MONROE - After the Monroe High School softball team knocked off Brodhead 10-0 in six innings Monday, Cheesemakers coach Dale Buvid was given the red carpet treatment for earning his 500th career coaching win.
The rain couldn't put a damper on the spirits at Twining Park for Buvid's postgame celebration, which came with about 60 people in the stands. Monroe senior catcher Hannah Vetterli hugged Buvid. His team presented him with a unique plaque commemorating the coaching milestone. Senior shortstop Brooke Adams gave him with a several balloons and a bouquet of flowers. The team members also ate yellow cupcakes to celebrate the achievement.
Buvid is just the fourth coach in Wisconsin to reach 500 career wins.
"It's nice to be able to get (the 500th career win) at home," Buvid said. "The players and the alumni that were here have been great. I still like to think of it as a program award. They knew it was coming. You knew when you get to this point a celebration is coming. They may have made a bigger deal out of it than what it really is. It's an accomplishment for all of us. I have to thank Tom Witt (the father of player Alysha Witt) and the girls for the plaque. I really appreciate it."
Monroe senior Kylea Ambrose went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Cheesemakers. Monroe junior Carly Upmann and senior Natalie Dillon combined to pitch a one-hit shutout.
"Coming in we knew it would be Buvid's 500th win," Ambrose said. "I just wanted to be ready to help out and being a part of his 500th win is really good."
Monroe (15-5) jumped on Brodhead sophomore pitcher Azzy Steiner right away in the first inning. Dillon reached on an error and Steiner hit Adams. Vetterli knocked in the first run on a fielder's choice. Ambrose then crushed a three-run home run to center to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead.
"Right off the bat, I could see it in the air," Ambrose said. "I didn't know if it was going to go out. It was good to get on top early so we could get some other people at-bats and a chance in the field."
Buvid liked the approach Ambrose has been using at the plate to just make solid contact.
"You don't hit a ball much harder than she hit that one," Buvid said. "She crushed that one. Kylea is really coming on. She has had six or seven straight hits. She's on a tear."
Upmann pitched four one-hit shutout innings to get the win. She struck out seven and walked two.
"Carly knew last week she was going to get the start tonight," Buvid said. "She did a great job. She's very capable. She could be a No. 1 pitcher for a lot of teams. She doesn't overpower you. She has good location, and she changes speeds with her drop ball and rise ball."
Dillon pitched two innings and struck out six of the seven batters she faced.
The only hit for the Cardinals came on Ali Rosheisen's single up the middle in the third. In the bottom of the third, the Cheesemakers tacked on four more runs.
Vetterli lined a double to left center. Ambrose followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Steiner walked sophomore Alysha Witt and senior Cassidy Pivonka reached on an error. Ambrose scored on the error to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead. Witt scored on a wild pitch and Dillon's sacrifice fly gave the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 8-0 lead.
Monroe senior Kaya Teasdale doubled to left in the fifth. Junior teammate Lexi Hilliard lined an RBI single to center to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 9-0.
The Cheesemakers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth. Adams reached on an infield single and senior MacKenzie Montgomery was hit by a pitch. Adams scored the game-winning run on a slow roller.
Steiner pitched a complete game and gave up six earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four, walked three and hit two.
"Steiner is a good pitcher," Buvid said. "As a sophomore she will be really tough. She has a lot of potential."
Monroe is one game behind Stoughton and Fort Atkinson in the race for a conference championship. Monroe hosts Stoughton at 5 p.m. today at Twining Park. The Cheesemakers then play at Fort Atkinson on Friday. Monroe can play its way back into contention for a fourth straight Badger South Conference title.
"We know if we win our next two games we are back in the running for a conference championship," Ambrose said. "To win it four times in a row would be very nice."
The rain couldn't put a damper on the spirits at Twining Park for Buvid's postgame celebration, which came with about 60 people in the stands. Monroe senior catcher Hannah Vetterli hugged Buvid. His team presented him with a unique plaque commemorating the coaching milestone. Senior shortstop Brooke Adams gave him with a several balloons and a bouquet of flowers. The team members also ate yellow cupcakes to celebrate the achievement.
Buvid is just the fourth coach in Wisconsin to reach 500 career wins.
"It's nice to be able to get (the 500th career win) at home," Buvid said. "The players and the alumni that were here have been great. I still like to think of it as a program award. They knew it was coming. You knew when you get to this point a celebration is coming. They may have made a bigger deal out of it than what it really is. It's an accomplishment for all of us. I have to thank Tom Witt (the father of player Alysha Witt) and the girls for the plaque. I really appreciate it."
Monroe senior Kylea Ambrose went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Cheesemakers. Monroe junior Carly Upmann and senior Natalie Dillon combined to pitch a one-hit shutout.
"Coming in we knew it would be Buvid's 500th win," Ambrose said. "I just wanted to be ready to help out and being a part of his 500th win is really good."
Monroe (15-5) jumped on Brodhead sophomore pitcher Azzy Steiner right away in the first inning. Dillon reached on an error and Steiner hit Adams. Vetterli knocked in the first run on a fielder's choice. Ambrose then crushed a three-run home run to center to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead.
"Right off the bat, I could see it in the air," Ambrose said. "I didn't know if it was going to go out. It was good to get on top early so we could get some other people at-bats and a chance in the field."
Buvid liked the approach Ambrose has been using at the plate to just make solid contact.
"You don't hit a ball much harder than she hit that one," Buvid said. "She crushed that one. Kylea is really coming on. She has had six or seven straight hits. She's on a tear."
Upmann pitched four one-hit shutout innings to get the win. She struck out seven and walked two.
"Carly knew last week she was going to get the start tonight," Buvid said. "She did a great job. She's very capable. She could be a No. 1 pitcher for a lot of teams. She doesn't overpower you. She has good location, and she changes speeds with her drop ball and rise ball."
Dillon pitched two innings and struck out six of the seven batters she faced.
The only hit for the Cardinals came on Ali Rosheisen's single up the middle in the third. In the bottom of the third, the Cheesemakers tacked on four more runs.
Vetterli lined a double to left center. Ambrose followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Cheesemakers a 5-0 lead. Steiner walked sophomore Alysha Witt and senior Cassidy Pivonka reached on an error. Ambrose scored on the error to give the Cheesemakers a 6-0 lead. Witt scored on a wild pitch and Dillon's sacrifice fly gave the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 8-0 lead.
Monroe senior Kaya Teasdale doubled to left in the fifth. Junior teammate Lexi Hilliard lined an RBI single to center to extend the Cheesemakers' lead to 9-0.
The Cheesemakers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth. Adams reached on an infield single and senior MacKenzie Montgomery was hit by a pitch. Adams scored the game-winning run on a slow roller.
Steiner pitched a complete game and gave up six earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four, walked three and hit two.
"Steiner is a good pitcher," Buvid said. "As a sophomore she will be really tough. She has a lot of potential."
Monroe is one game behind Stoughton and Fort Atkinson in the race for a conference championship. Monroe hosts Stoughton at 5 p.m. today at Twining Park. The Cheesemakers then play at Fort Atkinson on Friday. Monroe can play its way back into contention for a fourth straight Badger South Conference title.
"We know if we win our next two games we are back in the running for a conference championship," Ambrose said. "To win it four times in a row would be very nice."
