doing very good early on. I just hit it and found a gap."
Juda-Albany is the biggest threat to ending the Ponies' two-year run as conference champions. The Panthers now have a three-game lead in the conference over the Ponies.
"I feel like we are a pretty good team," Crull said. "It just shows that we can come back after being down and we can handle the pressure."
Leuzinger and Juda-Albany freshman Nicki Becker were locked in a pitcher's duel for most of the first five innings. Leuzinger carried a no-hitter into the fifth.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler singled to right to break up the no-hitter in the fifth. Juda-Albany's Riley Adkins as a courtesy runner stole second and freshman Hailey Kammerer singled. Leuzinger walked Molly Marass and that set the stages for Crull's big hit.
"Courtney pitched an amazing game," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "We knew to catch up to her fastball we had to make some adjustments and do some things to get our hands through quicker. She was on tonight. The first two times she (Crull) struck out. I told her to go up there confident because she is a good hitter. The first two times Courtney won the battle. It was a good pitcher against another good player. Jessica put the bat on the ball and made something happen."
Early on, it looked like the Ponies (6-4, 3-3 Six Rivers East) would get the clutch hits they needed to hand the Panthers their first loss. Monticello senior Jordan Garrison reached on an error leading off the first. Senior Samantha DeVoe singled and Becker walked Leuzinger to load the bases. Monticello senior Alyssah Kubly delivered a bloop RBI single just over second base to score Garrison, but DeVoe was thrown out at third. Becker bounced back, striking out Monticello's Jessie Garrison and Brooke Bidlingmaier to end the threat.
Becker pitched a complete game to get the win. She gave up one run on six hits. She struck out 11 and walked three.
"I was very nervous, but I worked through it," Becker said. "I changed speed and moved my pitches around."
Davis said it was key for Becker to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the first.
"I thought if we gave up just one or two runs we would still be in the game," he said.
Leuzinger reached base every time she batted going 2-for-2 with two walks, a double and a stolen base. The Ponies were 1-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
Monticello coach Duane Garrison was impressed by Becker.
"She's one of the best pitchers in the conference," Garrison said. "We will adjust. It's a good learning experience."
Leuzinger pitched a complete game and gave up four runs on four hits. She struck out seven and walked five.
Monticello's Jordan Garrison made a diving catch running into the fence in foul territory just past first base in the sixth and Kubly caught a line drive at shortstop in the seventh. Both Kubly and Jordan Garrison also came within inches of turning two double plays.
"Whenever we play Juda, it's a very good game, especially the last six years," Duane Garrison said. "I'm proud of the way we played. Courtney pitched a very good game and we made plays for her. They gave it their all. We just couldn't get it done on the offensive end. It's a fun game to be in when both teams are playing well and pitching well. Luckily, we will get another shot against them."
