MONROE - In a tune-up for the regional semifinals, the Monroe softball team broke two school records en route to a 12-3 win over Belmont Friday, May 17.
With her second strikeout in the game, senior pitcher Becca Armstrong recorded her 193rd punchout of the season, surpassing Amy Bahler's school record of 192.
Armstrong pitched the first four innings of the game. She allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out six and walking one. With her performance Friday, Armstrong stands with a record 198 strikeouts on the season.
Monroe coach Dale Buvid said the Cheesemakers acknowledged Armstrong's accomplishment in quiet, as a team.
"We didn't do anything special. Just between innings, we talked about it," he said. "We just made the team aware that she broke the record, congratulated her and gave her one of the game balls."
Buvid said the record is especially impressive considering Armstrong, in her career, has predominantly pitched 43 feet from home plate, whereas Bahler pitched from 40 feet away. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association moved the pitcher's mound back prior to the 2010 season, due to safety concerns.
"Bahler was an outstanding pitcher here, helped us win a state championship," Buvid said. "You gotta tip your hat to (Armstrong) to get more strikeouts at 43 feet. It's tough to break some of those old pitching records."
In addition to Armstrong's record, the Cheesemakers also set a new school record for wins in a season with 23. Monroe is 23-2 overall this season, including 12-0 in the Badger South Conference.
That perfect record in conference, which Monroe sealed up earlier this week, was also a first for the program.
As far as which record is the most impressive, take your pick. As a whole, though, Buvid said the accomplishments are all positive signs for the program.
"This is a group of really talented people," he said. "All of our coaches do a good job ... with the core of this team in the summer. It's a program effort. There's a lot of dads and moms that have been involved in this ... in so many ways. It's a program that's been successful and hopefully will continue to be successful."
The Cheesemakers will look to continue that success into this year's playoffs, which for Monroe begins with a regional semifinal game against Platteville at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.
As a No. 1 seed with a first round bye, the Cheesemakers were originally set to have a week off before their game against Platteville. However, in a late addition to the schedule, Monroe invited Belmont. As a No. 1 seed in Division 4, the Braves also received a first round bye, which Buvid said made them a perfect team to add to their schedule.
"It's a good fit, and we were glad they came down here," he said.
Monroe outhit the Braves 14 to 7, scoring one run in the first inning, four in the second, two in the fourth and five in the sixth to put the game away.
Kayla Updike led the Cheesemakers offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Taylor O'Leksy also went 3-for-4, driving in three runs. Kari Jordan chipped in with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI, and Sam Solberg had a two-run double.
Solberg also relieved Armstrong in the fifth inning. She allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one.
In all, Buvid said he was able to accomplish what he set out to do in the game, which was to get all his players involved and keep them in gear for Platteville.
"We're trying to just get recharged, focused and ready to go," Buvid said. "We had a lot of timely two-out base hits, which we didn't have all year. We're starting to click offensively. We got contributions from a lot of different people. Nine different kids had hits. We think it's coming on offense."
Even with the record-breaking week and solid performance on Friday, Buvid knows the Cheesemakers can't rest on their laurels, especially with the target on their back as a No. 1 seed.
"We know the task ahead is daunting," Buvid said. "Were the team that's the hunted. In past years we were the hunter. We're talented enough to make a deep run in the tournament, but we gotta be ready to go."
With her second strikeout in the game, senior pitcher Becca Armstrong recorded her 193rd punchout of the season, surpassing Amy Bahler's school record of 192.
Armstrong pitched the first four innings of the game. She allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out six and walking one. With her performance Friday, Armstrong stands with a record 198 strikeouts on the season.
Monroe coach Dale Buvid said the Cheesemakers acknowledged Armstrong's accomplishment in quiet, as a team.
"We didn't do anything special. Just between innings, we talked about it," he said. "We just made the team aware that she broke the record, congratulated her and gave her one of the game balls."
Buvid said the record is especially impressive considering Armstrong, in her career, has predominantly pitched 43 feet from home plate, whereas Bahler pitched from 40 feet away. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association moved the pitcher's mound back prior to the 2010 season, due to safety concerns.
"Bahler was an outstanding pitcher here, helped us win a state championship," Buvid said. "You gotta tip your hat to (Armstrong) to get more strikeouts at 43 feet. It's tough to break some of those old pitching records."
In addition to Armstrong's record, the Cheesemakers also set a new school record for wins in a season with 23. Monroe is 23-2 overall this season, including 12-0 in the Badger South Conference.
That perfect record in conference, which Monroe sealed up earlier this week, was also a first for the program.
As far as which record is the most impressive, take your pick. As a whole, though, Buvid said the accomplishments are all positive signs for the program.
"This is a group of really talented people," he said. "All of our coaches do a good job ... with the core of this team in the summer. It's a program effort. There's a lot of dads and moms that have been involved in this ... in so many ways. It's a program that's been successful and hopefully will continue to be successful."
The Cheesemakers will look to continue that success into this year's playoffs, which for Monroe begins with a regional semifinal game against Platteville at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 21.
As a No. 1 seed with a first round bye, the Cheesemakers were originally set to have a week off before their game against Platteville. However, in a late addition to the schedule, Monroe invited Belmont. As a No. 1 seed in Division 4, the Braves also received a first round bye, which Buvid said made them a perfect team to add to their schedule.
"It's a good fit, and we were glad they came down here," he said.
Monroe outhit the Braves 14 to 7, scoring one run in the first inning, four in the second, two in the fourth and five in the sixth to put the game away.
Kayla Updike led the Cheesemakers offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Taylor O'Leksy also went 3-for-4, driving in three runs. Kari Jordan chipped in with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI, and Sam Solberg had a two-run double.
Solberg also relieved Armstrong in the fifth inning. She allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one.
In all, Buvid said he was able to accomplish what he set out to do in the game, which was to get all his players involved and keep them in gear for Platteville.
"We're trying to just get recharged, focused and ready to go," Buvid said. "We had a lot of timely two-out base hits, which we didn't have all year. We're starting to click offensively. We got contributions from a lot of different people. Nine different kids had hits. We think it's coming on offense."
Even with the record-breaking week and solid performance on Friday, Buvid knows the Cheesemakers can't rest on their laurels, especially with the target on their back as a No. 1 seed.
"We know the task ahead is daunting," Buvid said. "Were the team that's the hunted. In past years we were the hunter. We're talented enough to make a deep run in the tournament, but we gotta be ready to go."
