MONONA - It wasn't easy, but the Cheesemakers pulled off the almost unattainable and won the Badger South regular season crown outright Tuesday.
"After dropping those three games a couple weeks ago, it wasn't looking good," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said.
On the outside looking in, the Cheesemakers battled back, topping Madison Edgewood, sweeping Oregon in a doubleheader, and coming from behind to beat Monona Grove 8-5 on Tuesday to clinch the title.
"And Oregon beat Milton in extra innings tonight. With that, it puts three teams at 8-4 in conference and us alone at 9-3," Buvid said.
The Silver Eagles scored two runs in the first inning, and took a 5-0 lead in the second after a three-run home run by freshman catcher Jenna Marks.
"She's a real athlete. She plays hockey and in the first inning threw out Maggie Schuttler at second on a steal," Buvid said.
Monroe scored three runs in the third inning thanks to a couple big RBIs by Brandi Trewartha and Kelsey Erickson. Erickson finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Cheesemakers plated two more runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Then in the sixth, Paisley Bennett ripped a two-run triple down the left field line to give Monroe the final run it would need.
Senior Meghan Roberts got the win on the mound for the Cheesemakers, striking out eight hitters while allowing four walks, three hits and two earned runs. After the first two innings, Roberts faced one batter over the minimum. Monroe had one error in the game, which came in the second inning.
"It was a costly error. Monona Grove had us on the ropes," Buvid said.
Bennett finished the game 2-4 and Emily Rufenacht was 2-3.
"It wasn't easy. Monona Grove has been playing really well lately. But Roberts was very good and we got things going later in the game," Buvid said.
Monroe will now host Mount Horeb on Thursday in the first round of the WIAA playoffs.
"After dropping those three games a couple weeks ago, it wasn't looking good," Monroe head coach Dale Buvid said.
On the outside looking in, the Cheesemakers battled back, topping Madison Edgewood, sweeping Oregon in a doubleheader, and coming from behind to beat Monona Grove 8-5 on Tuesday to clinch the title.
"And Oregon beat Milton in extra innings tonight. With that, it puts three teams at 8-4 in conference and us alone at 9-3," Buvid said.
The Silver Eagles scored two runs in the first inning, and took a 5-0 lead in the second after a three-run home run by freshman catcher Jenna Marks.
"She's a real athlete. She plays hockey and in the first inning threw out Maggie Schuttler at second on a steal," Buvid said.
Monroe scored three runs in the third inning thanks to a couple big RBIs by Brandi Trewartha and Kelsey Erickson. Erickson finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Cheesemakers plated two more runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Then in the sixth, Paisley Bennett ripped a two-run triple down the left field line to give Monroe the final run it would need.
Senior Meghan Roberts got the win on the mound for the Cheesemakers, striking out eight hitters while allowing four walks, three hits and two earned runs. After the first two innings, Roberts faced one batter over the minimum. Monroe had one error in the game, which came in the second inning.
"It was a costly error. Monona Grove had us on the ropes," Buvid said.
Bennett finished the game 2-4 and Emily Rufenacht was 2-3.
"It wasn't easy. Monona Grove has been playing really well lately. But Roberts was very good and we got things going later in the game," Buvid said.
Monroe will now host Mount Horeb on Thursday in the first round of the WIAA playoffs.
