MONROE - Sophomore Chandra McGuire had a strange case of double vision in an unconventional double play she was in the middle of Thursday against Madison Edgewood.
With Monroe clinging to a 2-1 lead and two runners on base in the third inning, Edgewood's Rachel Wabers crushed a single to right-center field. Monroe senior Kasey Gutzmer made a perfect throw to second baseman Heather Barta, who made a pinpoint relay throw to McGuire at catcher.
McGuire finished the play as she tagged out Edgewood's Tess Tuschen and Maggie Seibert at the plate for an inning-ending double play.
That defensive play gave Monroe junior pitcher Becca Armstrong a boost and the Cheesemakers were able to hang on to a 3-1 win.
"I saw two runners coming at me," McGuire said. "I was really confused. It was weird. Heather and Kasey made great throws. They just ran into two outs. I just ran and tagged them out. It was two easy outs."
Monroe coach Dale Buvid said if you're around softball long enough, players will see everything.
"It was two perfect relay throws," Buvid said of Gutzmer and Barta. "(Tuschen) went back to tag up because she thought we were going to catch it and it was in the gap. We caught a break on that one."
Monroe (7-6, 4-3 Badger South) managed just five hits off Edgewood's Heather Grelle. The Cheesemakers received just enough timely hits to score all three runs after two outs.
"Offensively, we are still a work in progress," Buvid said. "We are still leaving a lot of runners on base and we should have got more of those bunts down."
Gutzmer led off with a walk in the second and Kari Jordan reached on an error. Katie Holmes then hit a slow roller to second base and two runs scored as she beat the play at first.
"The grounder to second base should have been an out," Buvid said. "We got a gift with that one."
With two outs in the fifth, McGuire crushed a double to left. Kayla Updike walked and Taylor O'Leksy ripped an RBI single to left to score McGuire to give the Cheesemakers an insurance run.
"We have been in a little bit of a slump getting timely hits," McGuire said. "We came through at the right time tonight. I think we will get better with that."
Armstrong pitched a complete game and gave up just one run on seven hits. She struck out eight and didn't issue any walks.
"We knew it was going to be low scoring," Armstrong said. "Every play and pitch matters."
It seems like every time Monroe plays the Crusaders, it brings out the best in the Cheesemakers. In their previous meeting, Monroe's Sarah Alexander came through with a two-run double to help the Cheesemakers beat the Crusaders 3-1.
"They have a really good pitcher who has a great rise ball," Armstrong said. "It always gives us competition when we play them."
With five sophomores and one freshman in the starting lineup, Buvid doesn't think the expectations are too high for the Cheesemakers right away.
"They have all played a high level of summer traveling softball," Buvid said. "I think they are capable. That is why they are playing. There has been some growing pains. We have also had a brutal part of the schedule."
With Monroe clinging to a 2-1 lead and two runners on base in the third inning, Edgewood's Rachel Wabers crushed a single to right-center field. Monroe senior Kasey Gutzmer made a perfect throw to second baseman Heather Barta, who made a pinpoint relay throw to McGuire at catcher.
McGuire finished the play as she tagged out Edgewood's Tess Tuschen and Maggie Seibert at the plate for an inning-ending double play.
That defensive play gave Monroe junior pitcher Becca Armstrong a boost and the Cheesemakers were able to hang on to a 3-1 win.
"I saw two runners coming at me," McGuire said. "I was really confused. It was weird. Heather and Kasey made great throws. They just ran into two outs. I just ran and tagged them out. It was two easy outs."
Monroe coach Dale Buvid said if you're around softball long enough, players will see everything.
"It was two perfect relay throws," Buvid said of Gutzmer and Barta. "(Tuschen) went back to tag up because she thought we were going to catch it and it was in the gap. We caught a break on that one."
Monroe (7-6, 4-3 Badger South) managed just five hits off Edgewood's Heather Grelle. The Cheesemakers received just enough timely hits to score all three runs after two outs.
"Offensively, we are still a work in progress," Buvid said. "We are still leaving a lot of runners on base and we should have got more of those bunts down."
Gutzmer led off with a walk in the second and Kari Jordan reached on an error. Katie Holmes then hit a slow roller to second base and two runs scored as she beat the play at first.
"The grounder to second base should have been an out," Buvid said. "We got a gift with that one."
With two outs in the fifth, McGuire crushed a double to left. Kayla Updike walked and Taylor O'Leksy ripped an RBI single to left to score McGuire to give the Cheesemakers an insurance run.
"We have been in a little bit of a slump getting timely hits," McGuire said. "We came through at the right time tonight. I think we will get better with that."
Armstrong pitched a complete game and gave up just one run on seven hits. She struck out eight and didn't issue any walks.
"We knew it was going to be low scoring," Armstrong said. "Every play and pitch matters."
It seems like every time Monroe plays the Crusaders, it brings out the best in the Cheesemakers. In their previous meeting, Monroe's Sarah Alexander came through with a two-run double to help the Cheesemakers beat the Crusaders 3-1.
"They have a really good pitcher who has a great rise ball," Armstrong said. "It always gives us competition when we play them."
With five sophomores and one freshman in the starting lineup, Buvid doesn't think the expectations are too high for the Cheesemakers right away.
"They have all played a high level of summer traveling softball," Buvid said. "I think they are capable. That is why they are playing. There has been some growing pains. We have also had a brutal part of the schedule."
