MONROE - As softball debuts go, Monroe coach Dale Buvid has to be psyched with the way his young team responded Tuesday in the Cheesemakers' 15-1 season-opening win over Reedsburg.
It didn't take Monroe long to bounce back from a 1-0 deficit, as the Cheesemakers broke through for an eight-run second inning on just two hits.
The Cheesemakers took advantage of some wildness by Amanda Deckard on the mound. Deckard walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run after issuing a free pass to senior Maggie Schuttler. Monroe senior Emily Rufenacht then came through with an RBI groundout.
The Beavers looked to be in a position to get out of a two-out bases loaded jam when Gwen Sutter hit a grounder to the shortstop. But Sutter reached on an error and two more runs scored on a wild throw to give the Cheesemakers a 4-1 lead. Monroe scored six of its eight runs after two outs.
"We want to hit," Buvid said. "We don't want to walk. If they are not throwing strikes, we are not going to swing at bad pitches."
Monroe sophomore Kelsey Erickson delivered, lining a two-run single to center. Fellow sophomore Kristin McArdle followed with an RBI single down the right-field line to give the Cheesemakers a commanding 8-1 lead.
"I was really nervous," Erickson said. "I guess it all worked its way out. You just have to wait for the right pitch and swing at strikes."
That's all the run support senior Meghan Roberts and company would need. Roberts combined with three other Monroe pitchers to toss a two-hitter. Roberts earned the win in her debut as the ace pitcher by throwing three innings and striking out seven, walking one and hitting one batter.
"I'm happy for her first time out," Buvid said. "She has worked really hard. She has put in a lot of time in the summer."
Buvid knows Roberts will get even sharper and better with time.
"We have been working on throwing it harder," Buvid said. "She didn't get her rise ball where she needed to. We need her to locate a little bit better."
The Cheesemakers' offense kept the pressure on in the third inning, as Mandi Wilde walked to lead off the inning. Rufenacht singled and Sutter's infield single loaded the bases. The big blow came from sophomore Kendra Clark, who delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single to give the Cheesemakers an 11-1 lead.
"It was a good hit for my first game on varsity," Clark said.
"I knew we could do it. It was cold and we were stiff. We hit the ball, got walked and scored some runs."
Buvid was excited with the performances of three sophomores - McArdle, Clark and Erickson.
"We are expecting them to make contributions and not just take up space," Buvid said.
"We are expecting them to make sizable contributions and tonight they did. We have sophomores who can play. That's why they are in the starting lineup."
Monroe junior Bethany Meier crushed a three-run triple to right center in the fourth to add to the margin of victory.
Buvid also used McArdle, junior Brandi Trewartha and Jessica Beckman on the mound.
Buvid said he wanted to give each pitcher some experience before the Freeport tournament this weekend.
"That's a little tricky when you only play five innings," he said.
There is an ongoing competition to determine who will be the No. 2 pitcher.
"If it's close, we may go with whoever is hot," Buvid said.
It didn't take Monroe long to bounce back from a 1-0 deficit, as the Cheesemakers broke through for an eight-run second inning on just two hits.
The Cheesemakers took advantage of some wildness by Amanda Deckard on the mound. Deckard walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run after issuing a free pass to senior Maggie Schuttler. Monroe senior Emily Rufenacht then came through with an RBI groundout.
The Beavers looked to be in a position to get out of a two-out bases loaded jam when Gwen Sutter hit a grounder to the shortstop. But Sutter reached on an error and two more runs scored on a wild throw to give the Cheesemakers a 4-1 lead. Monroe scored six of its eight runs after two outs.
"We want to hit," Buvid said. "We don't want to walk. If they are not throwing strikes, we are not going to swing at bad pitches."
Monroe sophomore Kelsey Erickson delivered, lining a two-run single to center. Fellow sophomore Kristin McArdle followed with an RBI single down the right-field line to give the Cheesemakers a commanding 8-1 lead.
"I was really nervous," Erickson said. "I guess it all worked its way out. You just have to wait for the right pitch and swing at strikes."
That's all the run support senior Meghan Roberts and company would need. Roberts combined with three other Monroe pitchers to toss a two-hitter. Roberts earned the win in her debut as the ace pitcher by throwing three innings and striking out seven, walking one and hitting one batter.
"I'm happy for her first time out," Buvid said. "She has worked really hard. She has put in a lot of time in the summer."
Buvid knows Roberts will get even sharper and better with time.
"We have been working on throwing it harder," Buvid said. "She didn't get her rise ball where she needed to. We need her to locate a little bit better."
The Cheesemakers' offense kept the pressure on in the third inning, as Mandi Wilde walked to lead off the inning. Rufenacht singled and Sutter's infield single loaded the bases. The big blow came from sophomore Kendra Clark, who delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single to give the Cheesemakers an 11-1 lead.
"It was a good hit for my first game on varsity," Clark said.
"I knew we could do it. It was cold and we were stiff. We hit the ball, got walked and scored some runs."
Buvid was excited with the performances of three sophomores - McArdle, Clark and Erickson.
"We are expecting them to make contributions and not just take up space," Buvid said.
"We are expecting them to make sizable contributions and tonight they did. We have sophomores who can play. That's why they are in the starting lineup."
Monroe junior Bethany Meier crushed a three-run triple to right center in the fourth to add to the margin of victory.
Buvid also used McArdle, junior Brandi Trewartha and Jessica Beckman on the mound.
Buvid said he wanted to give each pitcher some experience before the Freeport tournament this weekend.
"That's a little tricky when you only play five innings," he said.
There is an ongoing competition to determine who will be the No. 2 pitcher.
"If it's close, we may go with whoever is hot," Buvid said.
