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WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
Panthers ‘just found a way to get it done’ Juda-Albany coach reflects on run to state By Trenten Scheidegger CORRESPONDENT
The Juda-Albany Panthers made the most out of their opportunity to get back on the softball diamond in 2021. After going 12-14 and falling to Lancaster in regional play in 2019, the Panthers were a new and improved team this season. Despite nearly two years away from the field, a jampacked, alternate sports schedule and many new faces, the Panthers were able to catch fire in 2021. Juda-Albany head coach Bill Davis was more than pleased with their results. After going 14-6 through the regular season, the Panthers found themselves in a good position with the fourth seed. The regular season tested the limits for the Panthers. “During the regular season, we showed times of greatness, but finished with three tough losses,” Davis said, adding that the team finished third in conference play. The three tough losses Davis referenced each came in one-run conference matchups in which the Panthers found themselves on the wrong side. With 1-0 losses to Pecatonica, Argyle and Barneveld, Juda-Albany knew that if they would have executed better in those moments, their record and playoff seeding could have been much different. Although those close losses hurt their conference standings and did not help their playoff seeding, the lessons learned appeared to pay off in the long run for the Panthers.
As the four seed, the Panthers knew they had an uphill climb to make if they wanted to make a run at the state trophy. “Looking at the teams, it looked like it would be a tough route to get to state,” David said. Unlike those tough losses in the regular season, the Panthers put all their knowledge and experience together in the postseason, avoiding another heartbreaking defeat. Davis reflected last week on not only how well the Panthers played, but the impressive teams they managed to play well against. “Along the way, we beat Kenosha St. Joseph, who had a similar record to us,” he said. KSJ was 9-6 following their regional loss to Juda-Albany. “Then, we went on to beat Racine Lutheran, a three-loss team and the No. 1 seed, who featured one of the best pitchers in our division,” Davis said. The Panthers seemed to thrive in high-pressure situations this postseason. They put that ability on display against Racine Lutheran, as two runs in the top of the seventh inning managed to be just enough to win the regional championship, propelling them into sectionals. “Then we beat a very good Johnson Creek team, who was the No. 2 seed,” Davis said. It was the Panthers’ offensive firepower that had gotten them through the postseason, at that point. “In both of these games, we really hit well and had timely hits,” the coach said. Juda-Albany was not always able to rely on an electric offense, however. When forced to, the Panthers had a stellar defense that they could lean on to get them through the pitching duels. “In the finals, we found another way to win with great
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defense in a 1-0 win over Iowa Grant,” he said. Too often, the Panthers had found themselves on the short end of the stick in those close battles. However, when it mattered most, they managed to come out on top, earning the sectional championship and punching their ticket to the WIAA 2021 Girls’ state softball tournament. Through their first four postseason games, the Panthers PHOTO COURTESY JULIE DAVIS Brodhead Independent-Register found themselves as the favorites in just one of those match- Juda-Albany’s Myah Johnson slides into home at the state tournament late last ups. That matchup was their month in Green Bay. The girls brought home the silver trophy as the runner-up in opening game of regionals, Division 4. where they faced off with the five seed in KSJ. The story would remain the same following their sectional championship, as Juda-Albany was the lowest seeded team to reach the state tournament in Division 4. On June 29 they found themselves in another tough position as they were set to face off with another one seed in an undefeated Blair Taylor squad. The Panthers would need to play their best game of the year in order to be the first team to beat Blair Taylor, who held a record of 28-0. Nerves appeared to be in the air as both teams took a while to settle in. The game went scoreless through the first three innings. A big fourth inning proved to be the difference, as four runs in the top half wound up being the difference in this one. The Panthers held onto their lead for the remainder of the game as they went on to win by a score of 7-5. Avary Briggs led the way offensively, as she was 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Briggs also was the starting pitcher for Juda-Albany, throwing six and
See PANTHERS, Page 2
PHOTO COURTESY JULIE DAVIS Brodhead Independent-Register
Anna Skoumal of Juda-Albany races to the base during state tournament softball.
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