MONROE - The Monroe softball team continued their hot start to the season with a commanding 14-0 win over Badger South rival Madison Edgewood.
Monroe assistant coach Noel Herbst, who was managing in place of head coach Dale Buvid, who was in still in Boston after having gone to watch his son compete in the Boston Marathon, said that she thought the Cheesemakers' offense looked better than it did Monday night against Oregon.
"We were more patient," she said. "The two pitchers were slower than what we're used to. Tonight, we waited. I thought our swings were stronger ... we were a little bit more selective."
Senior Becca Armstrong started in the circle for Monroe, and she went 4 innings, giving up one hit and striking out 8.
"I was really impressed with her again tonight," said Herbst. "Her ball had speed to it ... it was moving. We've asked her to get faster ... and these last two nights she's stepped up."
Armstrong was relieved by senior Sam Solberg, who pitched the fifth and final inning and struck out the side. Herbst said that it was nice to have a reliable second pitcher like Solberg.
"Sam did really good. It's nice that we can rely on her," Herbst said. "She comes in, and she gets her job done.
"They're two different pitchers, with mechanics and everything else. Sam's worked hard in the offseason ... and she wants to show that she can do it."
Monroe (5-0) is scheduled to play Milton on Thursday, and host a tournament on Saturday, barring inclement weather.
Darlington 10,
Benton-Shullsburg 4
DARLINGTON - In just her second game as a varsity pitcher, Darlington's Jenna Foulker pitched a complete game and led the Redbirds to their first win of the year.
"I think the first game, it was (Jenna's) first day out using the rubber," Darlington coach Karen Bennett said. "It's different from being indoors, and she struggled with that the first night. Tonight she struggled a little with that early on ... but I think she's just got more confidence and (with) just being outside (consistently)."
The game was tied at 3 going into the sixth inning, but the Redbird offense erupted for 7 runs in the bottom half of the inning to grab the lead.
"They exploded for hits," Bennett said. "It was a big victory for them. We changed our hitting a bit from last year. We changed them up from first game."
Cassidy Cox, Anna Fitzsimons, and Brianna King led the Darlington offense with 2 hits apiece. Taylor Cox also had a triple for the Redbirds.
"We have four or five decent hitters that if they just get the confidence, they can do it," Bennett said. "This year, it seems like they're going for base hits instead of trying to kill it."
Darlington (1-1) is scheduled to travel to Mineral Point on Thursday.
Brodhead 6, Clinton 3
Brodhead 19, Clinton 3
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead softball team picked up their third win in two days Tuesday night, sweeping a doubleheader with Clinton.
Amanda Pickel picked up the win for the Cards in the first game, going all 7 innings while racking up eight strikeouts. Taurie Burns had two doubles for Brodhead in game one. Tabby Harnack and Amber Pickel also added two hits apiece.
"(In the first game) Clinton battled really well," Brodhead coach BJ Bockhop said. "We stranded 13 runners, which didn't help much."
The Cardinal offense came alive in game two, especially in the third inning, when they scored 13 of their 19 runs.
"We decided to go the small-ball route," Bockhop said of the third inning. "Hitting and running, bunting and running, stealing bases, which didn't happen in the first game."
Brodhead is now 4-3 on the season, and 2-0 in the Rock Valley South. Bockhop said that his team is starting to get used to being back outside.
"I think that now that we're getting to see the live arms and live hops that aren't off a gym floor, we're getting more accustomed to the environment of outside," he said.
Juda-Albany 10, Pecatonica 0
BLANCHARDVILLE - A day after giving up 11 runs to Monticello, Juda-Albany ace Tabatha Davis responded by no-hitting Pecatonica in a five-inning win over the Vikings.
Davis didn't give up any hits or walks, and was one error away from a perfect game.
"(Tabatha) worked pretty hard," said Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis. "Our little secret is that she has been fighting the flu bug. She would come in and lay down on the bench between innings. That makes it even more impressive. With only two strikeouts, they put the ball in play a lot. Before the game, the team told her they have her back. They stepped up and made a lot of plays."
Morganne Goecks, Kirstie Kauk and Jessica Crull all were 2-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers.
Monticello 2, Argyle 1
ARGYLE - A second inning error cost the Argyle softball team dearly in their 2-1 loss to Monticello Tuesday night.
Monticello had two runners on base in the second when they attempted a bunt. The Argyle throw sailed over first base, allowing both runners to score. The error proved to be the difference in the game, as the Orioles were only able to muster one run, which also came in the second inning.
Alyssah Kubly got the win for the Ponies, as she threw a complete game with four strikeouts. Jessica Treuthardt pitched all seven innings for Argyle, but recorded the loss.
"Jessica pitched really well," said Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt. "I think she gave up seven hits. She had a couple walks and four strikeouts. Monticello had two or three times with runners in scoring position and she stepped up and held them."
Kim Pink and Alysha Monahan each had two hits for the Orioles. Sam Devoe was 3-for-4 at the plate for Monticello and Marissa Berg also added two hits for the Ponies.
Although his team lost, Treuthardt said he was pretty pleased overall with his team's performance.
"We didn't play too bad a game," he said. "Take out that one error and we win. It was mostly a well-played game. We had four errors. We missed some opportunities. We didn't produce with runners in scoring position. We just gotta execute. We hit the ball hard and had some decent hits. We just couldn't get 'em poked in."
Monroe assistant coach Noel Herbst, who was managing in place of head coach Dale Buvid, who was in still in Boston after having gone to watch his son compete in the Boston Marathon, said that she thought the Cheesemakers' offense looked better than it did Monday night against Oregon.
"We were more patient," she said. "The two pitchers were slower than what we're used to. Tonight, we waited. I thought our swings were stronger ... we were a little bit more selective."
Senior Becca Armstrong started in the circle for Monroe, and she went 4 innings, giving up one hit and striking out 8.
"I was really impressed with her again tonight," said Herbst. "Her ball had speed to it ... it was moving. We've asked her to get faster ... and these last two nights she's stepped up."
Armstrong was relieved by senior Sam Solberg, who pitched the fifth and final inning and struck out the side. Herbst said that it was nice to have a reliable second pitcher like Solberg.
"Sam did really good. It's nice that we can rely on her," Herbst said. "She comes in, and she gets her job done.
"They're two different pitchers, with mechanics and everything else. Sam's worked hard in the offseason ... and she wants to show that she can do it."
Monroe (5-0) is scheduled to play Milton on Thursday, and host a tournament on Saturday, barring inclement weather.
Darlington 10,
Benton-Shullsburg 4
DARLINGTON - In just her second game as a varsity pitcher, Darlington's Jenna Foulker pitched a complete game and led the Redbirds to their first win of the year.
"I think the first game, it was (Jenna's) first day out using the rubber," Darlington coach Karen Bennett said. "It's different from being indoors, and she struggled with that the first night. Tonight she struggled a little with that early on ... but I think she's just got more confidence and (with) just being outside (consistently)."
The game was tied at 3 going into the sixth inning, but the Redbird offense erupted for 7 runs in the bottom half of the inning to grab the lead.
"They exploded for hits," Bennett said. "It was a big victory for them. We changed our hitting a bit from last year. We changed them up from first game."
Cassidy Cox, Anna Fitzsimons, and Brianna King led the Darlington offense with 2 hits apiece. Taylor Cox also had a triple for the Redbirds.
"We have four or five decent hitters that if they just get the confidence, they can do it," Bennett said. "This year, it seems like they're going for base hits instead of trying to kill it."
Darlington (1-1) is scheduled to travel to Mineral Point on Thursday.
Brodhead 6, Clinton 3
Brodhead 19, Clinton 3
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead softball team picked up their third win in two days Tuesday night, sweeping a doubleheader with Clinton.
Amanda Pickel picked up the win for the Cards in the first game, going all 7 innings while racking up eight strikeouts. Taurie Burns had two doubles for Brodhead in game one. Tabby Harnack and Amber Pickel also added two hits apiece.
"(In the first game) Clinton battled really well," Brodhead coach BJ Bockhop said. "We stranded 13 runners, which didn't help much."
The Cardinal offense came alive in game two, especially in the third inning, when they scored 13 of their 19 runs.
"We decided to go the small-ball route," Bockhop said of the third inning. "Hitting and running, bunting and running, stealing bases, which didn't happen in the first game."
Brodhead is now 4-3 on the season, and 2-0 in the Rock Valley South. Bockhop said that his team is starting to get used to being back outside.
"I think that now that we're getting to see the live arms and live hops that aren't off a gym floor, we're getting more accustomed to the environment of outside," he said.
Juda-Albany 10, Pecatonica 0
BLANCHARDVILLE - A day after giving up 11 runs to Monticello, Juda-Albany ace Tabatha Davis responded by no-hitting Pecatonica in a five-inning win over the Vikings.
Davis didn't give up any hits or walks, and was one error away from a perfect game.
"(Tabatha) worked pretty hard," said Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis. "Our little secret is that she has been fighting the flu bug. She would come in and lay down on the bench between innings. That makes it even more impressive. With only two strikeouts, they put the ball in play a lot. Before the game, the team told her they have her back. They stepped up and made a lot of plays."
Morganne Goecks, Kirstie Kauk and Jessica Crull all were 2-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers.
Monticello 2, Argyle 1
ARGYLE - A second inning error cost the Argyle softball team dearly in their 2-1 loss to Monticello Tuesday night.
Monticello had two runners on base in the second when they attempted a bunt. The Argyle throw sailed over first base, allowing both runners to score. The error proved to be the difference in the game, as the Orioles were only able to muster one run, which also came in the second inning.
Alyssah Kubly got the win for the Ponies, as she threw a complete game with four strikeouts. Jessica Treuthardt pitched all seven innings for Argyle, but recorded the loss.
"Jessica pitched really well," said Argyle coach Dan Treuthardt. "I think she gave up seven hits. She had a couple walks and four strikeouts. Monticello had two or three times with runners in scoring position and she stepped up and held them."
Kim Pink and Alysha Monahan each had two hits for the Orioles. Sam Devoe was 3-for-4 at the plate for Monticello and Marissa Berg also added two hits for the Ponies.
Although his team lost, Treuthardt said he was pretty pleased overall with his team's performance.
"We didn't play too bad a game," he said. "Take out that one error and we win. It was mostly a well-played game. We had four errors. We missed some opportunities. We didn't produce with runners in scoring position. We just gotta execute. We hit the ball hard and had some decent hits. We just couldn't get 'em poked in."
