MONROE - The Monroe softball team wasn't going to let Badger South rival McFarland spoil its dream.
Monroe senior Renee Schuttler tossed her second no-hitter of the season to lead the Cheesemakers to a 7-0 win over McFarland in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Tuesday at Twining Park.
"We have been pointing at this game for a long time," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We knew they (McFarland) were not a four seed."
Schuttler was dominating, and handcuffed the Spartans. She struck out seven and limited the Spartans to just two baserunners on a walk and error, but no one ever reached second base.
"She (Schuttler) gets up for the big games," Buvid said. "She competed today."
Schuttler hasn't forgotten losing to Portage in a sectional title game last year. Now the Cheesemakers will play for a regional championship Thursday against Brodhead at Twining Park.
Schuttler said she has been working her varsity career to make it to state.
"This year is our year to go," Schuttler said. "It feels pretty good, especially against McFarland, because they are a good-hitting team."
The Cheesemakers (18-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Monroe senior Kayla Rackow singled leading off the first. With one out, junior Emily Rufenacht put the Cheesemakers on the board, ripping an RBI-single to right. Schuttler then crushed an RBI-triple to left. Kylie Kaiser hit a slicing drive to right that was dropped, which scored a run to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Buvid said one of the Cheesemakers' achilles heels this year is not scoring runs early.
"To get that first hit and run out of the way was huge," Buvid said.
Monroe sophomore Brandi Trewartha then roped a two-out RBI-triple to right. Buvid sent Trewartha home, and she was thrown out trying to stretch the triple into an inside-the-park home run.
When Buvid sent Trewartha home, she was zeroed in with tunnel vision.
"I was just like, 'Oh, my God; I want to get a home run,'" she said.
Trewartha said she just wanted to contribute to the team by scoring more runs.
"With two outs, it was worth the gamble," Buvid said.
After being tagged for four runs in the first, McFarland pitcher Shauna O'Malley sailed, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters before running into trouble in the fifth. With two outs, Rufenacht, who was 2-for-3, singled. Schuttler, who was 2-for-2, walked. The big blow came on Kaiser's two-out, two-run double that gave the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 6-0 lead.
"That put the nail in the coffin," Buvid said. "This is a good softball team we beat today."
The next challenge is Thursday's rivalry battle with Brodhead at Twining Park.
"It's always a goal in the back of your mind," Buvid said about state tournament aspirations. "We have a lot of work to do. We are probably the favorite (Thursday). We will have our hands full."
Monroe senior Renee Schuttler tossed her second no-hitter of the season to lead the Cheesemakers to a 7-0 win over McFarland in a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal Tuesday at Twining Park.
"We have been pointing at this game for a long time," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said. "We knew they (McFarland) were not a four seed."
Schuttler was dominating, and handcuffed the Spartans. She struck out seven and limited the Spartans to just two baserunners on a walk and error, but no one ever reached second base.
"She (Schuttler) gets up for the big games," Buvid said. "She competed today."
Schuttler hasn't forgotten losing to Portage in a sectional title game last year. Now the Cheesemakers will play for a regional championship Thursday against Brodhead at Twining Park.
Schuttler said she has been working her varsity career to make it to state.
"This year is our year to go," Schuttler said. "It feels pretty good, especially against McFarland, because they are a good-hitting team."
The Cheesemakers (18-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Monroe senior Kayla Rackow singled leading off the first. With one out, junior Emily Rufenacht put the Cheesemakers on the board, ripping an RBI-single to right. Schuttler then crushed an RBI-triple to left. Kylie Kaiser hit a slicing drive to right that was dropped, which scored a run to give the Cheesemakers a 3-0 lead.
Buvid said one of the Cheesemakers' achilles heels this year is not scoring runs early.
"To get that first hit and run out of the way was huge," Buvid said.
Monroe sophomore Brandi Trewartha then roped a two-out RBI-triple to right. Buvid sent Trewartha home, and she was thrown out trying to stretch the triple into an inside-the-park home run.
When Buvid sent Trewartha home, she was zeroed in with tunnel vision.
"I was just like, 'Oh, my God; I want to get a home run,'" she said.
Trewartha said she just wanted to contribute to the team by scoring more runs.
"With two outs, it was worth the gamble," Buvid said.
After being tagged for four runs in the first, McFarland pitcher Shauna O'Malley sailed, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters before running into trouble in the fifth. With two outs, Rufenacht, who was 2-for-3, singled. Schuttler, who was 2-for-2, walked. The big blow came on Kaiser's two-out, two-run double that gave the Cheesemakers an insurmountable 6-0 lead.
"That put the nail in the coffin," Buvid said. "This is a good softball team we beat today."
The next challenge is Thursday's rivalry battle with Brodhead at Twining Park.
"It's always a goal in the back of your mind," Buvid said about state tournament aspirations. "We have a lot of work to do. We are probably the favorite (Thursday). We will have our hands full."
