JUDA - The toughest thing about grooming a young pitcher is watching them struggle to find the strike zone.
"It's tough when you have the young pitchers that (Pecatonica has), especially when they struggle like this," Juda coach Bill Davis said after his team's 11-1 five inning win over the Vikings Monday. "Sometimes there's just not a lot you can do other than sit up there and wait for your pitch. Unfortunately that wasn't happening. They have thrown some good games this year, but you just have 'one-of-those-nights' once in a while."
Viking freshman Julia Meyer and sophomore Cora Demler combined to walk 20 batters in 4 2/3 innings, a striking number regardless of what sticks are at the plate.
"Both were struggling hitting the strike zone. You've got to throw strikes," Pecatonica coach Chuck Meyer said. "You might as well (let them hit it) and work on some defense. We're working on getting there (consistently). We're not there yet, but we're getting there - baby steps."
Juda, the two-time defending Six Rivers East champion, has a tough lineup from top to bottom.
"One thing we've noticed this year is pitchers have to throw our hitters on the corners and not down the middle. Basically 1-through-9 we have some pretty good hitters. The other night our No. 7 hitter hit one over the fence," Davis said. "So pitchers know they can't throw the ball over the middle of the plate, and what's been happening is they've been getting some walks because of it."
Meyer started on the hill for Pecatonica and looked as if she may be ready to take on the challenge that the Panthers present. Meyer fired an 8-pitch first inning that included a double play off the bat of Amber Ramos. That 1-2-3 frame came after the Vikings had gone up 1-0 on the Panthers in the top of the first.
Michelle Francois, Pecatonica's 2-hole hitter, doubled off Ramos with one out and later scored thanks to past balls. However, Ramos found the strike zone shortly thereafter, and there was nothing the young Vikings could do.
"I think a lot of it is mental. We've got to believe that we can get a bat on the ball," Chuck Meyer said. "I think that's part of becoming a good team; the learning and mental aspects of the game."
Ramos rolled through Pecatonica with three straight strikeouts in the second. Meyer was the exact opposite - walking the first six hitters, throwing just four strikes in the process. Eight Panthers walked in the inning as Juda pushed six runs across the board.
Ramos allowed four baserunners total after that first inning. Meyer walked five more in the third before Demler relieved her.
Ramos finished with 13 strikeouts, a walk and three hits allowed. Ellie Gifford had two of Pecatonica's three hits, which included a double.
Alycia Grenzow was 2 for 2 for Juda with a pair of walks. Ramos doubled in the fifth and C.J. Dunwiddie followed with a single for the Panther's two other hits.
"I think we're playing about as good of ball as we have," Davis said. "Defensively you'd like to see the girls get a few more ground balls, but we're in the right position; we're making the right plays; covering bunts well."
"It's tough when you have the young pitchers that (Pecatonica has), especially when they struggle like this," Juda coach Bill Davis said after his team's 11-1 five inning win over the Vikings Monday. "Sometimes there's just not a lot you can do other than sit up there and wait for your pitch. Unfortunately that wasn't happening. They have thrown some good games this year, but you just have 'one-of-those-nights' once in a while."
Viking freshman Julia Meyer and sophomore Cora Demler combined to walk 20 batters in 4 2/3 innings, a striking number regardless of what sticks are at the plate.
"Both were struggling hitting the strike zone. You've got to throw strikes," Pecatonica coach Chuck Meyer said. "You might as well (let them hit it) and work on some defense. We're working on getting there (consistently). We're not there yet, but we're getting there - baby steps."
Juda, the two-time defending Six Rivers East champion, has a tough lineup from top to bottom.
"One thing we've noticed this year is pitchers have to throw our hitters on the corners and not down the middle. Basically 1-through-9 we have some pretty good hitters. The other night our No. 7 hitter hit one over the fence," Davis said. "So pitchers know they can't throw the ball over the middle of the plate, and what's been happening is they've been getting some walks because of it."
Meyer started on the hill for Pecatonica and looked as if she may be ready to take on the challenge that the Panthers present. Meyer fired an 8-pitch first inning that included a double play off the bat of Amber Ramos. That 1-2-3 frame came after the Vikings had gone up 1-0 on the Panthers in the top of the first.
Michelle Francois, Pecatonica's 2-hole hitter, doubled off Ramos with one out and later scored thanks to past balls. However, Ramos found the strike zone shortly thereafter, and there was nothing the young Vikings could do.
"I think a lot of it is mental. We've got to believe that we can get a bat on the ball," Chuck Meyer said. "I think that's part of becoming a good team; the learning and mental aspects of the game."
Ramos rolled through Pecatonica with three straight strikeouts in the second. Meyer was the exact opposite - walking the first six hitters, throwing just four strikes in the process. Eight Panthers walked in the inning as Juda pushed six runs across the board.
Ramos allowed four baserunners total after that first inning. Meyer walked five more in the third before Demler relieved her.
Ramos finished with 13 strikeouts, a walk and three hits allowed. Ellie Gifford had two of Pecatonica's three hits, which included a double.
Alycia Grenzow was 2 for 2 for Juda with a pair of walks. Ramos doubled in the fifth and C.J. Dunwiddie followed with a single for the Panther's two other hits.
"I think we're playing about as good of ball as we have," Davis said. "Defensively you'd like to see the girls get a few more ground balls, but we're in the right position; we're making the right plays; covering bunts well."
