MONROE - The Monroe softball team is just one more win from a second straight trip to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament.
Monroe (20-7) can punch its ticket tonight with a win over Richland Center in the Division 2 sectional championship game in Portage. Monroe swept the Hornets in a doubleheader on May 19, winning 10-0 and 7-2. However, Richland Center was playing without starting catcher Rebecca Luxton, the team's No. 3 hitter, at the time.
With Luxton returning, Buvid knows they may not have as big of an advantage as they had in the doubleheader sweep when they were stealing bases on a junior varsity catcher.
"I'm sure we will see a different team," he said. "Richland Center will use that age-old adage that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season.
"We are pretty confident we are the better team. The better team doesn't always win. Offense can be inconsistent. If they hang around and if we don't score early it becomes a game of momentum and timely hits, and they could beat us."
Monroe has won 13 straight games and with a win, the Cheesemakers would reach the state tournament for the sixth time in the last 10 years.
The common theme lately has been solid pitching from junior Becca Armstrong, as well as a much improved hitting offense that has the Cheesemakers averaging 7.2 runs per game during the streak.
The offense is led by sophomore Ellie Grossen who is hitting over .400 and leads the team in hits (38) and extra-base hits (13).
"Her power numbers really have been climbing since the second half of the season," Buvid said. "She's a quick and aggressive base runner."
The second half of the season is a far cry from the first, when the Cheesemakers struggled through a 2-4 stretch.
"When we went through that bad rut, we were not hitting," Buvid said. "When you make mistakes they get magnified. Once we started winning, we got some confidence. When you are scoring runs, that helps cover up a few errors or a bad pitch."
It's that hot hitting that has the Cheesemakers surging in the postseason.
Senior Alyssa Montgomery has delivered, hitting over .400 in the tournament, and sophomores Chandra McGuire, Kayla Updike and Taylor O'Leksy are each hitting .350 or higher this season.
"She has found her stride in the tournament," Buvid said of Montgomery. "We like a lot of our lineup. If we can put seven or eight runs on the board, I like our chances. Becca has been solid, and we have been playing good defense. If it's a 3-2 or 4-3 game, it comes down to timely hits. We have just as good of a chance to win it."
Up next is Richland Center and starting pitcher Rochelle Goplen who the Cheesemakers collected eight hits off of in four innings in the first meeting.
"She doesn't throw hard," Buvid said. "She will nibble. She doesn't change speeds as well as the kid from Marshall."
And if Monroe is able to beat Goplen and return to state, it's possible they could arrive to the tournament even stronger than they are now.
The Cheesemakers have been playing without starting outfielder Katie Holmes since she fractured a bone in her finger, and her return to the team is within sight.
"We might be able to get her back if we are fortunate enough to go to state," Buvid said.
Monroe (20-7) can punch its ticket tonight with a win over Richland Center in the Division 2 sectional championship game in Portage. Monroe swept the Hornets in a doubleheader on May 19, winning 10-0 and 7-2. However, Richland Center was playing without starting catcher Rebecca Luxton, the team's No. 3 hitter, at the time.
With Luxton returning, Buvid knows they may not have as big of an advantage as they had in the doubleheader sweep when they were stealing bases on a junior varsity catcher.
"I'm sure we will see a different team," he said. "Richland Center will use that age-old adage that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season.
"We are pretty confident we are the better team. The better team doesn't always win. Offense can be inconsistent. If they hang around and if we don't score early it becomes a game of momentum and timely hits, and they could beat us."
Monroe has won 13 straight games and with a win, the Cheesemakers would reach the state tournament for the sixth time in the last 10 years.
The common theme lately has been solid pitching from junior Becca Armstrong, as well as a much improved hitting offense that has the Cheesemakers averaging 7.2 runs per game during the streak.
The offense is led by sophomore Ellie Grossen who is hitting over .400 and leads the team in hits (38) and extra-base hits (13).
"Her power numbers really have been climbing since the second half of the season," Buvid said. "She's a quick and aggressive base runner."
The second half of the season is a far cry from the first, when the Cheesemakers struggled through a 2-4 stretch.
"When we went through that bad rut, we were not hitting," Buvid said. "When you make mistakes they get magnified. Once we started winning, we got some confidence. When you are scoring runs, that helps cover up a few errors or a bad pitch."
It's that hot hitting that has the Cheesemakers surging in the postseason.
Senior Alyssa Montgomery has delivered, hitting over .400 in the tournament, and sophomores Chandra McGuire, Kayla Updike and Taylor O'Leksy are each hitting .350 or higher this season.
"She has found her stride in the tournament," Buvid said of Montgomery. "We like a lot of our lineup. If we can put seven or eight runs on the board, I like our chances. Becca has been solid, and we have been playing good defense. If it's a 3-2 or 4-3 game, it comes down to timely hits. We have just as good of a chance to win it."
Up next is Richland Center and starting pitcher Rochelle Goplen who the Cheesemakers collected eight hits off of in four innings in the first meeting.
"She doesn't throw hard," Buvid said. "She will nibble. She doesn't change speeds as well as the kid from Marshall."
And if Monroe is able to beat Goplen and return to state, it's possible they could arrive to the tournament even stronger than they are now.
The Cheesemakers have been playing without starting outfielder Katie Holmes since she fractured a bone in her finger, and her return to the team is within sight.
"We might be able to get her back if we are fortunate enough to go to state," Buvid said.
