MADISON - They say anything can happen in the state tournament. Typically, that phrase is taken optimistically, or with the sense that good things will happen to underdogs.
On Thursday, there was no hope for the underdogs in the WIAA Division 2 semifinal. Monroe (17-11) played its worst overall game in weeks against unbeaten Baldwin-Woodville and lost 10-0 in just five innings.
"We knew we were the underdog here," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of the Blackhawks. "They looked pretty real. They put some nice swings on us. We expected that out of one or two kids, not five or six."
Baldwin-Woodville (26-0) sports a freshman pitcher in Abby Klopp who came into the state tournament with just one earned run against her all year (0.08 ERA) and stuck out nearly two batters per inning. The Blackhawks also sported a team batting average of .367. Those numbers fit to a tee against the Cheesemakers, which struck out 11 times in just five innings.
"She's pretty good and is only a freshman. She's going to be really good in a couple of years," senior catcher and captain Kaylee Craigo said. "I felt that if we had a couple more at bats, we were getting her timing down and could have maybe done something. But she did a good job."
Klopp was on top of her game from the get-go, striking out the side in order in the opening inning on just 12 pitchers.
"For being a freshman, she is an amazing pitcher," senior Kelsey Erickson said. "She can throw in her spots very accurately and won't walk many (five all year). She didn't walk any of us. She hits her spots and gets it where she wants it."
Baldwin-Woodville scored one run against Monroe sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong in the top of the first, but it's how the run came that very well changed the outcome of the game from the very beginning.
Armstrong got Klopp, a .458 hitter, to pop out on the game's opening pitch. Next, Shelby Weiske (.476 average) grounded out to short. However, senior Kristin McArdle, who was on Monroe's last state team two years ago, booted a ball at third on what would have been the third out. Moments later Paige Weiske belted an RBI double to right center.
"They are a good team. We have to give them most of the credit, they played a great game. I was probably missing some of my spots, but they are a good hitting team and they came prepared and ready to hit," Armstrong said. "Of course we didn't show up with our best game, and if you do that then you're going to get beat."
Armstrong then allowed four more runs on three hits, a walk and hit batter in the second inning. Klopp, a star in the making, hit a 2-RBI double down the left field line that really put the Cheesemakers on their heels.
"Things were getting out of control, but I just had to take a breath and realize where we were. We were in Madison at Goodman Diamond. Not many people expected us to get here, so that in itself is an accomplishment," said Armstrong, who sat down the side in the third.
The Blackhawks scored another run in the fourth and then four more in the fifth to put Monroe on the brink of elimination.
Senior Tasha Frie hit a lead-off pinch-hit single to open the bottom half of the fifth, but was left stranded on base.
"I'm really proud of that kid," Buvid said. "She heads to the Marines on Sunday, so what a story for her to get a base hit at state. She's been a real up-beat kid for us all year. It shows a lot of character on her part and I was happy to get her in there and give her a chance."
Frie said she was proud of her hit, but it was more important because she thought getting on with no one out would lead to a run - and another inning to play.
"I was happy that we had a chance (to score). That's all I wanted was a chance," said Frie, a graduated senior who ships off to Marines boot camp on Sunday. "I'm a part of the team, and everyone has to do their part. It takes everyone to contribute. I just wanted to help out my team."
"We just wanted one run. Unfortunately we didn't get that," said Erickson, who was left on deck as the game ended. "I was really hoping for maybe another at bat, but (Klopp) was really good and we couldn't get what we wanted done."
Heather Barta and Alyssa Montgomery had Monroe's only two other hits.
Armstrong tried to steady the ship, but the Blackhawks made her pay on every mistake. Baldwin-Woodville was 11 for 27 (.407) at the dish and didn't strike out. In fact, in all the games coming in, the Blackhawks had just a total of 31 strikeouts on the season - a staggering low amount.
"You wish that we would have put on a better show, but hey, we got here. Life goes on," Buvid said.
Craigo had one of Monroe's best at bats on the day. With runners on second and third, Craigo went nearly 10 pitches, fouling away several strikes on a full count, before finally going down looking.
"I was just fighting and then thought I saw a ball. But apparently it wasn't," Craigo said. "I couldn't stop thinking 'Why didn't I swing for that?' All those other ones were close, and that one was definitely a strike."
Even in the loss, the Cheesemakers could still hold their heads high. Having played one of the toughest regular season schedules in the state, Monroe, which had the most losses of any of the state teams in all four divisions, seemed ready for the best - especially considering how well the Cheese played in sectionals.
"We made some of those plays at times this season, but for whatever reason - nerves or whatever - we couldn't get it done today," Buvid said.
On Thursday, there was no hope for the underdogs in the WIAA Division 2 semifinal. Monroe (17-11) played its worst overall game in weeks against unbeaten Baldwin-Woodville and lost 10-0 in just five innings.
"We knew we were the underdog here," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said of the Blackhawks. "They looked pretty real. They put some nice swings on us. We expected that out of one or two kids, not five or six."
Baldwin-Woodville (26-0) sports a freshman pitcher in Abby Klopp who came into the state tournament with just one earned run against her all year (0.08 ERA) and stuck out nearly two batters per inning. The Blackhawks also sported a team batting average of .367. Those numbers fit to a tee against the Cheesemakers, which struck out 11 times in just five innings.
"She's pretty good and is only a freshman. She's going to be really good in a couple of years," senior catcher and captain Kaylee Craigo said. "I felt that if we had a couple more at bats, we were getting her timing down and could have maybe done something. But she did a good job."
Klopp was on top of her game from the get-go, striking out the side in order in the opening inning on just 12 pitchers.
"For being a freshman, she is an amazing pitcher," senior Kelsey Erickson said. "She can throw in her spots very accurately and won't walk many (five all year). She didn't walk any of us. She hits her spots and gets it where she wants it."
Baldwin-Woodville scored one run against Monroe sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong in the top of the first, but it's how the run came that very well changed the outcome of the game from the very beginning.
Armstrong got Klopp, a .458 hitter, to pop out on the game's opening pitch. Next, Shelby Weiske (.476 average) grounded out to short. However, senior Kristin McArdle, who was on Monroe's last state team two years ago, booted a ball at third on what would have been the third out. Moments later Paige Weiske belted an RBI double to right center.
"They are a good team. We have to give them most of the credit, they played a great game. I was probably missing some of my spots, but they are a good hitting team and they came prepared and ready to hit," Armstrong said. "Of course we didn't show up with our best game, and if you do that then you're going to get beat."
Armstrong then allowed four more runs on three hits, a walk and hit batter in the second inning. Klopp, a star in the making, hit a 2-RBI double down the left field line that really put the Cheesemakers on their heels.
"Things were getting out of control, but I just had to take a breath and realize where we were. We were in Madison at Goodman Diamond. Not many people expected us to get here, so that in itself is an accomplishment," said Armstrong, who sat down the side in the third.
The Blackhawks scored another run in the fourth and then four more in the fifth to put Monroe on the brink of elimination.
Senior Tasha Frie hit a lead-off pinch-hit single to open the bottom half of the fifth, but was left stranded on base.
"I'm really proud of that kid," Buvid said. "She heads to the Marines on Sunday, so what a story for her to get a base hit at state. She's been a real up-beat kid for us all year. It shows a lot of character on her part and I was happy to get her in there and give her a chance."
Frie said she was proud of her hit, but it was more important because she thought getting on with no one out would lead to a run - and another inning to play.
"I was happy that we had a chance (to score). That's all I wanted was a chance," said Frie, a graduated senior who ships off to Marines boot camp on Sunday. "I'm a part of the team, and everyone has to do their part. It takes everyone to contribute. I just wanted to help out my team."
"We just wanted one run. Unfortunately we didn't get that," said Erickson, who was left on deck as the game ended. "I was really hoping for maybe another at bat, but (Klopp) was really good and we couldn't get what we wanted done."
Heather Barta and Alyssa Montgomery had Monroe's only two other hits.
Armstrong tried to steady the ship, but the Blackhawks made her pay on every mistake. Baldwin-Woodville was 11 for 27 (.407) at the dish and didn't strike out. In fact, in all the games coming in, the Blackhawks had just a total of 31 strikeouts on the season - a staggering low amount.
"You wish that we would have put on a better show, but hey, we got here. Life goes on," Buvid said.
Craigo had one of Monroe's best at bats on the day. With runners on second and third, Craigo went nearly 10 pitches, fouling away several strikes on a full count, before finally going down looking.
"I was just fighting and then thought I saw a ball. But apparently it wasn't," Craigo said. "I couldn't stop thinking 'Why didn't I swing for that?' All those other ones were close, and that one was definitely a strike."
Even in the loss, the Cheesemakers could still hold their heads high. Having played one of the toughest regular season schedules in the state, Monroe, which had the most losses of any of the state teams in all four divisions, seemed ready for the best - especially considering how well the Cheese played in sectionals.
"We made some of those plays at times this season, but for whatever reason - nerves or whatever - we couldn't get it done today," Buvid said.
