MONROE - Before the first pitch of the game against Madison Edgewood, Monroe coach Dale Buvid warned his team they may have the green light to steal on the bases.
Monroe (15-2, 7-1 Badger South) took advantage of Edgewood starting a backup catcher and stole seven bases to run away with a 9-2 win over the Crusaders on a blustery day at Twining Park. Monroe senior Chandra McGuire went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Sophomore Natalie Dillon went 1-for-1 with three stolen bases.
"They were stuck starting their second catcher," McGuire said. "We were able to steal a little more on the basepaths. We definitely have to run more if we can't come up with the big hit like we usually have done this year."
With the win, the Cheesemakers, ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division 2 poll, keep pace and are tied with Milton atop the Badger South Conference. Monroe will host a doubleheader conference showdown with Milton Monday, May 19.
"We definitely can't lose any more games in the conference," McGuire said. "We have to get to the Milton game with no more losses. We will then play it out against Milton and see who wins conference."
It didn't take long for the Cheesemakers to strike in the first inning off Edgewood sophomore ace pitcher Katlyn Harrington. McGuire singled to center and stole second. Monroe senior Kayla Updike then delivered an RBI single up the middle. Senior Taylor O'Leksy reached on an error and Updike scored to stake the Cheesemakers to a 2-0 lead.
McGuire singled and stole second in the third to set up the next scoring opportunity. O'Leksy reached on an error and McGuire scored to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead. The Crusaders were plagued by four errors.
Dillon used her speed to run the Cheesemakers into a run in the fourth. She was hit by a pitch. After shaking off the sting of being hit, she stole second and third and scored on a wild throw to third to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead.
Dillon was just as impressive on the mound as she was running the bases. She used a fastball, rise ball, changeup and drop ball to baffle the Crusaders. She gave up just one run on four hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"I thought Natalie was as good as she has been all year," Buvid said. "She was throwing all four of her pitches for strikes. She has to be able to throw her second, third and fourth pitches for strikes so they can't just sit on the fastball."
The Cheesemakers through the first 12 games were averaging 13.5 runs and 12 hits per game. Buvid said that is a hard offensive pace to keep up. With the wind blowing in from left field, the Cheesemakers were able to create some offense by creating havoc by stealing bases.
Harrington, after overcoming an injury earlier this season, limited the damage early on and kept the Crusaders within striking distance.
"It's a game we had to have," Buvid said. "She's legit. I'm not sure if she has pitched a complete game this year. She (Harrington) will be tough to deal with the next couple of years. We are not clicking as well as we were before."
The Cheesemakers still finished with nine hits. O'Leksy smoked an RBI triple to right in the fifth and junior Kari Jordan had an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 6-1 lead. Monroe senior Sam Hose also crushed a triple to right center and scored when Hannah Vetterli reached on an error in the sixth.
Monroe will host 15th-ranked Waupun in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. today at Twining Park.
"It's good for us to see a pretty good pitcher," Buvid said of Harrington. "We will see a lot more quality pitchers and teams. It's good for us (to play Waupun). We think this team can be competitive with them. The better teams and pitchers you can face, it's probably the better off you are."
Monroe (15-2, 7-1 Badger South) took advantage of Edgewood starting a backup catcher and stole seven bases to run away with a 9-2 win over the Crusaders on a blustery day at Twining Park. Monroe senior Chandra McGuire went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Sophomore Natalie Dillon went 1-for-1 with three stolen bases.
"They were stuck starting their second catcher," McGuire said. "We were able to steal a little more on the basepaths. We definitely have to run more if we can't come up with the big hit like we usually have done this year."
With the win, the Cheesemakers, ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division 2 poll, keep pace and are tied with Milton atop the Badger South Conference. Monroe will host a doubleheader conference showdown with Milton Monday, May 19.
"We definitely can't lose any more games in the conference," McGuire said. "We have to get to the Milton game with no more losses. We will then play it out against Milton and see who wins conference."
It didn't take long for the Cheesemakers to strike in the first inning off Edgewood sophomore ace pitcher Katlyn Harrington. McGuire singled to center and stole second. Monroe senior Kayla Updike then delivered an RBI single up the middle. Senior Taylor O'Leksy reached on an error and Updike scored to stake the Cheesemakers to a 2-0 lead.
McGuire singled and stole second in the third to set up the next scoring opportunity. O'Leksy reached on an error and McGuire scored to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead. The Crusaders were plagued by four errors.
Dillon used her speed to run the Cheesemakers into a run in the fourth. She was hit by a pitch. After shaking off the sting of being hit, she stole second and third and scored on a wild throw to third to give the Cheesemakers a 4-0 lead.
Dillon was just as impressive on the mound as she was running the bases. She used a fastball, rise ball, changeup and drop ball to baffle the Crusaders. She gave up just one run on four hits. She struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
"I thought Natalie was as good as she has been all year," Buvid said. "She was throwing all four of her pitches for strikes. She has to be able to throw her second, third and fourth pitches for strikes so they can't just sit on the fastball."
The Cheesemakers through the first 12 games were averaging 13.5 runs and 12 hits per game. Buvid said that is a hard offensive pace to keep up. With the wind blowing in from left field, the Cheesemakers were able to create some offense by creating havoc by stealing bases.
Harrington, after overcoming an injury earlier this season, limited the damage early on and kept the Crusaders within striking distance.
"It's a game we had to have," Buvid said. "She's legit. I'm not sure if she has pitched a complete game this year. She (Harrington) will be tough to deal with the next couple of years. We are not clicking as well as we were before."
The Cheesemakers still finished with nine hits. O'Leksy smoked an RBI triple to right in the fifth and junior Kari Jordan had an RBI single to give the Cheesemakers a 6-1 lead. Monroe senior Sam Hose also crushed a triple to right center and scored when Hannah Vetterli reached on an error in the sixth.
Monroe will host 15th-ranked Waupun in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. today at Twining Park.
"It's good for us to see a pretty good pitcher," Buvid said of Harrington. "We will see a lot more quality pitchers and teams. It's good for us (to play Waupun). We think this team can be competitive with them. The better teams and pitchers you can face, it's probably the better off you are."
