BELOIT - The Monroe High School softball team's postseason run came to an end Saturday with a 4-1 loss to Beloit Turner in a WIAA Division 2 regional championship game.
Monroe finishes the season with a 16-9 record.
After trailing 1-0 after five innings Saturday, Monroe battled back in the sixth. Monroe sophomore Hailey Betthauser led off the sixth with a double down the left field line. Junior Alysha Witt then laid down a sacrifice bunt. Senior Lexi Hilliard then delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1.
Beloit Turner scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull off the comeback. The Cheesemakers committed two of their five errors in the sixth.
"We knew they (Beloit Turner) were the No. 2 ranked team in the state," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "Even though we didn't play our best game, I was happy that we found a way to stay in the game against one of the best teams in the state. Even though we didn't play our best at times we kept our composure and somehow and some way we found a way to get out of innings. They had runners on base every inning. We were skating on thin ice, and it caught up to us."
Right fielder Betthauser made a running catch of a line drive in the first with two runners on to prevent the Trojans from scoring. The Cheesemakers turned a double play in the second to get out of a jam. Center fielder Hilliard threw a runner out at third base in the third to help prevent the Trojans from scoring.
The Cheesemakers managed four hits and three walks against Beloit Turner pitcher Kaitlyn Packard, a University of Missouri-Kansas City recruit.
"I was happy with our approach at the plate," O'Leksy said. "We put the ball in play and only struck out four times against one of the best pitchers in the state."
Monroe senior Carly Upmann went 1-for-2, and Hilliard was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Betthauser went 1-for-3 with one run scored, and sophomore Olivia Bobak went 1-for-3.
Bobak pitched a complete game and gave up one earned run on nine hits. She struck out four and walked none.
O'Leksy said Bobak struck out 200 batters this season, which is the second-most in a single season for the Monroe softball program. Becca Armstrong holds the record for strikeouts in a single season with 247 in 2013.
Monroe finishes the season with a 16-9 record.
After trailing 1-0 after five innings Saturday, Monroe battled back in the sixth. Monroe sophomore Hailey Betthauser led off the sixth with a double down the left field line. Junior Alysha Witt then laid down a sacrifice bunt. Senior Lexi Hilliard then delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1.
Beloit Turner scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull off the comeback. The Cheesemakers committed two of their five errors in the sixth.
"We knew they (Beloit Turner) were the No. 2 ranked team in the state," Monroe coach Joe O'Leksy said. "Even though we didn't play our best game, I was happy that we found a way to stay in the game against one of the best teams in the state. Even though we didn't play our best at times we kept our composure and somehow and some way we found a way to get out of innings. They had runners on base every inning. We were skating on thin ice, and it caught up to us."
Right fielder Betthauser made a running catch of a line drive in the first with two runners on to prevent the Trojans from scoring. The Cheesemakers turned a double play in the second to get out of a jam. Center fielder Hilliard threw a runner out at third base in the third to help prevent the Trojans from scoring.
The Cheesemakers managed four hits and three walks against Beloit Turner pitcher Kaitlyn Packard, a University of Missouri-Kansas City recruit.
"I was happy with our approach at the plate," O'Leksy said. "We put the ball in play and only struck out four times against one of the best pitchers in the state."
Monroe senior Carly Upmann went 1-for-2, and Hilliard was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Betthauser went 1-for-3 with one run scored, and sophomore Olivia Bobak went 1-for-3.
Bobak pitched a complete game and gave up one earned run on nine hits. She struck out four and walked none.
O'Leksy said Bobak struck out 200 batters this season, which is the second-most in a single season for the Monroe softball program. Becca Armstrong holds the record for strikeouts in a single season with 247 in 2013.
