MIDDLETON - Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. And if Monroe's softball team can play defense in the sectional final nearly as well as they did Tuesday, the likelihood of qualifying for state skyrockets.
"This was maybe as good of a defensive game as Monroe softball has ever played," coach Dale Buvid said after the Cheesemakers' dramatic 3-2 win over Portage in 12 innings. "Our outfield was outstanding, (Kaylee) Craigo was outstanding, (Sarah) Kloepping had a couple first-to-third double plays. We were just outstanding. We couldn't have played any better."
Monroe defenders turned three unconventional double plays, had a sliding catch and gunned down two runners at home plate with the game on the line. In the 12th, sophomore Kasey Gutzmer scooped up a base hit in center and threw a laser to catcher Craigo to nab a Portage runner at the plate to end the game.
"I was definitely counting the innings. This is my senior year, so if we lose, we're done," said Craigo, who had held on to the two most important balls of her career in the contest.
The play was not Gutzmer's only thriller of the day - nor Craigo's. Gutzmer had an RBI double in the sixth that gave the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead, and made a leaping catch and picked off a runner at second to end the ninth inning.
"I know how to do it (make smart decisions), and I love that I have the arm that I do," Gutzmer said modestly.
Craigo took a solid hit at home to end the seventh inning, as Portage's Demi McAplin's single to left went for naught when Chandra McGuire gunned down Emily Krueger at home. Had Krueger been a step quicker and scored, the Warriors would have won in walk-off fashion.
"Our outfielders definitely had good throws. They made such good throws that I was able to make the play," said Craigo, who was slow to get up after the collision in the seventh. "I definitely thought she (Krueger) was out, but it definitely hurt a little bit."
Monroe's first run came in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Kristen McArdle, and the final score in the top of the 12th came on a two-out bases loaded walk by Alyssa Montgomery.
"Offensively we're very disappointed as to what we did. We should have done more to put the ball in play. To have a day like that on offense and be able to move on says something about your defensive play and your pitcher," said Buvid, whose team struck out 16 times against two Portage pitchers. "There are three or four plays that if we don't make them we lose. But we made them all."
But despite the weak offensive output, Monroe's defense had the back of sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong all game. Twice the Cheesemakers turned a 6-3-5 double play with a runner on second to end an inning. Each time shortstop Kelsey Erickson looked back the lead runner, threw out a runner to first and Kloepping had two throws right on the money to McArdle at third.
Armstrong had her own ups and downs. With the temperature at game time starting in the mid 90s and humid, the 6-foot hurler found herself tired and wild at times, but used her experience to keep herself in the game.
"That was the most emotional game I've ever played. Our defense played amazing and came up with huge plays," said Armstrong, who had five strikeouts in the contest. "I knew that I had to stay confident no matter what."
Monroe also used some strategy on defense, pitching around Krueger, who is debated as the Albert Pujols of the Badger North. Krueger went 0 for 3 with three walks, two intentional and another on a pitch-around.
"When Krueger would come up with people on base, you would think (this could be it). She's the real deal. I think we played it well. Portage is a little upset that we put her in a position where she couldn't do much. But we're playing to win, too," Buvid said. "The strategy was sound. Becca was good. I've seen her better, but she was good enough to keep us in there."
With a runner on second and two outs, the Cheesemakers chose to intentionally walk Krueger, unlike the Cubs did against Pujols over the weekend, who then hit two walk-off home runs. Moments after the walk, the game ended.
"It's amazing. I'm really glad we pulled it off because it took so much," Gutzmer said.
Monroe now advances to the WIAA Division 2 sectional final for the eighth time in the last nine years. The Cheesemakers will face Edgerton at Evansville on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
"This was maybe as good of a defensive game as Monroe softball has ever played," coach Dale Buvid said after the Cheesemakers' dramatic 3-2 win over Portage in 12 innings. "Our outfield was outstanding, (Kaylee) Craigo was outstanding, (Sarah) Kloepping had a couple first-to-third double plays. We were just outstanding. We couldn't have played any better."
Monroe defenders turned three unconventional double plays, had a sliding catch and gunned down two runners at home plate with the game on the line. In the 12th, sophomore Kasey Gutzmer scooped up a base hit in center and threw a laser to catcher Craigo to nab a Portage runner at the plate to end the game.
"I was definitely counting the innings. This is my senior year, so if we lose, we're done," said Craigo, who had held on to the two most important balls of her career in the contest.
The play was not Gutzmer's only thriller of the day - nor Craigo's. Gutzmer had an RBI double in the sixth that gave the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead, and made a leaping catch and picked off a runner at second to end the ninth inning.
"I know how to do it (make smart decisions), and I love that I have the arm that I do," Gutzmer said modestly.
Craigo took a solid hit at home to end the seventh inning, as Portage's Demi McAplin's single to left went for naught when Chandra McGuire gunned down Emily Krueger at home. Had Krueger been a step quicker and scored, the Warriors would have won in walk-off fashion.
"Our outfielders definitely had good throws. They made such good throws that I was able to make the play," said Craigo, who was slow to get up after the collision in the seventh. "I definitely thought she (Krueger) was out, but it definitely hurt a little bit."
Monroe's first run came in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Kristen McArdle, and the final score in the top of the 12th came on a two-out bases loaded walk by Alyssa Montgomery.
"Offensively we're very disappointed as to what we did. We should have done more to put the ball in play. To have a day like that on offense and be able to move on says something about your defensive play and your pitcher," said Buvid, whose team struck out 16 times against two Portage pitchers. "There are three or four plays that if we don't make them we lose. But we made them all."
But despite the weak offensive output, Monroe's defense had the back of sophomore pitcher Becca Armstrong all game. Twice the Cheesemakers turned a 6-3-5 double play with a runner on second to end an inning. Each time shortstop Kelsey Erickson looked back the lead runner, threw out a runner to first and Kloepping had two throws right on the money to McArdle at third.
Armstrong had her own ups and downs. With the temperature at game time starting in the mid 90s and humid, the 6-foot hurler found herself tired and wild at times, but used her experience to keep herself in the game.
"That was the most emotional game I've ever played. Our defense played amazing and came up with huge plays," said Armstrong, who had five strikeouts in the contest. "I knew that I had to stay confident no matter what."
Monroe also used some strategy on defense, pitching around Krueger, who is debated as the Albert Pujols of the Badger North. Krueger went 0 for 3 with three walks, two intentional and another on a pitch-around.
"When Krueger would come up with people on base, you would think (this could be it). She's the real deal. I think we played it well. Portage is a little upset that we put her in a position where she couldn't do much. But we're playing to win, too," Buvid said. "The strategy was sound. Becca was good. I've seen her better, but she was good enough to keep us in there."
With a runner on second and two outs, the Cheesemakers chose to intentionally walk Krueger, unlike the Cubs did against Pujols over the weekend, who then hit two walk-off home runs. Moments after the walk, the game ended.
"It's amazing. I'm really glad we pulled it off because it took so much," Gutzmer said.
Monroe now advances to the WIAA Division 2 sectional final for the eighth time in the last nine years. The Cheesemakers will face Edgerton at Evansville on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
